Looking for recommendations on new brew kettle

[shrike]

I just started getting back into AG brewing after taking a break for ~ 5 years. Already have a few batches in primary. I do 5 gallon batches, brew outside with gas, recently started batch sparging (previously fly), and keg my beer.

My brew kettle isn't the greatest. I got it off of ebay many years ago and while SS, it has a lot of sharp edges. I'm tired of slicing my fingers, so I want to upgrade. I've read through a lot of the comparison posts (such as 4 Popular Brew Kettles Compared); they were very helpful. What I'd like is:

• 10 gallon capacity. I have been boiling from 7 1/2 gal down to 5 1/2.
• Thermo so that I can stop abusing my original glass thermometer (for when chilling wort). Damn things bangs around and sooner or later I am going to break it.
• Sight glass (I want to get a little more precise so that I can better calculate boil off and efficiency).
• Do a better job with not collecting trub if possible.

My local HBS had this: Bayou Classic 10 gallon Brew Kettle which would be nearly perfect except that it didn't have the sight glass. This kettle appears to be relatively new or at least I didn't see a lot of people talking about it. It has a pretty nifty bottom that is included--the SS bottom plus a SS mesh. I am a bit worried about the dead space. It doesn't look too bad, but I would probably want to install the sight glass myself... something that I am trying to avoid. If anyone has this kettle, please chime in. This would be about $220 plus say another $30 for weldless sight glass kit plus say brush and heat shield. Might cost me a little more because I think I ruined my step bit a while back. Figure we're under $300.

The alternative is probably either this Polar Ware pot which is at $330, plus I'd have to add in the thermo (~$25) plus anything I want to add in for the filtering... false bottom or otherwise.

OR I could go with the blingman... but it looks like any additional kettle bottom would be extra... to the tune of about another $75. To get a equivalent set up we'd be looking at nearly $400.

So I guess I'm looking anyone who might have had experience with this particular Bayou, especially if they've modified it. I am pretty sure this is the way that I want to go, but since we're talking more than a couple of hundred bucks (and since I might have to drill it as well), I'd like to be really sure.

TIA.

JB

 

[helibrewer]

After too many DIY projects I decided to pay upfront. Ordered a 20 gallon Stout Kettle today with sight glass, tangential port, out port and thermowell. Comes with valves, fittings, thermometer and has a conical bottom to collect trub....It's pricey though....even the 15 gallon with all that is over $500. I didn't price the 10 gallon because I wanted to go 20 even though I'm doing 5-6 gallon batches now.

 

[FredTheNuke]

Www.homebrewstuff.com


http://www.homebrewstuff.com/10-gallon-kettle-w-valve-thermometer.html

I have their heavy duty 25 gallon 3 pot setup. Great price and excellent equipment.

I highly recommend them!

 

[FredTheNuke]

They have it in bare setup, MLT with false bottom, brew kettle or HLT with sight glass.

 

[Francus]

I have this pot. It's 20 gal, but if you check his other offerings he has smaller (and larger) ones. A very good price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-80-QT-Quart-Polished-Stainless-Steel-Stock-Pot-Brewing-Kettle-Large-w-Lid-/190775614493?pt=Cookware&hash=item2c6b1cdc1d

Then you get a weldless kit for your ball valve and a sight glass. That will be another $60 or $70 depending on where you get it. Then you need to punch the holes with a step punch and seal it all up with Rector Seal. You can have a good 20 gal pot for about $120 or so and some elbow grease.

 

[shrike]

After too many DIY projects I decided to pay upfront. Ordered a 20 gallon Stout Kettle today with sight glass, tangential port, out port and thermowell. Comes with valves, fittings, thermometer and has a conical bottom to collect trub....It's pricey though....even the 15 gallon with all that is over $500. I didn't price the 10 gallon because I wanted to go 20 even though I'm doing 5-6 gallon batches now.

From here I'm assuming? This wasn't an option that I'd seen before. I'll also check it out too.

JB

 

[reinstone]

Instawares.com. Update international stainless stockpots are the same as mdgapots sold everyehere. A step bit , weldless fitting and you are there. PM me with questions. They have pots of all sizes.

 

[Nuggethead]

I have several friends that homebrew and have different types of store bought kettles. No matter how fancy or expensive they are, everyone prefers the converted kegs that I use with sight tubes and thermo's. They're very functional and way cheaper to make as long as you can acquire a keg. Bobby at Brewhardware.com has every piece of hardware you would need to do this weather you weld fittings or go weldless. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[jdub1782]

Take a look at the stainless kettles from www.spikebrewing.com. I have the 15 gallon with two welded fittings (horizontal) and I use it for both 5 and 10 gallon batches. I have been very impressed with this pot.

