I'm buying a bunch of homebrew stuff off of craigslist, and the kettle the guy is selling is only 5 gallons. I'm planning to upgrade it, but I can't decide what to buy. I'm planning to do BIAB right off the bat but I'm unsure if my glass electric stovetop can handle it. Should I get say an 8 gallon pot and do smaller batches on my stove? Or should I get a larger kettle and a propane burner and do 5 gallon batches outside? If I do that, specifically which kettle should I get? I'd love to keep the kettle under $100, especially if I end up buying a burner too.
Can't decide on my first brew kettle
- Thread starter vance
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Morrey
Well-Known Member
Vance, only your budget should be your guide. Before long, you'll likely be wanting to grow your operation, and a propane burner will probably be in your future. Unless I am terribly mistaken, a glass stovetop will be a bit of a lightweight in this application.
Several of us are currently discussing "ideal kettle size" with an OP on the BIAB forum. Maybe you'll take a look and weigh in. Good luck.
Foosier
Well-Known Member
The key question here is how big of a batch do you want to brew. Since you answered 5 gallons already, that sets the kettle size pretty simply. You could do an 8 gallon kettle but that will be tight, especially if you want to BIAB. The standard recommendation is to get a 10Gal kettle for a 5 gallon BIAB batch.
The next question is what type of kettle. For under $100 I think an Aluminum stock pot is probably your best option. (My opinion as I use one of these.) Amazon sells a WINWARE 40 Qt stock pot and lid for well under $100. (Very heavy duty, will last a lifetime.) If you want to go Stainless Steel, expect to pay more. If you want ports, expect to pay more.
I would recommend brewing outside if you are going BIAB with a 10 Gal kettle. It will be much easier with a burner and clean up will be easier.
The next question is what type of kettle. For under $100 I think an Aluminum stock pot is probably your best option. (My opinion as I use one of these.) Amazon sells a WINWARE 40 Qt stock pot and lid for well under $100. (Very heavy duty, will last a lifetime.) If you want to go Stainless Steel, expect to pay more. If you want ports, expect to pay more.
I would recommend brewing outside if you are going BIAB with a 10 Gal kettle. It will be much easier with a burner and clean up will be easier.
jekeane
Well-Known Member
Under 100 stainless kettle with valve shipped.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C8HQ01Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
You can get it without the valve for like 80 but the valve is certainly worth $15 more. As for a burner the bayou classic sq14 is a great place to start.
The bayou classic is actually closer to 11g to the rim which is nice for biab.
I do 3.25 to 6.5g batches in my Blichmann 10g kettle which I believe is a little smaller than the bayou classic I linked. Only reason I have the Blichmanns is I got them used and cheap.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C8HQ01Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
You can get it without the valve for like 80 but the valve is certainly worth $15 more. As for a burner the bayou classic sq14 is a great place to start.
The bayou classic is actually closer to 11g to the rim which is nice for biab.
I do 3.25 to 6.5g batches in my Blichmann 10g kettle which I believe is a little smaller than the bayou classic I linked. Only reason I have the Blichmanns is I got them used and cheap.
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This is the one I have my eye on. They have a more expensive bundle with this pot and a few other things (false bottom, etc). Are any of those that necessary? I know the false bottom is nice to have but idk about the screen or other things listed.
Morrey - I'm spending 150 on the vast majority of the stuff I need thanks to a good craigslist deal, so I'm planning on ~200 for everything else. I technically could start a batch with the 5 gallon kettle, but still. I think a $200 budget should be ok for a kettle, propane burner, and brew bag. I think those are the only things I'm missing to do BIAB batches.
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jekeane
Well-Known Member
I have never used a false bottom and have probably 30 batches with the same wilser bag over a Blichmann burner and on the stovetop. I have not had any issue with the bag melting. You can hold your bag off the bottom of the kettle or stir continuously to avoid melting.
Some people like the baskets for biab a good deal of others think they are a bad idea.
