Survey: Whats your brew pot size and do you use all of it.

[ODI3]

I have a 25g ebiab setup. I have one of the old wide megapots. Most of the time i make 10 gal 1.050 batches. I recommending not getting a thermostat installed. The thermostat will be in the way when stirring, may pole the bag and another thing to break. Imho the bigger the kettle the better. I can turn on my kettle and as long as i leave the lid cracked there is never a boilover. Also allows for 10 gal larger beers or 20 gal reg beers. (Monster grainbills tend to strain and rip the bags). Wider pot sizes allows for longer elements and allows immersion chiller to sit on bottom of kettle beside element instead of ontop of element.

Wider kettles increase boiloff, this is good and bad.

I use a bag and do not use a pump or recirculate. I do filter as wort is leaving kettle to minimise trub in fermenter so yeast is cleaner when bottom teub harvesting and the trub uses less volume in fermenter. I ferment in bayou classic 6 gal pots. I like the trub to hit the lid since the brown keausen sticks to stainless and makes top yeast harvesting exceptionally clean.

I only ever check the temp a few times, but if u want to constantly check, u can get a thermoworks thermometer with a changable ribbon type sensor and just leave it in while mashing. Although i think its always best to stir before taking a temp reading so the temp is homogenous throughout

 

[nymtber]

10gal pot for 5gal batches here.

Just brewed a 1.075 beer today, I think I could get up to 1.090 but that would be getting real close. MOST of my beers are <1.060 anyway, which leaves a ton of room.

If I brewed lot of high-gravity beers, I would have gone for a 15gal. I only do 5-gal batches and lower gravity, so 10gal was perfect.

 

[deadwolfbones]

I just recently upgraded to a 20g Kegco kettle for indoor BIAB w/ a 3500w induction cooktop. Love it!

What's the model of the induction cooktop and how much did it run you? Any issues maintaining steady heat? (I've had issues with induction cycling on and off, producing heat spikes.) Looks like a slick little setup!

 

[TANSTAAFB]

What's the model of the induction cooktop and how much did it run you? Any issues maintaining steady heat? (I've had issues with induction cycling on and off, producing heat spikes.) Looks like a slick little setup!

Thanks, I dig it! I don't remember the name, it's a brand I could not find ANY info on. As in zilch! It's obvious that they just rebrand other people's stuff, but that got me a nice price on eBay as I was the one taking the risk. That said, it looks very similar to the Avantco to me but I don't have a manual or anything. I'm really not sure about cycling or spikes. It has useless numbers (1-35 I think) and I can't max it out or it errors and I have to unplug it to reset. If I leave it at around 30 I don't have issues and it will maintain a very light rolling boil. I have to use a heat stick to help get to strike temp and boil or it takes forever. I have not been able to use it to maintain mash temps because if I leave it on even 4 or 5 the temps keep rising. I need to do some experiments to see if there are any settings that will just hold a temperature once I get it there.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Quick update. I brewed a 6 gallon batch and it was sooooo easy in the 20 gallon kettle! Took about 30 minutes to get 8 gallons to mash temp with the heat stick. I skipped the pump and plate chiller and I appreciate how simple the day was. I'm definitely trading in the plate chiller for a Jaded Hydra or King Cobra. Mash temp was dropping so I set the induction cooktop to 6 and it brought temps back from 146 to 150ish fairly quickly. Left it on 4 and it seemed to hold nicely. Easy brew day allowed me to take care of bottling and kegging duties. I love the 20 gallon kettle. Works fine for normal batches and allows either bigger beers or bigger batches too [emoji482]

 

[johnstod]

I'm brewing in a 5gal stock pot doing 5 gal batches it's very full at the start and had to be topped up when it goes into my fv but saves a lot on space as I don't have much

 

[BobBailey]

I use a 14 gallon kettle and do 6 gallon batches. During the warmer months I do full volume boil BIAB and the rest of the year regular all grain and batch sparge. The kettle gives me some wiggle room with BIAB and the option to do 10 gallon batches regular all grain.

The kettle came with a thermometer which I removed so as not to rip the bag and never put it back in. I'm going to drill a hole for a dial thermometer with a 12" probe close to the center of the lid before resuming BIAB this summer.

 

[LostHopper]

10.5 gallon brew kettle
5.5 gallon batches (or less)
full volume BIAB
Best purchases for my biab brewing: Kettle, immersion chiller (JaDed),Wilser bag and grain mill.

 

[PrrCabin]

I started with a pos 5 gal pot. Then an 8 gal MegaPot and now a 15 gal MegaPot with ball valve.
To be honest go with the largest pot you can afford.
If I was to do it all over again. I would go with the 15 gal MegaPot.

I do BIAB and I can fit 20lbs of grain and water without issue.

So yes. I do use all of it.

Cabin

 

[PersonalBrewer]

I would go with the 15 gal MegaPot.

I am using a 15 gal megapot, calculates out to 15.6 actual. 7.5 gal batches are EZ. Did 9.5 gal batch by adding 3 gal of water post mash. Would have been 10.5 if I hadn't boiled off more than I anticipated. 24 lbs grain easy.

I say go 15 or 20.

Don't forget, 24 lbs of saturated grain will be a bit to handle if you're an old fart like me.

 

[EtchyLives]

I have a couple brew pots. The 16 gallon bayou classic can do up to a 12 gallon (into the fermenter) beer with a 60 minute boil. I've got another 25 gallon pot that I use for 10+ gallons of 90 minute boil and have done a 15 gallon batch with tons of head space to prevent boil overs.

