Time for a bigger brew pot... help me decide!

[Gremlyn]

So I am in need of a larger brew pot. I brew in my apartment doing 5 gal batches and want to be able to do full boils. I have an electric stove and already plan on adding a heatstick to help get the boil going. I know I am going to get a bunch of people telling me to look to the future for when I want to do 10 gal batches, but getting a pot that big is out of the question. I am limited to an 8 gal pot, so a 30-32qt pot is what I want. I can't get a turkey fryer setup, as much as I would absolutely love to (believe me!), and so a keggle is also out.

With all the options, my head is spinning and I can't figure out what to get! Of course there is the 32 qt MegaPot from Northern Brewer:
NORTHERN BREWER: Brew Kettles
If I got that, I would likely get it without the ball valve and pick up a valve form Bargain Fittings instead (no need to triple the cost of the valve, right?). But since I am on an electric stove, should I go for aluminum pot to get better heating? I found a few:
Stock Pot, 32 Qt, Stock Pots, Cookware, Kitchen Supplies
Marathon® Stock Pots - 32 Qt., Manitowoc by Brand, Manitowoc
Heavy Duty Aluminum Stock Pot - 32 QT, Stock Pots, Cookware

I also found this stainless pot, really cheap:
Proctor Silex Stainless Steel 30 Quart Stock Pot with Steamer Basket 87706 at Kitchen Collection
But I am concerned with the thickness, it doesn't list it and I don't want some crappy thin pot that I can't put a valve on.

Do I need a lid for my pot? I would think so... but I'm not sure. Please someone help me make some sense out of the plethora of pots available, I'm and super impatient and want to buy one!

 

[JMSetzler]

To be quite honest, for about $10 or $20 more than the price of that $50 pot, you can have a turkey fryer setup that comes with a pot large enough to brew in. You may not need or use the turkey fryer, but you might use it at some point down the road and you would have it already.

You don't need a lid for brewing unless you want to put a lid on while you are bringing your water up to a boil.... Don't brew with the lid on...

 

[Gremlyn]

I did think of that too, are those pots thick enough? SWMBO might not like having to store the fryer though...

I don't boil with the lid on, don't worry, no DMS for my beer.

 

[Recusit8m]

+1 on the turkey fryer
Bass Pro Shops® 30-Quart Propane Turkey Fryer

 

[JVD_X]

IMHO - 32 quarts is just a little small. If you move up to a 40 quart you will get a lot more flexibility. I found this one that is aluminum - if you don't mind AL...

Aluminum Stock Pot - 40 Quart, Stock Pots, Cookware at Instawares

 

[Gremlyn]

I really can't go over 32 qt. Again, I would love to, but I just don't have the space or abiliy to use it right. My next kettle will likely be a keggle and this pot would get relegated to an HLT, which 8 gal would be fine for even on 10 gal batches.

 

[JMSetzler]

I have been using a turkey fryer pot for a while now with no problems. I'm not sure what the actual volume of the pot is, but I can put 7 gallons in it and still have 6-8" of head space for the boil.

 

[Gremlyn]

Is your pot thick enough to put a valve on it?

I did some looking into the turkey fryers and to get a Bayou Classic with a pot it's quite a bit more than I want to spend right now. That's probably because all the ones I find some with SS pots.

I think I might be leaning towards the MegaPot right now, any reason you guys think I should go for the aluminium?

 

[Dog House Brew]

You can put a valve in any pot. If you don't weld or cant find someone who can, go weldless. Then when you upgrade go mac daddy

 

[bakins]

I'd go stainless - it's just easier to clean. I brew in Al, so it's fine, but you can't just leave it soaking in PBW overnight like you can with SS.

 

[rico567]

{snip}

I also found this stainless pot, really cheap:
Proctor Silex Stainless Steel 30 Quart Stock Pot with Steamer Basket 87706 at Kitchen Collection
But I am concerned with the thickness, it doesn't list it and I don't want some crappy thin pot that I can't put a valve on.

Do I need a lid for my pot? I would think so... but I'm not sure. Please someone help me make some sense out of the plethora of pots available, I'm and super impatient and want to buy one!

