Possible to pinch pennies and purchase pots?

[jonathanderick]

Hey y'all. I'm shopping for my own kettle at the moment. A friend of mine let me borrow his turkey fryer for my first batch, and I don't feel like postponing the timing of any of his future batches (unless of course we stagger the weeks that we brew!).

I'm looking to keep brewing all-grain 5 gallon batches. I've been reading plenty of posts recommending that one should get at LEAST a 7.5 gallon kettle to be able to do a full boil and to avoid immediate boil-overs.

The problem at the moment (as it always seems to be) is that I am a bit short on funds. No, this isn't when I ask for handouts, I just need some recommendations for an inexpensive kettle. I'm aiming to spend $70 max I've been perusing some of the kettles on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E62GRU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

The above kettle seems ideal being it's only $55. Buyers of the product say it's smaller than 7.5 gallons though.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00267Q3JW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This kettle is cheap at $60 with free shipping, but a reviewer said the handles bent after repeated use. Doubting if I should take the risk.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000BXHL0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I stumbled upon this link while I was searching through some Bayou pots. In contrast to the previous two stainless steel pots, this one is aluminum. It comes with a propane burner as well, which would be useful in teasing the neighbor's with my brew's aroma.

Which one would you get? Or if you stumbled upon a better deal, what did you get yourself? Thanks everyone!

 

[tchuklobrau]

Check Lowes. My lowes has a turkeyfryer kit for $75. is the way im going. burner and a 30 qt pot all in one purchase.

 

[GodsStepBrother]

Check out the scrap yards in your city Jonathanderick, you can get a keg. Cut off the top with an angle grinder and your set to go. Plus you can make big IPA that requires 8 to 8.5 starting boil volume. Or eventually 10 gallons batches.

This is what I did.

 

[brewit2it]

Hey y'all. I'm shopping for my own kettle at the moment. A friend of mine let me borrow his turkey fryer for my first batch, and I don't feel like postponing the timing of any of his future batches (unless of course we stagger the weeks that we brew!).

I'm looking to keep brewing all-grain 5 gallon batches. I've been reading plenty of posts recommending that one should get at LEAST a 7.5 gallon kettle to be able to do a full boil and to avoid immediate boil-overs.

The problem at the moment (as it always seems to be) is that I am a bit short on funds. No, this isn't when I ask for handouts, I just need some recommendations for an inexpensive kettle. I'm aiming to spend $70 max I've been perusing some of the kettles on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E62GRU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

The above kettle seems ideal being it's only $55. Buyers of the product say it's smaller than 7.5 gallons though.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00267Q3JW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This kettle is cheap at $60 with free shipping, but a reviewer said the handles bent after repeated use. Doubting if I should take the risk.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000BXHL0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I stumbled upon this link while I was searching through some Bayou pots. In contrast to the previous two stainless steel pots, this one is aluminum. It comes with a propane burner as well, which would be useful in teasing the neighbor's with my brew's aroma.

Which one would you get? Or if you stumbled upon a better deal, what did you get yourself? Thanks everyone!

I like the size and price of this one, especially with free shipping. It has 4mm thick wall also but it is aluminum which some folks dont like. I'm damn tempted to get one actually but am getting by with my small pot so will probably have to wait.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Thunder-Group-A...&otn=3&po=LVI&ps=63&clkid=7087948308493947443

 

[BendBrewer]

Have you been to Jetro Cash & Carry?

http://www.jetro.com/products/products.htm

 

[BuckeyeBrewAZ]

I have both the turkey fryer and SS pot in the middle. It works for me 5gals at a time. the SS pot is really wide so it doesn't fit in a sink. I was at wal-mart the other day and they have the 7.5gal turkey fryer for $30ish, I almost bought it for the burner.

 

[gr8shandini]

Check your local restaurant supply store. I got a 40 qt. 6mm thick aluminum stockpot for $70. You can find a 4mm pot for less. Stainless will run you quite a bit more, but isn't worth it so far as I'm concerned. If you have to have SS, you're looking at at least $100.

I haven't shopped with these guys, but here's an online store:
http://www.instawares.com/60-qt-aluminum-stock-pots.7972.5.4756.0.1-5.8.htm

 

[SKMO]

If you are going to be doing 5 gallon all grain batches do yourself a favor and don't consider getting anything less than a 40 quart boil kettle.

I know it looks like overkill, but working it backward..... you are going to want to put 5.5 in the fermenter, so you are going to probably start around 6.75 minimum to boil down to 5.5.

6.75 heated up and expanded and boiling is going to look like a pretty full 40 quart pot, at times.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and set 40 qt as a minimum if you think you are heading toward all-grain.

 

[Zamial]

Well my suggestion will vary greatly depending on what you have...

