Help me pick a brew kettle

[bigben]

Ok, my original brew kettle order got cancelled....they were out of stock and didn't tell me till a week after I ordered....ANYWAY>>>

This isn't an aluminum vs stainless thread...but it is, sorta.

I was looking at instawares.com and I can get a 60 QT Aluminum pot that is 6mm thick(about 15/64") shipped for about $95

Or, I can get a 40 QT Stainless Steel with the 3-ply bottom for about $130 shipped.

What should I do, waaaaaaa?

Thanks.

 

[bigben]

O hell, I can get a 60 qt aluminum that is 4mm thick for 75 shipped.

 

[dollhousebrewery]

Go for the 60qt. You will be wanting to be doing 10gals soon enough, just get the bigger pot now. Or do what I did and get a 60qt stainless pot for some outrageous 220 dollars...










it was worth it

 

[Iordz]

Go with aluminum, it's cheaper and it conducts heat better. As long as you take good care of the brewing kettle you shouldn't have any off flavors or problems. I have a 40qt aluminum kettle and I really like it. Make sure to boil some water in the kettle first to build up the protective layer, and don’t scrub too hard when cleaning.

 

[Tankard]

Is suggesting a keggle allowed here?

/me votes for Keg->keggle conversion. MUCH cheaper and just as effective.

 

[z987k]

Go with aluminum, it's cheaper and it conducts heat better. As long as you take good care of the brewing kettle you shouldn't have any off flavors or problems. I have a 40qt aluminum kettle and I really like it. Make sure to boil some water in the kettle first to build up the protective layer, and don’t scrub too hard when cleaning.

I have a convert!

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

I just picked up not only a 40qt stainless on eBay for less then you're 60qt aluminum, but also 2 retired kegs from a local brewery for less then the 60qt aluminum. :rockin:

 

[Llarian]

Stay away from instawares. I tried to order a SS kettle through them and finally had to call my credit card company to have the charges reverse after 3 months of non-shipment. Spend a few extra dollars and get it elsewhere.

-D

 

[bigben]

Stay away from instawares. I tried to order a SS kettle through them and finally had to call my credit card company to have the charges reverse after 3 months of non-shipment. Spend a few extra dollars and get it elsewhere.

-D

Really, I just had the same issue somewhere else. Although it hasn't been 3 months...but I did tell them to cancel my order and they said they'd refund my money.

Grrr.

 

[bigben]

I just picked up not only a 40qt stainless on eBay for less then you're 60qt aluminum, but also 2 retired kegs from a local brewery for less then the 60qt aluminum. :rockin:

Was it used? Can't be very good of a pot if its new...from everything I read anyway.

 

[bigben]

Ok, another question....in order to brew 10 gallon batches is 60 qts enough?

How much do you need to boil in order to end up with like 10.5 gallons?

 

[Lil' Sparky]

It's enough, but close. Even with a keggle (62), there's not much head room for the hot break if I start with 13-13.5 gals. I usually get at least a little boil over, even if I'm watching it.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

To answer your 2nd question, Beersmith says for a final volume of 10.5 gallons, assuming 15% boil off rate for 60 mins, you need to start with 12.87 gallons.

I usually try to get 11 gallons post boil, so I start with an extra 1/2 gal.

 

[bigben]

ok, so if I get a keggle....do I have to have a spigot, or can I still siphon it over the top?

Also...will I then need a 50' chiller?

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

Was it used? Can't be very good of a pot if its new...from everything I read anyway.

SS Pot was not used. This thing is a beast. I couldn't believe have heavy it was. It is much more durable then the cheapy aluminum 20qt pot I was using. I'm more then satisfied and can't wait to get the drill out to add a spigot and therm.

 

[rohanski]

I've been pushing these guys as I have seen others.
http://www.kitchenfantasy.com/shopping_cart/stockpots.html
The pots are very heavy. Delivery is very timely.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

I've been pushing these guys as I have seen others.
http://www.kitchenfantasy.com/shopping_cart/stockpots.html
The pots are very heavy. Delivery is very timely.

