NB's Dark Star burner

[grem135]

Son got me a $120 worth of fathers day gift cards to Northern Brewer and I was looking at the their Dark Star Burner. They have it in stock again and its 54000 btu for $40. Anyone have it or have an opinion on it? I'm also looking for about an 8 gallon kettle and found this 9 gallon with a welded fitting.

What you guys think?

 

[Mark_]

I'm in the market for a pot as well. For $69 I might just pick me up one of those! The burner looks nice too but I have one from a turkey burner.

 

[grem135]

Anyone else?

 

[Tutsbrew]

I've done two batches prior, both on the damn stove, but today's batch was my first one using a propane burner. I got the Dark Star from NB about two weeks ago and have been itching to use it!

First, it took 5 gallons of water from 70 degrees to 165 degrees (for crystal malt steep) in 10 minutes. FWIW, I use an 8 gallon tri-clad stainless with notched lid.

The boil went very well. I finally got a good hot-break and a rolling boil and I KNOW this batch will be my first good one!

I will have to pay more attention to the air damper on the venturi inlet as I got some soot on the bottom of my pot. Easy fix there.

Sooooo, to answer the OP, I am glad I got a very good burner for less than 50 bucks including shipping. (bought some other stuff so the shipping cost was actually spread out a bit)

BTW, I used 1.4 lbs of propane. Other burners may have higher BTU's and some even with using less fuel, but that's fine. I likes mine nuf, yo.

 

[phuff7129]

I bought the dark star about a month ago and have done two batches on it. It's a great burner. Beats the heck out of my turkey fryer burner. I am very pleased with it.

 

[grem135]

I bought a dark star burner since I started the thread and got to use it and my new 9 gallon kettle Friday. All I can say is wow what a difference. Very easy to control and I guess I got the air control set right (by accident I'm sure) as I got no soot on my kettle and a blue flame.







Good thing I checked the radar... Wasn't supposed to rain for another 3 hours.

 

[jfk69]

I have that pot and love it. It's a great value. Check out the lid, mine had some grease spots on it that I needed to clean up, but other than that, no dings or dents. I bought the stainless ball valve to go with it. It's a perfect size and well suited to doing 5 gallon all grain boils, it should work well for you!

 

[jbuchholz]

I've brewed (my first) two beers on the Dark Star burner and really enjoyed it. I've done partial boils with extracts, and trying to keep the flame low enough for a mild rolling boil caused some soot on the bottom of the kettle, no matter how much I monkeyed with the air or the gas flow. But I inherited the kettle from my brother so I'm not too worried about it. Plus it washed off pretty easily.

All in all, worth the investment especially for a newbie like me.

 

[Safa]

DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMINT

I have been looking at this burner for the last week, and TODAY they upped the price from 39 to 49!

DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT!

 

[LogicBomb]

DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMINT

I have been looking at this burner for the last week, and TODAY they upped the price from 39 to 49!

DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT!

Don't stress out that hard over $10.

Go have a beer

 

[ds0oc1]

Does anyone else have issues with this leaving large amounts of black soot on the bottom of your kettle?

 

[72hw]

The biggest problem I have heard from locals in my area, other than soot, who have used it is that there are two settings: Off and Sun.

I got the Bayou Classic SP10 for $50 and couldn't be happier.

Just my 2 bits!