I've got a 20 gallon SS Brewtech Infussion mash tun that's good for full volume mashes for 12 gallon batches up to 1.05-ish and batch sparging up to 1.100. This works well for just about everything I want to do.

 

[PeteSeattle]

Hey folks. Started doing BIAB after having a 15 year hiatus. I have an all grain keggle set-up but looking to downsize my system. I’d rather do up to 3 gallons since I’m moving away from 5+ gallons. I do like the smaller sized equipment and that I can brew in the kitchen vs only outdoor brew. Anyone else here downsizing? Any kettles recommend? Any regrets? It seems silly to do a 3 gallon brew in a 15 gallon keggle. Thanks all!

 

[RM-MN]

I do 2 1/2 gallon BIAB on my kitchen stove with a 5 gallon stainless steel pot. It gets pretty close to the top so if you can manage it a slightly bigger pot would be better.

 

[PeteSeattle]

I do 2 1/2 gallon BIAB on my kitchen stove with a 5 gallon stainless steel pot. It gets pretty close to the top so if you can manage it a slightly bigger pot would be better.

That’s about the footprint I want in my kitchen but thinking 7.5-8 gallon kettle but with a diameter between 12-13 inches. Seriously looking at the Anvil 7.8 since my canning pot is ridiculously huge. Big enough to scorch my stove top. There’s a good 5 inch overhang with it. I’ve never purchased a decent brew kettle (only keggels) but want to invest wisely this time around for small batches inside. It’s great to read everyone’s setup variations.

 

[RM-MN]

I have used a 7 1/2 gallon aluminum turkey fryer pot and it works fine...except that it just clears the range hood, making it difficult to remove the bag or do any sparge additions.

 

[mrbeachroach]

Hey folks. Started doing BIAB after having a 15 year hiatus. I have an all grain keggle set-up but looking to downsize my system. I’d rather do up to 3 gallons since I’m moving away from 5+ gallons. I do like the smaller sized equipment and that I can brew in the kitchen vs only outdoor brew. Anyone else here downsizing? Any kettles recommend? Any regrets? It seems silly to do a 3 gallon brew in a 15 gallon keggle. Thanks all!

If your up for selling the 15 let me know.

 

[NitrogenWidget]

60qt/15 gal lobster pot I got at walmart cheap.
I only do 5 gallon biab cause trying to lift more than 7 gals of boiling wort+grain off my stove so I can put it on the floor to hang the bag/cage from a ladder to drain probably won't end well for me.

The pot in my basement for the e-biab setup i'm building is almost 20 gals and I plan on doing 10 gal batches because I have enough room and the hood vent won't be 5 inches from the top of the pot.

 

[PeteSeattle]

If your up for selling the 15 let me know.

If I were anywhere near your area in TN then I would really consider it. Friends are trying to convince me to keep them in case I have the urge to big brew again. If you are around Seattle anytime and want to pick them up then you’re more than welcomed to PM me.

I have used a 7 1/2 gallon aluminum turkey fryer pot and it works fine...except that it just clears the range hood, making it difficult to remove the bag or do any sparge additions.

Since my last post I’ve been been back and forth with either a 7.5 gallon Anvil because I like the 12.5 inch diameter. Or a 10 gallon Spike because there is a configuration where the thermometer is horizontally in line with the spigot so I can do small to 5 gallon batches. It’s diameter is 13.5 which my indoor stove can handle. My old canning kettle is nearly 17 inches in diameter. I’ve been measuring my choices for the clearance space. Fortunately my range hood gives me quite a bit of clearance. So back to obsessing over which one. Hope you folks are having a good brew day or cracking open one of your brews. Cheers!

 

[NewBrewDog]

I brew stovetop BIAB with a 25 gallon Concord stainless kettle. I put a ball valve on it. I usually do 10 gallon batches, but just did my first 15 gallon 0.06 OG IPA today with full boil volume during mash. Only had a couple inches to top after it all went in for mash. Kettle fits on the big BTU burner on corner of stove plus the small one in back and the long skillet burner in the middle. Got a ratchet pulley with bag from Wilser. I put a strong hook in my ceiling.
I use a 10 gallon aluminum turkey fryer pot for 5 gal batches.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I brew stovetop BIAB with a 25 gallon Concord stainless kettle. I put a ball valve on it. I usually do 10 gallon batches, but just did my first 15 gallon 0.06 OG IPA today with full boil volume during mash. Only had a couple inches to top after it all went in for mash. Kettle fits on the big BTU burner on corner of stove plus the small one in back and the long skillet burner in the middle. Got a ratchet pulley with bag from Wilser. I put a strong hook in my ceiling.
I use a 10 gallon aluminum turkey fryer pot for 5 gal batches.
View attachment 559741

25 gallon stove top kettle for a 15 gal batch, very impressive.

And here is to those that said it couldn’t be done....cheers and thanks!!!

Extra points for the step ladder in the background lol

 

[Blazinlow86]

I have a 25 gallon 3 vessel. I boil 14g normally but have done up to 21g a few times.

 

[NewBrewDog]

25 gallon stove top kettle for a 15 gal batch, very impressive.

And here is to those that said it couldn’t be done....cheers and thanks!!!

Extra points for the step ladder in the background lol

My plan was to make the Concord into an electric BIAB brew kettle, but we got a new gas range at the same time I ordered the kettle and bag/ratchet pulley. I tried it on the new range and realized I didn’t need to go electric. Brew day is under five hours with that range. Helped that I have a real exhaust fan that actually vents outside. Wouldn’t do big batches indoors otherwise.

I love the bag you made. I need to order a backup in case I do something stupid to my big one. Couldn’t brew big batches without it.