This would be who I got the pot from as well, but didn't pay that price. I believe after shipping it was less then $90.

 

[bigben]

Care to share a link or any info?

 

[Lil' Sparky]

ok, so if I get a keggle....do I have to have a spigot, or can I still siphon it over the top?

Also...will I then need a 50' chiller?

If you get a keggle, just think of it as a 15.5 gal pot. It's not giving you constraints that other pots that size won't. With any pot that size, doing 10 gal batches, the larger the chiller, the better, and a drain valve + pickup tube makes things easy. Neither are required though.

 

[Alamo_Beer]

Keep an eye out on craigslist!

I picked up a 60qt i think AL pot from a restraunt that shut down and is being turned into a coffee shop for $20

Also, at ALL of the HEB's around here they've got 40qt AL (really thin walled though) pots for $20. I've got one and I use it for heating sparge water and the like

 

[bigben]

Yea, there is never anything on craigslist in south jersey...

What if I just got a keggle from http://sabco.stores.yahoo.net/ without a spigot???

 

[Lil' Sparky]

Well, that's one (very expensive) way to get a keggle.

How about pedalbiker on ebay? Here's one of his offerings. I think he'll sell you one with whatever options you want. http://cgi.ebay.com/homebrewing-keg...ryZ38172QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Alamo_Beer]

Yup, the craigslist down here is normally pretty crappy. I just kept a look out for anything promising and found an ad for a restraunt auction. I emailed them about any big pots and they said there was some.

Just keep a look out!

 

[bigben]

Well, that's one (very expensive) way to get a keggle.

How about pedalbiker on ebay? Here's one of his offerings. I think he'll sell you one with whatever options you want. http://cgi.ebay.com/homebrewing-keg...ryZ38172QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

hmmm, ok he has some good stuff.

that sabco site has a keg with the lid cut out for $112...no spigots or anything.... http://sabco.stores.yahoo.net/blowoutspecial.html

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

hmmm, ok he has some good stuff.

that sabco site has a keg with the lid cut out for $112...no spigots or anything.... http://sabco.stores.yahoo.net/blowoutspecial.html

Any small breweries around you? Or close enough you'd be willing to drive to? If so give them a shout and see if they are dispensing of any of their kegs. I paid about $45/each for mine from a brewery here in Portland. I've heard of others getting them for closer to $20 each. Another option is to try a scrap yard. Your best prices are probably found there, but that can be hit or miss.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

I didn't see their plain keg - that's not a bad price for a keg you know is legal that already has the top cut out. I've only seen their models with couplers + options, and they ARE expensive. Pedalbiker would be a much better deal if you want to get one that's already got a valve. Any idea what sabco charges for shipping?

I think a lot of scrap yards have stopped accepting kegs. I know ours here has. Good for the breweries, bad for the crack heads stealing kegs (and other metals) for scrap.

 

[bigben]

I didn't see their plain keg - that's not a bad price for a keg you know is legal that already has the top cut out. I've only seen their models with couplers + options, and they ARE expensive. Pedalbiker would be a much better deal if you want to get one that's already got a valve. Any idea what sabco charges for shipping?

I think a lot of scrap yards have stopped accepting kegs. I know ours here has. Good for the breweries, bad for the crack heads stealing kegs (and other metals) for scrap.

Shipping to me would be 19.61 for a total of 132.56.

So that's about $50 less than pedalbikers...but pedalbiker has the valve already....decisions decisions.

 

[pedalbiker]

Pedalbikers are legal kegs also. They are nice and readt to go. Sabco also make a nice product. You will spend 20.oo for a coupler and welding and about 20.00 for a valve

Shipping to me would be 19.61 for a total of 132.56.

So that's about $50 less than pedalbikers...but pedalbiker has the valve already....decisions decisions.

 

[rdwj]

Pedalbikers are legal kegs also. They are nice and readt to go. Sabco also make a nice product. You will spend 20.oo for a coupler and welding and about 20.00 for a valve

I have one from pedalbiker - very nice product.