Ss brew kettle | brewmaster edition

[bigdawg86]

Both brew days if going by the installed thermometer my mash temp has dropped significantly over the hour. My strike temp was 160, I added my 26 lb of grains and after the first 10 mins it was still showing 160-162. That does not make sense. So then when I checked about 10 mins later it was down to 150. Well thats where I wanted to be. I checked 5 mins later and it said 140! First batch I ended up adding flame to it to bring it back up and then it was showing 160 again even though i flamed out at 150.

I did my first BIAB and found the same thing... it was accurate on ramp up and boil, but it showed a 10 degree drop over about 15 minutes. I think that on a mash since there is no fluid movement, the area around the TC port cools and gives false reading since a good 1-1.5" of temp probe is in the TC port. Initially I freaked, but grabbed a extra stainless thermowell and tossed my inkbird probe in there. It showed 149° and held for the hour (I blanket wrapped the kettle)

 

[sweetcell]

i've got the 20 gal BME sitting under the tree... <does a happy dance>

 

[Toadies]

i've got the 20 gal BME sitting under the tree... <does a happy dance>

Mine will be here after Christmas! Cheers!!

 

[FunkedOut]

Does anyone know what the gallon marking indicators are at for the thermometer and the whirlpool inlet for the 10 gallon BMe kettle?

I'm going to be recurcilating the wort through my plate chiller and want to make sure it's high enough to cycle through all the wort.

You’re gonna need to have 5 gallons in it to completely submerge the top of the top port.
4 gallons will leak without a cap.

 

[Toadies]

You’re gonna need to have 5 gallons in it to completely submerge the top of the top port.
4 gallons will leak without a cap.

I'm getting a second valve for the whirl port inlet.

 

[FunkedOut]

I'm getting a second valve for the whirl port inlet.

I didn't mean to imply you'd use it open. just trying to paint a picture of where it is located on the kettle.

 

[bigdawg86]

Did anyone else receive a new sight glass and gasket set from SSbrewtech? I just randomly got one in the mail yesterday. Seems like a better designed gasket and the sight glass edges are smooth and not diamond ground like before. Not sure if they are just sending them out as a courtesy to a new design or what

 

[FunkedOut]

not I. I did feel like the glass ends were a bit rough and care must be taken to reassemble. still, no leaks so far.

 

[FunkedOut]

I did my first BIAB and found the same thing... it was accurate on ramp up and boil, but it showed a 10 degree drop over about 15 minutes. I think that on a mash since there is no fluid movement, the area around the TC port cools and gives false reading since a good 1-1.5" of temp probe is in the TC port. Initially I freaked, but grabbed a extra stainless thermowell and tossed my inkbird probe in there. It showed 149° and held for the hour (I blanket wrapped the kettle)

I have one brew in this kettle and tried to treat is just like my old kettle:
- Full volume BIAB.
- Over heat the strike water by a few degrees, cut the flame and bag it.
- Wrap in reflectix insulation. This kettle gets two layers top and bottom (12" wide roll). Old kettle used to get 5 or 6 layers in a spiral.
- Dough in when the temp is right.
- Measure temp with an instant read handheld from an open lid (about 6" probe).
- Put the lid on with reflectix.
- Cover the whole thing with a moving blanket.
- Open up at 15 min to grab a sample for ph meter and cover back up.

I used to get a drop of 2-3 degrees F with the old kettle. No worries.
This brew, this kettle, I got a drop of 8 degrees F!

My thoughts are:
- less layers of reflectix
- major increase in headspace (8 gallon kettle to 12). basically no headspace to 4 gallons headspace.
- pump and 10' of silicone hose attached during mash is not insulated. it's enlightening to watch the hoses turn color after only 10 minutes into the mash.

I'm thinking it may not be worth chasing the insulation headspace losses, and just put that money into a RIMS tube.
I have an auber PID that I can borrow from my smoker for the RIMS.

 

[Toadies]

Did anyone else receive a new sight glass and gasket set from SSbrewtech? I just randomly got one in the mail yesterday. Seems like a better designed gasket and the sight glass edges are smooth and not diamond ground like before. Not sure if they are just sending them out as a courtesy to a new design or what

I saw a fb post about this in ss brewtech user group. It seems like ss is sending out a new version of the gasket and sightglass due to complaints.

I just ordered mine from morebeer, hopefully it's been fixed.

 

[carolinabeerguy]

I’m looking at getting this as an upgrade over my current keggle setup. I wish there was a 15 gallon option because I’m afraid 20 (actually 24) is overkill since I do 5 gallon batches right now. Would the thermometer port be submerged in a normal 5 gallon brew with the 20 gallon? I really don’t want to go with the 10 gallon in case I start brewing 10 gallon batches in the future. Please provide some guidance. I have found a 20 gallon for a good price, but don’t want to buy it if it’s unreasonable for 5 gallon batches.

 

[wilserbrewer]

My opinion is a 20 gallon kettle would be inconveniently large for 5 gallon batches.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I’m looking at getting this as an upgrade over my current keggle setup. I wish there was a 15 gallon option because I’m afraid 20 (actually 24) is overkill since I do 5 gallon batches right now. Would the thermometer port be submerged in a normal 5 gallon brew with the 20 gallon? I really don’t want to go with the 10 gallon in case I start brewing 10 gallon batches in the future. Please provide some guidance. I have found a 20 gallon for a good price, but don’t want to buy it if it’s unreasonable for 5 gallon batches.

I bought a 15G kettle incase I wanted to brew 10G batches. Guess what? In two years I have brewed exactly ONE 10G batch and my 15G kettle has been designated to the storage area and I now use a 10G kettle for my 5G brews. I prefer this much more than the larger kettle. I would think 20G for 5G batches would be way too much!

 

[carolinabeerguy]

Thank you both for your input. I think I’ll go with the 10g and use my keggle if I ever want to do a larger batch.

 

[SMITHJOHN57]

Any other experiences with BIAB in a 5 Gallon version? I was thinking about getting one, but sounds like ether were some issues with the thermometer and holding temps.

 

[marjen]

Any other experiences with BIAB in a 5 Gallon version? I was thinking about getting one, but sounds like ether were some issues with the thermometer and holding temps.

I have the 20 gal version. There is actually no issue with thermometer or holding temps. I though there was but there is a good explanation. When doing BIAB the installed thermometer will not be accurate as the bag might brush against it and will cause the temp to be off. I just use a hand held to check mash temps. Its fine before and after mash.

It hold temps well but I though some insulation and a blanket around it during mash only drops 1-2 degrees over the hour. Overall I like the kettle.