Made in USA Brew Kettle?

[ndinh]

Yes, there are plenty of options for USA stock pots but very few (if any) fully USA-made kettles. You can buy a Vollrath and drill a hole but then you'll end up with weldless fittings which some may not like. The only completely USA-made kettle (welded ports) that I can think of off hand, is Polarware Brewrite which I don't even think they make anymore.

 

[Hops-and-pots]

Exactly. Which is why if you want to go USA made you find alternatives. I buy USA products, right down to my toothbrushes, bathroom fans and even my purse. In this instance I bought USA stock pots and have been very happy. If OP wants to brew with USA made products, I can't recommend going stock pots with a tap enough. It will last him until he dies at a ripe old age.

 

[likeybikey]

@Hops-and-pots Thanks for the information. The Vollrath stock pot is one more to add to this list. That is the same as the PolarWare that was made in the USA. It is also comparably priced ($288). Actually it's more expensive since the PolarWare was formerly available with welded fittings for about that amount. The reason this is the same pot is that Vollrath acquired PolarWare.

@ndinh: note that the BrewRite line of pots are not the made in USA PolarWares.

@solbes: If you paid $160 for a PolarWare recently, unless it was a massive sale I don't think what you have is the made in USA pot. Since you mention that your pot is heavy, I feel pretty sure, sorry to say, that what you have is not the pot I linked to above and thus is not made in America. You probably have the BrewRite pot (it looks like the Asian-made pots are now being sold by LD Carlson). It is arguably a better pot than the USA-made pot, so I'm not trying to say that what you have is bad but rather just trying to keep the information on this thread accurate for interested readers. Correct me if I am wrong!

Thanks, all!

 

[solbes]

@solbes: If you paid $160 for a PolarWare recently, unless it was a massive sale I don't think what you have is the made in USA pot. Since you mention that your pot is heavy, I feel pretty sure, sorry to say, that what you have is not the pot I linked to above and thus is not made in America. You probably have the BrewRite pot (it looks like the Asian-made pots are now being sold by LD Carlson). It is arguably a better pot than the USA-made pot, so I'm not trying to say that what you have is bad but rather just trying to keep the information on this thread accurate for interested readers. Correct me if I am wrong!

Hmm, doesn't quite look like that one. I see Midwest no longer stocks a 15G "Heavy Duty" stainless kettle. I did go back and check my account and the kettle info was below:

15 Gallon Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Brew Kettle
Kettle Configuration
15 Gallon w/ Ball Valve 42151 $219.99

The ball valve added $50, so it was $169.99 as a base kettle. The bottom is tri clad SS-Al-SS at 5 mm thick and the sidewalls are 1.2 mm stainless. I seem to remember it being USA made, but can't really confirm that. Its possible its sourced from Asia.

 

[augiedoggy]

Are you saying they are falsely advertising that it's made in the USA?

This is subject to an everchanging interpretation.

all they have to do is cut a hole for a valve or polish it further or ad different handles and they can say made in the usa I have many customers that do things just like this... the pump company down the street buys there pumps from china... than wires them to run on 120v with a 120v powercord and removes the made in china sticker and replaces it with a made in usa sticker... same with many electronics... some "final assembly" is done here in the states and it says made in usa... sometimes they will say "made in the usa with domestic and foreign components"

I would have to say that at least 80% of all products sold today are NOT manufacuered or made by the company who markets them and brands them... its a shell game they may make one specific model of something thats made here and base their marketing stratigy off that or they buy failing old well known US manufactuers and close them down but market overseas stuff with that brandname.

Its just the way the economy works. and the minority who go out of their way to do the research will never have a big enough impact on anything to change that as sad as it is. nothing wrong with someone believing in principals... As long as you realize this and you make enough money to spend the often 2x3 times higher pricetag for everything.... and then theres the things that just arent 100% made in the states anymore like automobiles (even Harley davison is just Assembled and painted here now)..

 

[Hops-and-pots]

@Hops-and-pots Thanks for the information. The Vollrath stock pot is one more to add to this list. That it is the same as the PolarWare that was made in the USA. It is also comparably priced ($288). Actually it's more expensive since the PolarWare was formerly available with welded fittings for about that amount.

Its a pretty solid pot, I'm definitely happy with it There's also a company in Pittsburgh that makes all sorts of cooking products and you can actually visit the factory. If I can get the name from my husband I'll post it here. All-clad makes incredible stuff and have stock pots as well but I haven't seen one with a tap. I have a few of their items and the things would probably withstand a nuclear explosion. Worth every penny.

