Thoughts on this Kettle - Be Honest!

[craig_reed]

What do you think of this kettle? I would get it with the ball valve and the thermometer (not sure which one)

http://www.homebrewing.org/2-WELD-9-Gallon-Stainless-Steel-Brew-Pot-_p_1684.html

I currently do extract with specialty grains, but want to make sure the equipment I buy can be of use for all-grain as I am transitioning there. I guess this could make a good mash tun if I decided to add the false bottom to it?

What are your thoughts? Should I just go for a bigger 15 gallon Bayou Classic Stainless Steel pot from Amazon? The pot doesn't have the femail threaded fittings, so that would be an additional expense.

Just looking for some expert (or not so) advice.

Thanks!

 

[mredge73]

You can get a 7 gal SS pot at academy for <$30, perfect for 5gal batches.
Wieldless fittings work well, wielded are not necessary. Drill two holes and add your fittings.

If you want to spend that kind of money then go with something that can handle 10gal batches in the future. My advice will be to go bigger.

 

[CidahMastah]

Honestly if you are considering going all grain and plan to only do 5G batches EVER get a 10G pot. However, if you think you might ever do a 10G batch, or a huge barley wine, etc., I would recc 15G.

I have a 15G HLT, 15G MT and a 25G BK. For 10G batches AG (IPAs Belgians , high gravity brews) I end up filling up the tun darn close to the top. A 15G pot can do a 10G batch, a 10G pot can't because the boil off brings your stating volume to about 12gallons or so.


Bargain fittings has great easy reliable weldless ball valve install kits for a great price

 

[passedpawn]

You can get a 7 gal SS pot at academy for <$30, perfect for 5gal batches.

No, a 7g pot is NOT perfect for a 5g batch. I'd say it isn't even suitable.

9g is a good size for 5g batches. Get about 6.5 gallons into the pot, boil down to about 5 or 5.25, leave half gallon in the pot with the cold break. Lotsa room for foam during the hot break.

I think that $79 is a pretty fair deal given that those 1/2" ports are on there. You can get brass plugs for those (Home Depot) if you aren't ready to throw valves on it. I'd bet a ball valve on the bottom port right away.

I agree with everyone else about considering a 15 gallon pot. I think most brewers evolve to larger 10g batches.

 

[craig_reed]

Thanks everyone for the responses!

Anyone have preference for the 15gal pots? I just saw the Bayou Classics on Amazon (16.25gal was like $130 w/free shipping) however, it had no fittings, so I'm sure I could get those done at my LHBS because trying to dump a huge pot of wort could be challenging to say the least.

I am sure I will move to 10g batches, and if so I guess I could just rack to two separate carboys eliminating the need to dump anything.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[passedpawn]

Thanks everyone for the responses!

Anyone have preference for the 15gal pots? I just saw the Bayou Classics on Amazon (16.25gal was like $130 w/free shipping) however, it had no fittings, so I'm sure I could get those done at my LHBS because trying to dump a huge pot of wort could be challenging to say the least.

I am sure I will move to 10g batches, and if so I guess I could just rack to two separate carboys eliminating the need to dump anything.

Thanks again everyone!

sanke keg. 15.5g

 

[LandoLincoln]

Another vote for procuring a sanke keg and turning it into a keggle. I love my keggle with weldless SS spigot and weldless SS sight glass / thermometer combo from brewhardware.com.

 

[CidahMastah]

I like megapots, and of course blichmann are great if you have the coin. I just had a bad experience with AHS, but instawares sells them - let me know if you need more info.

I recently bought a bayou classic, and in comparison to my megapot it was a dog IMO. I returned the Bayou classic and replaced it with a megapot. Bayou handles were ver small with small rivets and no reinforcement. I could see them working loose over time.

Would they all boil wort? Absolutely.

 

[craig_reed]

I like megapots, and of course blichmann are great if you have the coin. I just had a bad experience with AHS, but instawares sells them - let me know if you need more info.

I recently bought a bayou classic, and in comparison to my megapot it was a dog IMO. I returned the Bayou classic and replaced it with a megapot. Bayou handles were ver small with small rivets and no reinforcement. I could see them working loose over time.

Would they all boil wort? Absolutely.

Thanks Cidah - I will take a look at megapots now. Any place cheaper than the next for them?

 

[craig_reed]

15 Gal Megapot on NB with therm and ball valve is $273.99... YIKES!

I'm sure that is more than reasonable, and it would probably last me FOREVER, but trying to find a more reasonable priced, high quality kettle (not that that isn't reasonably priced).

 

[CidahMastah]

craig check out instawares.com type in SPS-100 or whatever quart size. If you are looking for a 60qt it would be sps-60 (145.99 + shipping, figure ~15-20$)

I just recently bought the 100qt one for 207.92 shipped. I think it was $190, then $17 shipping. This is the EXACT same thing as the megapot, aka supersteel aka update international.

I installed hardware on mine from bargain fittings:
~15-20 for a ball valve bargainfittings.com
~sight glass kit and thermometer you can get from brewhardware.com (I have an electric prob and no sight glass, but lots of other folks have done this.


AHS has them too. But like I said, recently I have a bad experience with them (sent me two bad pots and I returned both - long story). Anyway, I can't recc them based on my previous attempt to buy from them.

 

[craig_reed]

craig check out instawares.com type in SPS-100 or whatever quart size. If you are looking for a 60qt it would be sps-60

I just recently bought the 100qt one for 20792 shipped. I think it was $190, then $17 shipping. This is the EXACT same thing as the megapot, aka supersteel aka update international.

I installed hardware on mine from bargain fittings

Awesome - seems reasonable for sure. Do you have a link to the fittings you got for your pot? (sorry pretty newb to what is what with these fittings) and what did you use to drill it out? Or did you take it somewhere for that?

 

[CidahMastah]

Awesome - seems reasonable for sure. Do you have a link to the fittings you got for your pot? (sorry pretty newb to what is what with these fittings) and what did you use to drill it out? Or did you take it somewhere for that?

We all gotta start some where:

Pick either 2 or 3 piece and then the set up you want (I went with 3 piece and the standard option):
http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=167

I made a diptube out of copper and a 90degree elbo. But if you want to buy them they sell them too.


Bobby M's site:

http://www.brewhardware.com/
Depends on what you are looking for, but the sight glass kits and how to videos are on there.


Almost forgot... to drill it out I used a cheap step bit set I bought from harbor freight:

Like this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-91616.html

and this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-96275.html

I did this for three pots with the bits. Just take your time do some research to see other people doing it before you jump into it. It is easy!


I think Bobby sells similar bits too.

 

[Lechien]

The Penrose Kettle from brewhemoth.com is a nice 15 gallon kettle, comes with a valve already. There is no lid, but not really needed anyway.

 

[StinkyVp]

I just ordered one of these:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/for/2599104747.html

60 qt / 15.5 gal kettle with valve. Great price too.

I am moving away from the turkey fryer. I'm stoked. It should be here in time for brew day on Friday.
I do BIAB and no existing plans to do more than 5 gal batches.
Did I mention I'm stoked?