augiedoggy
Well-Known Member
I have heard many people on here say they were convinced to go with 20 gallon 3 vessel systems and they wished they hadnt. Ive even heard more than a few say they have gone from a 3 vessel herms or rims system back to a single biab setup...way less setup and cleanup time and space needed... and the OP already indicated they werent looking for 7 hr brew days..You're setting up something different than what I have/want/need.....but my advice is to buy big. I've never heard a homebrewer say that they wish they had a smaller brew kettle or a smaller propane burner. In your case, I wouldn't settle for less than the ability to do 15 or even 20 gallon batches. Go big on the electric service like another poster said. Buy once, cry once.....nothing sucks worse than buying something and outgrowing it in a year and spending a lot more in the long run.
This is really cool, what you're doing. You are going to have a blast. It will be interesting to see how it goes - I'm guessing one of you will kill a keg much quicker than the others (definitely the 'host' of the brewery will go through homebrew on brew days......your pipeline will get out of whack unless you each have several kegs at your disposal.....but more kegs is an easy expansion.
I have and love my 3 vessel setup but they are not for everyone... again this is why I agree the OP should actually try brewing on a biab setup before spending thousands like many who jump into this hobby thinking more expensive equipment will help make it easier to make good beer... It doesn't necessarily work that way.