Pony Keg Kettle

[instapman]

Not much discussion regarding pony kegs for a kettle but, I have one that I converted into a kettle. I measured it the other day and it MIGHT do a 5g boil (around 6g). I know the bigger the better but this is what I can do in a pinch. I did not do the standard "cut the round hole in the top of the keg" but I cut the the whole top off leaving the handles. This is an experimental kettle and I WILL have a 60qt in the mail ASAP from a friend.

If I had to do it all over again:

What should I have done with the keg?
Should I have made a kettle?
Any opinions regarding cutting at the top weld and leaving two nice handles VS. cutting a hole in the top of the Keg and leaving a rim connecting the handles?
Did I hurt my boil volume by not leaving a rim in the top of the keg?

I'm curious if any of you have done this and what were your outcomes...

I am going to have a good kettle in a couple of weeks but till then this is what I have. What can I do with this other than heating up sparge water after I get my 60qt? I would hate to have wasted good stainless...

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

You could have,

1. Used the Pony as a fermenter for 5 gallon batches. The actual volume in a Pony is around 7.7 gal. with the top on, of course.

2. Not worried about what you have done to your pony and plan on keeping this new kettle as a cereal cooker for when/if you ever decide to play with decoction mashing.

3. Posted a pic so we can actually see what it is you have done.

 

[instapman]

I knew I would get some smack (well deserved) regarding pictures...soon to come.

 

[Dwain]

You have to be careful if you cut the whole top out. The handles on some (all?) are just rings tacked to the "keg". If you cut/grind through the welds, the handles can come off. No, you didn't significantly change your boil size. This is fine for 5 gal. batches.

 

[bendavanza]

It can also be a great HLT, I rarely need more than 5g at a time when brewing 5g all grain batches.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Next time, use a 15 gallon keg.

You can do 5 gallon boils in a 15 gallon keggle just fine. As a bonus, you can do 10 gallon boils.

:rockin:

 

[instapman]

Next time, use a 15 gallon keg.

You can do 5 gallon boils in a 15 gallon keggle just fine. As a bonus, you can do 10 gallon boils.

:rockin:

It was just experimental.....also see:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f19/craigslist-sham-189562/

There is a 15g keg drought in my area...lol If I were to come up with the 15g kegs, would there be a disadvantage to leaving the rim? I cant see there being more cons than pro's especially if one does not plan on putting a spigot on the kettle(i.e. easier to pour from the keggle)

Still pics to come....

 

[instapman]

The cuts are not perfect. I did this a long time ago. before I found homebrewtalk.com

It does give you an idea what Im talking about....

 

[Dwain]

You have to be careful if you cut the whole top out. The handles on some (all?) are just rings tacked to the "keg".

O.K., forget what I said. That's kind of different, but it works. You can probably still get 6.5 gal in there. I'd use it. - Dwain

 

[Chuckabrewski]

How did this workout for you? Im thinking about doing the same thing for stove top boils.

 

[ron,ar]

here is a picture of mine, I bolted the handles on. It holds 10.5 gallons and I added a sight tube.

 

[Chuckabrewski]

here is a picture of mine, I bolted the handles on. It holds 10.5 gallons and I added a sight tube.

That's exactly what I need to do.