kettle vs keggle?

[crazyseany]

I've seen a bunch of set ups using both. My plans are to do all grain (1st one this weekend)

for starters (or maybe permanent) I plan on doing 5 gallon batches and have a cube cooler mashtun. I also have an 8 gallon stainless Bk...

if I was to go to a 3 pot setup would you suggest keggles or kettles? Is one really preffered over the other? Why if so...

 

[naemlss]

I had the same dilemma as you when I first decided to go all grain. For me the decision to use keggles came because it was cheaper to go that route. After doing a lot of research I was able to put 2 keggles together for less than 100 bucks for parts. The downside to these keggles is you have to have the tools to cut the open and drill the correct holes. Welding isn't neccesary because you can buy weldless valves and gauges, or you can build them yourself from local diy shops. If you don't have the ability to do this stuff yourself it will cost quite a lot to buy someones completed keggles already. Another downside to the keggles is that they are very thin aluminum, and a lot of the brew kettles you buy are heavy duty pots with tri layer bottoms. This means that they have a layer of metal sandwiched between two others that helps to disperse the heat evenly throughout the bottom of the pot.

If you have the money to spend on welded high quality parts I say go for it. If you are looking to be thrifty and are a DIY kind of guy I say go with the keggles.

 

[TimT]

. Another downside to the keggles is that they are very thin aluminum, and a lot of the brew kettles you buy are heavy duty pots with tri layer bottoms. .

Kegs are stainless steel that is why they are so desirable relative to cost. A same sized stainless pot is big $$$$

 

[eastoak]

i have a 10 gallon boilermaker and two keggles i made myself with a harbor freight angle grinder and bargainfittings.com fittings. one of the keggles is my HLT and the other i use to boil 10 gallon batches. it's nice to have the 10 gallon boilermaker for 5 gallon batches or for brewing on my stovetop when i don't want to use my brewstand out in the rain. lots of people mash in a keggle but i like the 10 gallon cooler and it's ability to hold it's temp without direct heat being applied.

 

[crazyseany]

I think there are both aluminium and SS kegs out there...

do you think the 8 gallon pot will be big enough for AG full boils (it worked good for extract full boils)

 

[LandoLincoln]

I think there are both aluminium and SS kegs out there...

do you think the 8 gallon pot will be big enough for AG full boils (it worked good for extract full boils)

It's exceedingly difficult to come across an aluminum keg in America these days.

One easy way to test (or so I've heard): brass is harder than aluminum but softer than stainless steel, so take a brass key and try to scratch the keg. If it doesn't scratch, then it's stainless.

Yes, an 8 gallon pot is sufficient for a 5 gallon batch of anything. I wouldn't recommend less than that.

 

[TopherM]

I have a 11 gallon kettle and a 15.5 gallon Keggle. I ONLY use the 15.5 gallon keggle for 10 gallon batches, and use the 11 gallon kettle for all 5 and 5.5 gallon batches.

The thick SS skirting on the top and bottom of the 15.5 gallon keggle make it VERY heavy. Also, I BIAB, and find it hard to work with 5-7 gallons of water and the bagged grains in the 15.5 gallon keggle just because it is so big.

When I do 10 gallon batches, the 13 gallons or so of water is much much easier to work with for BIAB.

If I were building a system with pumps to move my water instead of gravity, I think I'd do all batches in the keggle, but as long as I'm at the whims of gravity, I find the 11 gallon kettle more flexible.

That's my 2c.