Kettle too big?

[jb1677]

I have read over and over that you can't buy too large of a kettle, and advise such as buy as big as you can afford.

I am planning on starting with standard 5gal batches, I intend to buy a wort chiller as well. I am wondering, at what size kettle, with just 5gallons of liquid would the wort chiller not be effective because it was not fully submerged?

Obviously the bigger around the kettle the shallower the liquid, so when is a kettle too big for a standard wort chiller and a 5 gal batch?

 

[homebeerbrewer]

How big are you wanting to go? Are you considering on doing 10 gallon batches in the future? Where do you brew, in the kitchen or outside? A lot of factors come into play when deciding on pot size.

 

[jb1677]

I don't know if I will do 10gal, but I know I will start with 5. I am worried that if I get a 20 gal kettle to start that it will be too big for 5gal batches, liquid to shallow to fully submerge the wort chiller specifically.

 

[Airplanedoc]

Your best deal is probably a 7 gal turkey fryer. you get the burner kettle, mine even came with a thermometer. I picked mine up on craigslist NIB. Mine works pretty well for a 5 gal batch.

Then start looking for a keg

 

[discooby]

How big of a chiller (assuming immersion chiller?) are you going to use?

I have a ½” x 50’ immersion chiller that I use with my 15gal kettle. I use it to stir after flame out to help cool the wort faster. I now only do 10 gal batches but have done 5 gal with the above with great effectiveness. I say go big! But, a 50 gal kettle for a 5 gal batch maybe overkill!

Keep in mind that the wider the kettle and smaller the batch the greater potential for burning your wort.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I wouldn't go for a 20 gallon pot unless you plan on doing 15 gallon batches. With a turkey frier like airplanedoc mentioned, you'll be able to upgrade to a keggle later, and then do 10 gallon batches easily. The chiller may need to be upgraded by then too. Are you handy with DIY projects? If so, you might want to build your own.

 

[jb1677]

Discoby - did your immersion Chiller fully submerge in your 15 gal pot when doing 5 gal batches?

 

[discooby]

The chiller fits in the kettle with a few inches to spare from the top (meaning I can put the lid on the kettle w/out bottoming out on the chiller… the kettle is about 14.3” tall x 17.5” wide)

With 10 gal batches (11gal in the kettle) the top of the chiller is about 2 inches above the wort; with 5.5 gallons in the kettle, less than half of the chiller is submerged; In this case just run your water through it a little slower. It will cool just as effective as a 3/8” x 25’ chiller… BUT, a 3/8” x 25’ chiller will not be as effective for doing a 10 gal batch). My ½” x 50’ immersion chiller is effective for both and the pot is not too big for a 5 gal batch.

It takes about 30 – 45 min to cool 11gal (with lid on) from 212*F to 80*F running 60*F water at 65*F ambient air temp - dependent on how often I use the chiller to stir the wort.