As for that kettle screen thing I have never used on and don't get the point unless maybe all you brew is IPAs but that's what a hop bag is for in my opinion.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
Morrey
Well-Known Member
Yeah, looking at the kettle and burner on Amazon, plus a Wilser BIAB custom bag, you'll come in at your $200 budget. Will be some good equipment for a 5.5G batch which is many brewer's go to batch size.
I use Wilser bags myself and have never scorched one yet bringing my wort from 148F to 170F for mashout. No bottom on my kettle. Lot's of stuff you read is from folks trying to SELL you more stuff.
I'd say skip the bottoms, strainers and the like until you get familiar with all the other equipment. You'll add slowly but purposefully in that manner.
wilserbrewer
BIAB Expert Tailor
The concord stainless kettles are a good value IMO
Rather than worry yourself over what kettle to buy, make a few batches in your 5 gallon kettle while you ponder it....the correct Answers are easier to find in time with more experience.
Keep an eye on Craig's list as well, you may find a burner and nice pot for peanuts
Rather than worry yourself over what kettle to buy, make a few batches in your 5 gallon kettle while you ponder it....the correct Answers are easier to find in time with more experience.
Keep an eye on Craig's list as well, you may find a burner and nice pot for peanuts
Morrey
Well-Known Member
The concord stainless kettles are a good value IMO
Rather than worry yourself over what kettle to buy, make a few batches in your 5 gallon kettle while you ponder it....the correct Answers are easier to find in time with more experience.
Keep an eye on Craig's list as well, you may find a burner and nice pot for peanuts
Good advice. It's amazing the number of folks who buy all kinds of brewing equipment and never use it much, or not at all as I found in my steal. I found a 20G Blichmann kettle and Speidel 60 liter fermenter from a local guy on CL and he had never taken them out of the box. I asked him why and he said he just decided to quit drinking beer. Ok, well I haven't....let's talk!
I made him an offer and he said he'd get back to me. After one month he called back to say ok. He took 40 cents on the dollar for the equipment based on the value of online sellers. Good luck and lots of patience.
But I concur, take it easy and experience will guide the OP into the best choices.
I agree with: watch Craigslist. I had 10 gallon stainless steel pots. 2 listed for $100 each, I offered $100 for both and the offer was accepted. They are very heavy duty. This was a few years ago, but you may stumble across something.
As stated earlier, keep brewing to determine what you need. I bought a turkey fryer with a 7.5 gallon aluminum pot. It is between sized and does not get used often. The burner on the other hand was used for my HLT and gets use every brew day.
I also looked at what size batch I wanted to do, and decided 5 gallons, more often, would be better for me than 10 gallons of the same beer. So 10 gallon pots are ideal in my rig.
As stated earlier, keep brewing to determine what you need. I bought a turkey fryer with a 7.5 gallon aluminum pot. It is between sized and does not get used often. The burner on the other hand was used for my HLT and gets use every brew day.
I also looked at what size batch I wanted to do, and decided 5 gallons, more often, would be better for me than 10 gallons of the same beer. So 10 gallon pots are ideal in my rig.
wilserbrewer
BIAB Expert Tailor
You could do a 3 or 4 AG gallon batch in your 5 gallon kettle. Or perhaps a 5 gallon low gravity AG batch in a 5 gallon.
get brewing
11 gallon stainless steel kettle for $70 shipped.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VXHKMC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
2 of my friends have one, it's good enough quality.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VXHKMC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
2 of my friends have one, it's good enough quality.
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dmcman73
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As someone who has used an 8 gallon kettle (brewing extract) on an electric stove many years ago, it's "OK" but takes a while to get 6 gallons up to boil. I was using a coil style electric stove and the burners are too small for the bottom of an 8 gallon kettle. I've heard of glass top stoves shattering when pots that are too large are used on the glass, it causes the glass to heat up and not allow any air to cool the surrounding glass so use caution. Invest in a propane burner or setup an all electric brewing system like i loved over to by installing an electric element inside the kettle.
I think propane is what it's gonna be. I move just about every year (gotta love being in college) so I'm not looking to invest in anything like an electric system that I can't move. I'll probably use my 5 gallon kettle for smaller batches and get a 10 gallon for propane burner when I get around to it.
