So many kettles

[user 263363]

Little bit of background here. I used to biab small batches of beer. I finally decided to expand to 5 gallon batches and with that I got an Anvil Foundry as my equipment of choice. So 7 brews in and I just wasn’t in love with the Foundry. I posted it for sale and it was gone in a day.

Anywho, I made some of my best beers with a kettle and a bag. I am going back to that now. I have decided on a 15 gallon kettle with a @wilserbrewer bag.

My question, how in the world do I decide what kettle to get? There’s so many choices out there. Budget is not a huge concern as the money I got from my Foundry should easily cover it. If you were in the market for a brand new 15gallon kettle, what would you spend your money on?

Gonna leave a little note that I am leaning towards a Spike, but SS Brewtech is having a decent sale this weekend too. Hmmm

 

[hottpeper13]

I love my Spike,and if you want more ports installed in the future you can send it in for an upgrade.

 

[Bobby_M]

It would help to understand what you didn't like about the Foundry because that may influence a recommendation. Are you planning to go back to flame powered?

 

[user 263363]

It would help to understand what you didn't like about the Foundry because that may influence a recommendation. Are you planning to go back to flame powered?

I’m sure the Foundry is a top performer in the All-in-one game, but I think that equipment is just not my cup of tea. I didn’t really see the need for the whole recirculating pump system and maybe my old BIAB set up made me lazy but I just couldn’t get the efficiency I was used to. My last brew on it I almost hit my target OG at 65% efficiency and my old BIAB set up was consistently on target at 70% or even above more than a couple times.

I do plan to go with a propane burner. I have a propane setup on my house so the ultimate goal will be to add a connection on my back patio so I’ll never have to worry about running out of fuel.

 

[Tom Foolery]

I know SS and Spike make really nice toys, but there are a few that offer 16 gallon vs the 15 they have.

 

[user 263363]

I know SS and Spike make really nice toys, but there are a few that offer 16 gallon vs the 15 they have.

I’m only going 15 because so many people have said that they didn’t regret going 15 even with only making 5 gallons at a time. I might get a wild hair and brew a 10 gallon batch one day too. But I doubt that 1 gallon difference would be a deal maker or breaker for me.

 

[moreb33rplz]

I did as much internet 'research' as possible a couple months ago. For me the choices were Spike ($300 ish), SS Brewtech ($200-230 ish), and generic whatever pot ($60).

I went the cheapo route but think the spike and brewtech would have been sweet. Main difference between those two for me was welded (Spike) vs weldless (brewtech) fittings.

 

[LittleRiver]

Those are solid choices on your kettle size and bag brand. You won't regret either of those.

Which kettle? If you think you'll be most satisfied with a simple inexpensive kettle you upgrade with a DIY drain valve, then go that route. If you think you'll be most satisfied with a blingy kettle, then go that route.

Just get whichever one will make you happy. The wort is not going to care one way or the other.

 

[Gusso]

I've had a 10 gallon Polar Ware for the past 15 years or so. Great pot, still, when I met up with a Craigslist guy to but 4 kegs I couldn't pass up on a converted keg for $35! Too cheap to pass up. I haven't used it yet but a 10 gallon brewday is in my future.

 

[estricklin]

I have a more expensive 5 gallon pot, but since then I've been buying the Concords. They work just as good and cost a lot less. Drilling is sort of a pain in the Concord, so I bought a knockout for the size I need to install valves.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stock-Pot-...413469&hash=item4d9a1d22e6:g:fJkAAOSwbt5azjqD

 

[Dog House Brew]

I think an important feature is a triclad bottom. My HLT is a keggle, it doesn't heat as fast as my kettles with the triclad bottom. I would want welded fittings as well. I'm about to weld some fittings on my 25g kettle. It is virtually a Mega Pot. I bought it from a local restaurant store.

 

[MikeCo]

I have a 15 gallon Blichmann Boilermaker, and it's a nice kettle, but I only bought it becasue it was 30% off. If I were to buy something new for BIAB, I would get one without a sightglass or thermometer port. I would prefer volume markings on the inside of the kettle to a sight glass. I've never had a tri-clad bottom and personally wouldn't see it as a necessary feature even when heating with a flame.

 

[Antonio Martinez]

My only negative to my SS Brewtechs, owned both a 5.5 and now a 10 gal, are the additional ports I don't use. Ideally I would have gone with a Spike with nothing but a butterfly valve and a port for the electric element. Ultimately went with SS Brewtech because of the sale they have going on. My reasoning for saying I would go with the spike is the ability to custom order a kettle to your liking in the event they don't have a configuration you want. Sure it comes at an extra cost but saves you from having to go buy the tool(s) and as a bonus you get sanitary welds vs having more threads to worry about harboring bacteria or leaking. Just my two cents.

 

[user 263363]

Thanks everyone for all the input. I ended up going with an SS Brewtech 10 gal kettle. Someone posted it elsewhere on here that it was $120 on Amazon. I was planning on a 15 gallon, but I couldnt pass up this deal. It will still allow for high gravity small batches, and to be honest I don't need more than 2.5 gallons of Imperial Stout or Barleywine any way lol.

 

[RM-MN]

and to be honest I don't need more than 2.5 gallons of Imperial Stout or Barleywine any way

Have you looked ahead to 2021?

 

[user 263363]

Have you looked ahead to 2021?

Guess I’m an optimist lol