I have the identical pot, which I got on sale for $40 delivered from Cooking.com two years ago when I started brewing. It has worked fine for full 5-gallon boils doing extract batches on our cooktop, and now it's working equally well on a propane burner doing 6.5 gal AG boils.

I cannot address the suitability for putting a valve in this pot, as I haven't done that.

A lid is handy when you're heating water; naturally, you don't want a lid on there when you're boiling wort.

Nota Bene:

1. On our propane cooktop, I could barely get a 5-gal boil going. I insulated the pot with automotive firewall insulation from J.C. Whitney, and that corrected that problem.

2. For boilovers doing AG boils, I just decided not to fight it, and use Fermcap-S. 10 drops in a 6.5 gal boil, no foam, nohow.

 

[Captain_Bigelow]

Heads up - if you decide to purchase something from Northern Brewer, go to their new beta site this weekend and use coupon code "BETA". You will save 5%. I purchased a 10 gallon Polar Ware brew pot earlier this week and saved $10 by using this.

 

[Gremlyn]

I'm not sure on thicknesses, is the 1 mm on the MegaPot a good thickness for SS? Thanks for the tip on the beta site Richie, I'll definitely do that if I go with the MegaPot.

rcio567: the only concern for putting a valve on would be how thick the pot is. If it is too flimsy then it is harder to get a good hole cut and prevent leaks.

 

[RonRock]

I have the 40 qt Mega Pot and can say that it is a very nice heavy duty SS. The only gig I have with is that it is wide. I have what seems to me to be quite a bit of boil off due to the diameter of the pot. Easily adjusted for but something to consider. Especially if you boil on a stove. Mine has a valve on it and is plenty strong.

 

[CodeRage]

I know you said 32 qt or smaller, but you did mention a keggle eventually. Perhaps a keggle with an electric element or two on the bottom? If you have an electric dryer or means to get to the stove receptacle you could use 240v, else 2 110v elements on two different circuits would work too. A little out of left field but...
You could probably do it for around the cost of a mega pot.
I do remember my apartment days and the premium for space.

 

[Gremlyn]

Since I'm in a rented apartment, I don't really want to get getting into messing with all the electrics. Besides, getting a keggle would be completely out of the question with the SWMBO right now. Trust me, I'd love to!

 

[Gremlyn]

OK, I went with the 8 gallon MegaPot from NorthernBrewer. I'm going to go order my valve and sight glass from bargain fittings right now! More on that here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/bargain-fittings-bulkhead-attachments-126939/

 

[wilserbrewer]

I know you said 32 qt max., but I like a 40 qt for 5 gallon batches. Also heat transfer on an alum. kettle is nice for stovetopping. Free shipping w/ over $50 purchase. Buy a mash paddle and nice SS spoon to get the free ship.

Aluminum Stock Pot - 40 Quart, Stock Pots, Cookware at Instawares

 

[Gremlyn]

Thank for your thoughts, but read my post above yours... already ordered At least the MegaPot has the sandwiched aluminium on the base of the pot to better spread the heat.

 

[passedpawn]

I also found this stainless pot, really cheap:
Proctor Silex Stainless Steel 30 Quart Stock Pot with Steamer Basket 87706 at Kitchen Collection
But I am concerned with the thickness, it doesn't list it and I don't want some crappy thin pot that I can't put a valve on.

Do I need a lid for my pot? I would think so... but I'm not sure. Please someone help me make some sense out of the plethora of pots available, I'm and super impatient and want to buy one!

I have used this pot for YEARS. It is still in perfect condition. I just soaked it in Oxyclean and it looks like the day I bought it. BTW, I store it behind my house in the sun, rain, etc.

I put a ball valve on it. No problem, no leaks.

 

[Duckfoot]

I put a a valve on a CHEAP turkey fryer pot... Replaced the gawd-awful Chinese pot metal spigot (that probably contained lead and radioactive drywall dust) with a brass ball valve... Honestly, I was a little concerned about the wall thickness, but I went DIY weldless and it has worked like a charm... I just grabbed a few SS washers to beef it up a little... Will try to get a pic of it when I get a chance...