Do you have a good burner?
If Yes: Then Big Lots is where I got a 6.5 Gallon SS kettle for $20. If you spend more than $50 on a kettle you should have just made a Keggle...IMO.

If No: I like the Walmart deal as posted above if you can find that or a "turkey fryer" combo would be the way to go.

I have found that when I have to have something RIGHT NOW, it costs wayyyy more than if I shop around, check Craig's List or find a "deal" at a store...

My best advice is: Keep in mind that you can build a Keggle and get a SQ-14 Banjo Burner w/ stand for about $100...and those components will last forever and allow you to transition to 12ish gallon batches...

GL

 

[jonathanderick]

Hey y'all. Late reply, but thanks for all the helpful responses. I'm going to shop around some local stores (There's a Jetro over here in LB so I'll check it out) instead of purchasing anything online. The kettle I buy will have to serve me for the next couple of years so I feel like I want to be able to inspect it in my hands instead of through some pixelated image from Amazon.

If I could find an affordable aluminum 40 quart, I'll probably go ahead with that size after experiencing a hefty amount of water evaporating in my first batch.

As for the whole keggle idea, that would require I buy the required tools and with barely enough money to buy a kettle, that's the last thing I want to do! I do however see the keggle as a future heavy duty kettle.

 

[zepolmot]

http://www.target.com/IMUSA-32-qt-Aluminum-Tamale-Steamer/dp/B001ARYXNW

$22, 32qt

 

[jbrookeiv]

http://www.target.com/IMUSA-32-qt-Aluminum-Tamale-Steamer/dp/B001ARYXNW

$22, 32qt

My brother has the same pot, works great. They sell them at Walmart as well.

 

[DogFace_Brewing]

I just got this one....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00194DVJI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Sign up for the Amazon prime thing and get free 2 day shipping for 30 days...then just cancel before they bill you the subscription cost.

Pot is pretty wide, but i used it on a all glass stovetop and it worked just fine for a 5 gallon boil. Very lightweight but doesn't seem too bad. Will know after a couple more brews. Under $40 it got good reviews also!

 

[CDbrews]

Check sams club online I got a 60qt( 15 gal ) aluminum kettle for 54 dollars shipped

 

[jbrookeiv]

I just got this one....

Video Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00194DVJI/ref=oss_product

Sign up for the Amazon prime thing and get free 2 day shipping for 30 days...then just cancel before they bill you the subscription cost.

Pot is pretty wide, but i used it on a all glass stovetop and it worked just fine for a 5 gallon boil. Very lightweight but doesn't seem too bad. Will know after a couple more brews. Under $40 it got good reviews also!

I think that's the exact same pot that we were posting about right before you, just rebranded. That same pot is half the price at Target/Walmart.

 

[NorthRiverS]

Check out this kit. I like it since you never need a siphon. Sold me.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/HOME_BREWERY_WITHOUT_KIT_P680C73.cfm

NRS

 

[ksbrain]

The turkey fryer with the 30-quart kettle is big enough for me to get 5.5 gallons into a fermenter. Bigger kettles are nice but not absolutely required.

 

[ohiochris]

All good suggestions here. Ya dont necessarily "need" a pot big enough to boil the whole batch. I bought a cheapie 16 quart ( 5 gal. ) ceramic coated steel pot , I boil around 3 to 4 gallons and then top off to 5 gal. in the fermenter. Works just fine.

 

[brewit2it]

Check out this kit. I like it since you never need a siphon. Sold me.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/HOME_BREWERY_WITHOUT_KIT_P680C73.cfm

NRS

Kit looks okay but this thread is about cheap aluminum brew pots.

 

[wolverinebrewer]

Check sams club online I got a 60qt( 15 gal ) aluminum kettle for 54 dollars shipped

It's a good thing I went through all of theses responses as I was just going to suggest Sam's also. It seems their prices have risen dramatically since xmas.

I was going to suggest the 40 qt because it WAS $32 before xmas. Now it's $54. Hell, I received a 60 qt. for xmas and it was less than $40, now it's $73 before shipping. So I guess I have nothing helpful to add to your search.

FWIW, I love the 15 gal pot!

 

[Bubba]

If you are going to be doing 5 gallon all grain batches do yourself a favor and don't consider getting anything less than a 40 quart boil kettle.

I know it looks like overkill, but working it backward..... you are going to want to put 5.5 in the fermenter, so you are going to probably start around 6.75 minimum to boil down to 5.5.

6.75 heated up and expanded and boiling is going to look like a pretty full 40 quart pot, at times.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and set 40 qt as a minimum if you think you are heading toward all-grain.

I use a 40 qt pot and regularly boil 6 1/5 to 7 gal no problem on my kitchen stove strateling 2 burners with no worry about boil overs.