Keggle OR 15 gallon Megapot

[CanadianQuaffer]

Any thoughts?

I want to use it for both 5 and 10 gallon batches, so I'm wondering if anybody has any thoughts/advice to offer.

Thanks!

Nick

 

[lumpher]

are you handy with tools and soldering?

 

[cincyjrod]

I have one of each and find myself using the kettle with lid much more.
Good luck

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

Tools, yes, soldiering...well, I've only done it once...it's kinda easy I think.
But the Keggle I'm looking at is from Adventures in Homebrewing and it comes with a 1/2 NPT bulkhead welded in already. $140 vs $250 or so for the Megapot.

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

I have one of each and find myself using the kettle with lid much more.
Good luck

You mean you use the keggle more often, right? Or do you mean the Megapot?

 

[runningweird]

I have a keggle, so I vote that you should too. that being said A pot with uniform sides would be nice to have. The handles on the keg make it nice too.

If you can get a keg on the cheap and modify it yourself then I vote you do that, if you would rather save yourself the headache then go with the premade pot.

 

[Dog House Brew]

MEGAPOT, I like a pot much better. Easier to handle and IMO transfers the heat better.

 

[cobolstinks]

Keg buy on craigslist and save money. Got mine for $50 each, npt couplings are $2.50 at NB. Now I just need a welder. Kegs rock!

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

MEGAPOT, I like a pot much better. Easier to handle and IMO transfers the heat better.

Yeah, for quality I'm leaning toward the pot, but for cost and shape (tall and narrow, less boil off) I'm leaning toward the keggle.

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

What guage are those pots?

 

[Firebat138]

we bought one keg and got another for free... USed a grinder to cut off the top and smooth it out... Not sure about the heat transfer and etc, but the kegs have been working great

 

[Piratwolf]

I got a 15g aluminum pot from HD for $78 shipped. Used my step-bit to drill out the hole, pulled the weldless SS ball valve from my old 5g pot... Filled with 12g of water & boiled an hour to build passive oxide layer... and presto! 15g brew pot for $80

Just sayin'.

 

[TopherM]

I actually started with a keggle, and found it difficult to work with for 5 gallon batches, but PERFECT for 10 gallon batches.

I then bought a separate 11 gallon SS kettle for my 5 gallon batches.

I think a keggle would be great for both sized batches if you intend to work it into a three tier system or a single tier system with a pump, but, again, if you are working with it on its own as a brew kettle with a cooler mash tun, or as a mash tun, it is a bit much for a 5 gallon batch.

 

[richkev]

I have one of each. I find I use my Megapot much more often. It heats up quicker (much faster on my system) and my immersion chiller fits easily. I'm actually thinking of selling my keggle.

 

[Firebat138]

I've done some testing on heating times for the keggles vs the kettles. The kettles will heat 10gals of water about 8mins quicker.

Cool, good to know... We just have a good free resource for the keggles and such, so it worked out that way, we also have a 10 gal kettle. Trying to work our way up to some good fermentation vessels now...

 

[megalomani]

Kettle for boil, keggle for hlt, cooler for mash

 

[xsists]

Megapots are quite wide no? If so, keggles should boil off less during the hour. May not be much less, but less. I like the handles on kegs since they are part of the keg and not riveted on. I use keggles and do 5 gal batches and have no problem.

 

[rico567]

I know that there are many people who use keggles, so I'll say up front, "NTTAWWT*." I respect your decision; below is mine.

Personally, I spend too much money and time brewing to try to save money on an adapted piece of production equipment like that. I would absolutely buy a purpose-made pot if I decided to go to 10 gal. batches (which I have no intention of doing, BTW). Probably a Penrose Kettle or something like the Megapot, maybe even splurge on a Blichmann.

* Not That There's Anything Wrong With That

 

[cobolstinks]

Kegs are way more cost effective than megapots or blichmanns. So yeah if you have tons of cash to burn, get the megapot or blichmanns (do they come in gold plated handles yet) , just my .02

 

[xsists]

I would love to go with Penrose or Blichmanns. The price breakdown below is why I chose keggles.

Penrose: $190 x 3 = $570
Blichmanns: $375 x 3 = $1125
Keggles: $30 x 3 = $90

Sure, I have put some other money into the keggles to convert them, but I would also have to put money into the other pots to convert them as well (mainly the Penrose).

 

[Jklinden]

Depends on your philosophy...my philosophy is: if it doesn't make better beer than why buy it. This is to say buy a keggle it will make the same beer a Blichman or megapot will. I Recommend the weldless kit from AHS and a good unibit.

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

Well, my wife is buying me a brew kettle for Christmas, so cost isn't really a factor (to me, lol) but I'd like to keep is reasonable, hence Blichmann not making the cut.

 

[CompassBrewing]

Love my keggle. Blichmann is nice for the bling of course but my keggle does the job with out breaking the bank. Plus (and this is just one of those personal things) I get a bit of sanctification from "building" it myself.