 

[ndinh]

Hmm, doesn't quite look like that one. I see Midwest no longer stocks a 15G "Heavy Duty" stainless kettle. I did go back and check my account and the kettle info was below:

15 Gallon Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Brew Kettle
Kettle Configuration
15 Gallon w/ Ball Valve 42151 $219.99

The ball valve added $50, so it was $169.99 as a base kettle. The bottom is tri clad SS-Al-SS at 5 mm thick and the sidewalls are 1.2 mm stainless. I seem to remember it being USA made, but can't really confirm that. Its possible its sourced from Asia.

Yep, those are the same ones that I had.

http://www.beermakerssupply.com/Polar-Ware/

They're claimed 100% made in the USA. I believe they were on clearance awhile back for dirt cheap. Unfortunately, I don't think these are being made anymore although I think polarware is making kettles under a different name. Not sure if those are USA made though.

 

[augiedoggy]

Yep, those are the same ones that I had.

http://www.beermakerssupply.com/Polar-Ware/

They're claimed 100% made in the USA. I believe they were on clearance awhile back for dirt cheap. Unfortunately, I don't think these are being made anymore although I think polarware is making kettles under a different name. Not sure if those are USA made though.

Polarware has appeared to partner with two other companies for the homebrewing line... however its unclear who makes what and where as these companies appear to be their new distributors..

http://polarware.com/polarware/Other-Polar-Ware-Businesses/Home-Brewing.htm

 

[Bobcatbrewing42]

I use keggles for brewing. They have a "Franke" stamp. Does that mean that American beer kettles are made in Switzerland?
BTW: Keggles work fine but someday I want to upgrade to a designated setup with brew kettle, conical fermenter, hot liquor tank and the whole nine yards.

 

[Nez02]

Its a pretty solid pot, I'm definitely happy with it There's also a company in Pittsburgh that makes all sorts of cooking products and you can actually visit the factory. If I can get the name from my husband I'll post it here. All-clad makes incredible stuff and have stock pots as well but I haven't seen one with a tap. I have a few of their items and the things would probably withstand a nuclear explosion. Worth every penny.

Did you ever ask your husband the name of the brand of pots made in Pittsburgh?

 

[Hops-and-pots]

Did you ever ask your husband the name of the brand of pots made in Pittsburgh?

Thanks for reminding me! Here's the linky: http://www.usapans.com/
I know they make small stock pots (8qts etc) which would work with wine but I haven't seen one with a tap. But I can tell you their stuff is top notch (I have 3 cookie sheets by them).

 

[tehnick]

Spike Brewing makes brewing gear and say it's made in the USA.

 

[teddy4xp]

Spike Brewing makes brewing gear and say it's made in the USA.

Yep...I believe he is correct

 

[MaxStout]

Did you ever ask your husband the name of the brand of pots made in Pittsburgh?

I found this site, with a listing of U.S. manufacturers of kitchenware. It lists two in the Pittsburgh area: All-Clad and USA Pans.

 

[ndinh]

Spike Brewing makes brewing gear and say it's made in the USA.

I believe spike and a bunch of others such as Brewers hardware, bru gear, stout, etc orders their kettles overseas and welds the fittings here so they're not 100% made in the usa if that really matters to you.

 

[tehnick]

I believe spike and a bunch of others such as Brewers hardware, bru gear, stout, etc orders their kettles overseas and welds the fittings here so they're not 100% made in the usa if that really matters to you.

When I mentioned my Stout gear was cheaper and also built well, I was most definitely informed by many that I was unpatriotic for buying Chinese equipment and should only buy American. Typical keyboard commandos that you see on Facebook. So I dunno, but my Stout equipment is great. Can't beat the tri clamp setup and the welds are sanitary.

 

[likeybikey]

Yep, those are the same ones that I had.

http://www.beermakerssupply.com/Polar-Ware/

They're claimed 100% made in the USA. I believe they were on clearance awhile back for dirt cheap. Unfortunately, I don't think these are being made anymore although I think polarware is making kettles under a different name. Not sure if those are USA made though.

Those are the USA-made ones that now bear the Vollrath name, but I think they are still different from the pot @solbes bought because @solbes said, "The bottom is tri clad SS-Al-SS at 5 mm thick and the sidewalls are 1.2 mm stainless." The bottom of those USA-made Polarware/Vollrath pots is not tri-clad.

 

[likeybikey]

I believe spike and a bunch of others such as Brewers hardware, bru gear, stout, etc orders their kettles overseas and welds the fittings here so they're not 100% made in the usa if that really matters to you.

