New V3 Kettles from Spike? Anyone Have one yet?

[Capn_James]

They showed up Friday!!!! They look amazing, worth the wait!

 

[itsnotrequired]

Yes, I was impressed with the new V3 line from Spike. Pricing is a little confusing as it is kinda ala cart???

yes. none of the kettles come with valves or thermometers as standard. the kettles come in a few different 'flavors' (e.g. with or without sight glass, with or without a coupler for a thermometer, etc.). and they do custom as well if you want extra couplers, couplers in different positions/sizes, etc. you'll have to contact them about custom stuff and they can get you a price. they are very responsive.

 

[NewJersey]

6" up at the 6.5 gallon mark.

Would it cost extra to get one at the 4.5 gallon mark instead?

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Would it cost extra to get one at the 4.5 gallon mark instead?

Please shoot us an email and we can discuss. [email protected]

 

[NewJersey]

Just ordered my new mash tun.

I got a 20 gal so I always have enough room mashing higher gravity 10 gallon brews.

Gonna keep using my boil keggle for now.

What would you guys recommend for a V3 boil kettle? Just get another 20 gallon with only a diptube? I don't know how to approach a whirlpool port, but that could be useful. Any help appreciated

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

I have a 20G Spike brewing kettle. whirlpool port is located just above the racking port and all I did was put a SS 90* Elbow on it.

There you go.

 

[NewJersey]

Why so low?
I chill through a plate chiller and would ideally like to recirc back through the whirlpool port to chill. Wouldn't you want it near the top of the normal wort level for that purpose? (I assume you use an IC)

 

[orangehero]

Blichman schmichman, Palmer "approved" or not, you guys have an awesome kettle design and build that is all quality.

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

Why so low?
I chill through a plate chiller and would ideally like to recirc back through the whirlpool port to chill. Wouldn't you want it near the top of the normal wort level for that purpose? (I assume you use an IC)

Mine is low for 4 reasons:

1. High or low it doesnt matter... its going to create a whirlpool in there.
2. I recirc through my plate chiller and it cools very quickly.
3. If you put it high and you do a 5g batch you are just splashing the wort onto the top of the wort in the kettle. This gives me added flexibility to do 5 and 10g batches.
4. I sparge through the recirc port that way i don't need to worry about a hose slipping out or what not.

 

[NewJersey]

I typically do 10 but also want the flexibility to do 5.
I read a thread on here that made me concerned with recirculating while chilling and having the port low. The cooled wort will stay low and you'd have much hotter wort on top, right?

 

[Drumminguy81]

Just placed my order for 3 new 30 gallon custom kettles! Merry christmas to me! Can't wait to get them!

 

[BurntOrngeLonghorn84]

What is the bottom diameter on the 10g kettle? Most commercial 220v induction plates go up to 10 1/4". Is it within that?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Likely 13-14"

 

[govner1]

Blichman schmichman, Palmer "approved" or not, you guys have an awesome kettle design and build that is all quality.

And all Chinese!!

 

[SpikeBrewing]

What is the bottom diameter on the 10g kettle? Most commercial 220v induction plates go up to 10 1/4". Is it within that?

The bottom is roughly 13" wide. We have used the Avantco IC3500 with good results.

 

[orangehero]

And all Chinese!!

I was under the impression all of the welding is done here?

 

[SpikeBrewing]

I was under the impression all of the welding is done here?

Our welding and many of the accessories (pickup tubes, false bottoms, sight glasses, etc) are made here as well.

I think he was referring to the new Blichmann line.

 

[Pantherjon]

Take this for what it's worth coming from a newb brewer..But looking at these kettles I am really impressed! Once and IF I get REAL serious with this brewing thing, I just may have to pick up a couple...Awesome looking stuff!

 

[HLSheppard]

SO Stoked! Just ordered my V3 15 gal. kettle yesterday!

 

[govner1]

When I asked Spike where their manufacturing was done I was told China!

 

[BrunDog]

Who'd you ask... Blichmann? Haaaaahhaaaa!!

 

[govner1]

Who'd you ask... Blichmann? Haaaaahhaaaa!!

Emailed Spike from their website! Haaaaaahaaaaa!

 

[itsnotrequired]

as i understand it, the kettle, handles, lid, gallon markings and spike logo come from china. all the holes are punched and couplings welded here in the states. a good compromise, imho.

i've come to accept that most stuff is coming from china. hell, even the 30 gal and larger blichmann g2 come from china.

 

[HLSheppard]

It is VERY nice.

Unfortunately, I had a problem with the flex-face thermometer: the face was mounted upside-down (so it only bent towards the floor). I broke it trying to fix. $50. Flushed.

**UPDATE** yet more proof of Spike's awesomeness, they are shipping a new thermometer ASAP. They wouldn't even accept any $$ for my part in the debacle! Great Customer Experience!

 

[ViciousFishes]

My MLT & BK arrived 2 weeks ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/_fRoH5lmRY/

They're very solidly crafted, I'm really pleased with the purchase. A few bumps:

One of the boxes had some damage and the cardboard was torn away around the drain coupler:





The MLT arrived with a large 12" long scratch in the 'back' side. I don't think that was related to the damaged box...



I have not yet been kicked out of the kitchen for brew days. These kettles are enormous.



I ran a wet test the other night by recirculating PBW to attempt to cleanse off any oils from manufacturing. This is my first time using a pump & plate chiller, but couldn't see manhandling these things they way I would when doing extract & partial mash batches.



One other nit that I need to speak with Spike about is that the laser etching on the sight glasses is so faint that it is near invisible and not useful at all. You might be able to make out a very faint "8". This is from approximately 2 inches away at a perfect viewing angle. In all others, it's not visible at all:




Unfortunately, the holidays have gotten in the way of my first brew day, which will finally be this afternoon

 

[BrunDog]

Sounds like some early production run/shipping niggles. I would expect these with my $97 Bayou's from Amazon, but certainly not from a premium product like SB.

 

[itsnotrequired]

i received my kettle with a pretty decent scratch on it as well. no idea if it arrived that way from the factory or if it was something that happened in their fab shop.

similar deal with the sigh glass, the markings are extremely faint. i reached out to spike, they are talking to their welder. we'll see what happens...

 

[HLSheppard]

My box had a good sized hole where the pot handle was. No damage to anything other than the cardboard (luckily!).

 

[BrunDog]

Scratches are unacceptable for a product at this level IMO. Scratches could not have happened in shipping if the box is intact in that area. Sounds like some QA gaps.

 

[itsnotrequired]

Scratches are unacceptable for a product at this level IMO. Scratches could not have happened in shipping if the box is intact in that area. Sounds like some QA gaps.

i agree