If you are interested in his pots, check the vendor section of hbt as he sometimes runs specials for members.

 

[Ajgeo]

Here is another option. These kettles are nice and cheap.

 

[Kayos]

Keggle all the way. Find someone who has a kegerator, give them the $40 deposit they get for returning the empty keg and order all of your weldless stuff from brewhardware (Bobby's place).

BAM.

 

[Yesfan]

I have the same sized Bayou Classic you linked, but mine is this one:

link


I do BIAB, so I like the basket for support.

 

[archer75]

I use a 15 gallon boil kettle and am happy I have the extra head space. 10 gallon would make me nervous.

Anyways, the blichmann has everything you want. You'll pay for it but I think it's worth it.

 

[shrike]

15 kettle for 5 gal batches?

 

[archer75]

15 kettle for 5 gal batches?

Absolutely. When you account for evaporation, loss to trub in the kettle and the carboy, etc. I often start a 60 minute boil with around 7 gallons of liquid. And some batches are 90 minute or more so then you're looking at around 8 gallons of wort. Having only 2 gallons of head space would make me quite nervous.

I've had that hot break come up quite high. High enough to have gone over a 10 gallon kettle.

I like to play it safe. And you could then have the room for any future 10 gallon batches.

 

[shrike]

Yeah, that's about my starting boil: 7 gallons which is real tight for my current brew kettle which is optimistically 32 - 35 qts. I definitely have to keep an eye on it during hot break.

I am going to go with the Bayout 40 qt and install my own sight gauge. If I ever decide to do 10 gallon batches I'd probably convert to a whole new setup.

JB

 

[whrswoldo]

Take a look at the stainless kettles from www.spikebrewing.com. I have the 15 gallon with two welded fittings (horizontal) and I use it for both 5 and 10 gallon batches. I have been very impressed with this pot.

If you are interested in his pots, check the vendor section of hbt as he sometimes runs specials for members.

I have the 10 gallon version and I've been very happy with it. I originally wanted the 15 gallon but they were out of stock (contrary to Web Site) and I was too impatient to wait so I changed my order to the 10 gal instead. the owner seemed reasonable, quality is good, and the price really can't be beat for a pot with wellness fittings. I'd definitely take a look a spikes kettles

 

[Yesfan]

I like what I have, but that's a pretty good price on a kettle that includes a brewometer, false bottom, and bazooka filter.

 

[eric19312]

I bought the 10 gal bayou classic pot with lid only from amazon. $77 right now... Free shipping amazon prime ftw...

Added weldless sight glass, bulkhead and 3 piece valve with a hose nipple, and a 3" brew thermometer from brewhardware.com. Used a 90 degree elbow as a pickup tube. Also bought the small step bit there. That was about $100 with shipping.

Assembly took about 2-3 hours taking my time on the holes.

Any luck with this app and air will be pasted below. I've brewed on it twice now, no complaints. Needs a heat shield...using a piece of aluminum foil for now...as for trub pickup, let's just say I'm still working on my whirlpool technique.

Eric

 

[Yesfan]

^^^^

That might be the route to go, if buying the false bottom from BC is going to be cheaper.

 

[shrike]

THANKS for the photo. This will be very similar to what I'm going to end up with. Really great kettle price.

JB

 

[LuiInIdaho]

Absolutely. When you account for evaporation, loss to trub in the kettle and the carboy, etc. I often start a 60 minute boil with around 7 gallons of liquid. And some batches are 90 minute or more so then you're looking at around 8 gallons of wort. Having only 2 gallons of head space would make me quite nervous.

I've had that hot break come up quite high. High enough to have gone over a 10 gallon kettle.

I like to play it safe. And you could then have the room for any future 10 gallon batches.

I would second this thought. I love my 15 gallon kettle.

 

[swackattack]

I routinely have near boil overs with 6-6.5 gallon batches (8+ gallon preboil) in my 15 boilermaker. Glad i opted for the 15...but kinda wish i would have went 20

 

[eric19312]

I really debated the 10 vs 15 gal pot before buying the 10. Actually fwiw the bayou classic is 10.5 gal so maybe that will save me from a boil over, maybe not.

For me I was concerned about the placement of the thermometer in a 15 gal Pot. Mine is 6" off the bottom of the kettle and 4 gallons just reaches the probe.

Was thinking about opportunity to go to 10 gal batches but I just got the bug and bottled 10 batches since September... Kinda swimming in beer for now, giving it away helps but that hits my bottle inventory. Was thinking that I could pull off 9+ gallon batch in this kettle by boiling a portion of the wort in my 5 gallon pot on the stove, then combining worts right before chilling.

Eric