Yes, that is correct. Spike Brewing chimed in on this and described their process. See post #4 in this thread for Spike Brewing's response.

 

[edroberts]

Yes, that is correct. Spike Brewing chimed in on this and described their process. See post #4 in this thread for Spike Brewing's response.

Yet another reason I love Spike. In addition to the spectacular quality of their products, Ben is more than upfront with his equipment and knowledge of where others source from. To you sir, I raise a glass!

 

[MaxStout]

...I was most definitely informed by many that I was unpatriotic for buying Chinese equipment and should only buy American. Typical keyboard commandos that you see on Facebook....

When someone questions my patriotism, my response is, "what branch of the military did you serve in?"

They usually shut up and quietly slither away.

 

[tehnick]

When someone questions my patriotism, my response is, "what branch of the military did you serve in?"

They usually shut up and quietly slither away.

That does work. I didn't serve myself (wanted to), buuuuuut, I have plenty of American made rifles.

 

[Bensiff]

When someone questions my patriotism, my response is, "what branch of the military did you serve in?"



They usually shut up and quietly slither away.

My response is, "I thought we were talking about brew kettles."

 

[wilserbrewer]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424898133.602124.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424898231.919543.jpg

Purchased this today....
Volrath 10796 60 qt 18/8 stainless steel w/ aluminum heat shield bottom. Made in USA on lower label.

 

[Brewfreedom]

Waking this one up from the dead. In the market for some kettles and a new conical and China is not going to be an option anymore for me. Has anyone retooled for the post china world?

 

[augiedoggy]

Blichmann has their conicals made by toledo metal spinning in the US.. The truth is they cost a couple hundred more and even with that they had to take shortcuts and use economical weldless fittings and non sanitay treaded valves vs welded sanitary Tri clamp ports to help keep costs in the same ballpark as the others on the market. to thats it for stainless conicals as far as I know.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Has anyone retooled for the post china world?

China will bounce back. I work in product development and manufacturing with factories here in the states as well as in China and elsewhere. The production lines may be shut down but trust me, they're still busy developing new products.

One real challenge Chinese manufacturers are facing is an already large and growing young workforce that increasingly refuse to work in dirty factories, and they are educated enough now to have plenty of other options. In the short term that means more automation but eventually it will lead to outsourcing.

I've visited factories year after year and saw with my own eyes brand new european- or japanese-made robotic equipment bolted to the floor literally in the spot where a worker once stood. In metal fabrication shops the first jobs to go were the hot, dusty polishing stations.

But hey, if our economy tanks and we raise a generation of post-science morons, we can be ready to take those crappy low-paying jobs back.

 

[augiedoggy]

China will bounce back. I work in product development and manufacturing with factories here in the states as well as in China and elsewhere. The production lines may be shut down but trust me, they're still busy developing new products.

One real challenge Chinese manufacturers are facing is an already large and growing young workforce that increasingly refuse to work in dirty factories, and they are educated enough now to have plenty of other options. In the short term that means more automation but eventually it will lead to outsourcing.

I've visited factories year after year and saw with my own eyes brand new european- or japanese-made robotic equipment bolted to the floor literally in the spot where a worker once stood. In metal fabrication shops the first jobs to go were the hot, dusty polishing stations.

But hey, if our economy tanks and we raise a generation of post-science morons, we can be ready to take those crappy low-paying jobs back.

But as of now these jobs are not low paying in the states... In fact they must pay pretty well based upon the the $700 or so they want for a domestic simple non polished conical tank with legs bolted on and holes drilled in it for the consumer to assemble it themselves with weldless fittings after purchasing. and thats with no temp control solution options that I know of vs most of the other options out there. Now id be all for a competitive US made product but when it comes to homebrewing conicals blichmann seems very behind compared to other options. Which wouldnt be so bad if they werent asking more $$ than anyone else on top of it. maybe that has something to do with why Spike stopped using the same manufacturer as blichmann for their conicals and took it overseas.

 

[Jayjay1976]

If you want a good product at an affordable price, China is the only option, period.

If you want made in USA it must either be super expensive or cheaply made. It drives me nuts when people talk about inferior Chinese products. Factories anywhere in the world build to a specification; the specification is price-driven and ultimately determines the quality of the final product, regardless of where it is made.

 

[augiedoggy]

I agree with this^

 

[Gozie Boy]

I agree with this^

I've gotten a couple of fab'd SS products directly from a shop China, made in Feb and rec'd last week. I think they will "be back" quicker than most people realize.