Which Brew Pot?

[Eskimo Spy]

I want to buy an 8-10 gallon brew kettle, so I can start doing full boils. It's probably going to be a while (about a year) before I consider trying AG. So, what's a good brew pot for me?

Looking on Northern Brewer, they have 8 and 10 Gallon MegaPots.

-- 8 or 10 Gallon MegaPot - Stockpot

-- 8 or 10 Gallon Megapot w/ ball valve

-- 8 or 10 Gallon Megapot w/ ball valve and thermometer

I think for a pot that size, having a ball valve to move to the primary makes sense. I use an IC now, so that's taken care of.

I currently use a tandem of candy thermometer and laser thermometer, so do I need the thermometer?

And should I invest in the false bottom, or wait?

Should I consider any other brand Polar Ware? Boilermaker? Or are they overkill for me at the moment? Thanks everyone!

 

[Nanobru]

Sanke kegs, or any other type for that matter, are the way to go. To brew up 10 gallons, you need a 15 gallon kettle. That would be a couple hundred dollars compared to just forty for a old used keg. Cut the top off and a hole in the side for a ball valve. A stainless steel kettle for 75 bucks!

 

[Tonedef131]

Go with the 10 if you are only doing 5 gallon batches. If you want to do 10 gallons someday now is the time to spend the money, and you will need a 15 gal pot. I have a megapot and it is a thing of beauty, if the house is on fire, that what I grab.

 

[Eskimo Spy]

For the foreseeable future, I can't imagine I'll be doing more than 5 gallon batches. And I would like a brewpot, not a conversion, thanks though.

So, what's a good brew pot for me?

-- 8 or 10 Gallon Megapot w/ ball valve

-- 8 or 10 Gallon Megapot w/ ball valve and thermometer

So, the ball valve makes sense o rack to the primary, so that's in the cards.

Do I need the thermometer?

And should I invest in the false bottom, or wait?

Should I consider any other brands?

 

[malkore]

the thermometer is nice, but if you already have a good thermo you can leave in the kettle somehow, you don't need one attached to the kettle.

I only use mine to know "It'll start boiling soon" and when I'm chilling it back down.

I'd get the 10gallon pot. I have a 9 gallon and still have some boilover issues due to the massive power of my burner.

 

[Eskimo Spy]

I've got a laser thermo that I use, no muss, no fuss. And I've checked it against the candy and a pot thermo, it's spot on. So, the 10 gallon with the ball valve seems like a good choice.

Are the megapots a good investment?

And what about the false bottom? Do I need it if I'm not doing AG?

 

[shertz]

I'm about where you are right now. I am going with the 15.5 gallon keg and adding the ball valve and thermometer. I can do it all for under $50 and some homebrew for my welding friend.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Even when I move to 10 gallon batches someday, I'm going to invest in kettles. I love my 11 gallon kettle that I have right now and I'll shoot for real kettles over keggles any day of the week. From a cleaning perspective all the way to moving/lifting/etc they're the way to go if you can afford them.

 

[Eskimo Spy]

I saw this on AHBS, is this big enough to do full boils for 5 gallon extract batches?

Austin Homebrew Supply

 

[hammer one]

If you are going A.G. in a year I would go cheap for now a 30qt turkey fryer works great for a full boil and that will give you 12months to search out some good bargans

 

[Eskimo Spy]

It may be a bit longer than a year now, I'm probably going to do extract for a while longer now. Can I do a full 5 gallon boil in a 7.9 gallon pot?

 

[Deacon240]

It may be a bit longer than a year now, I'm probably going to do extract for a while longer now. Can I do a full 5 gallon boil in a 7.9 gallon pot?

I do a full 5g boil in a 32qt pot w/o any issues at all so I dont see why not.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Check this out:

60 qt. NSF Medium Weight Aluminum Stock Pot

and this:

40 qt. NSF Medium Weight Aluminum Stock Pot

Buy a weld-less ball valve bulkhead setup and you are good to go.

 

[Eskimo Spy]

I've used an aluminum pot, and I found that it imparted metallic flavors. Thanks, though.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I would go with the 10g w/ ball valve and thermometer. That will be a one-buy purchase that you will not need to replace and will not be unhappy with in the future. The ball valve is a necessity for the reason you stated (5g of boiling wort in not something you want to be moving around). The thermo makes life easier and it is nice to be able to glance at your pot and see what is going on. Also, as a BK it is nice not to have to sanitize anything to see when your wort is cooled.

Also, B3 is the best deal for those features. If you want a sight gauge, then the BoilerMaker is an option as well (and the one I am going with).

I would seriously consider a 15g pot. Most people go to 10g batches when they go AG for a reason....

 

[amishland]

I am looking to purchase a new brew pot, and can not decide. The things I want are 15 gallons and stainless steel ball valve.

unsure on thermometer, sight glass, pickup valve. seems if you buy a keggle and add all the goodies it is ~ $270, if you get a 15 gal mega pot from morebeer with no thermo but yes to ball valve you would spend $230. and if you get the boilermaker $369 all the bells and whistles. Many recommend DIY keggle, but legal kegs are not $30 off of craigslist.

I really wish there was a consensus answer to what is the best idea.

 

[Evan!]

I've used an aluminum pot, and I found that it imparted metallic flavors. Thanks, though.

It wasn't the pot.

 

[Evan!]

Check this out:

60 qt. NSF Medium Weight Aluminum Stock Pot

and this:

40 qt. NSF Medium Weight Aluminum Stock Pot

Buy a weld-less ball valve bulkhead setup and you are good to go.

I've got a 60 qt. aluminum kettle and am interested in getting set up with a march pump and plate chiller. Would this weldless valve work?

Weldless home brew fittings

 

[Eskimo Spy]

If it wasn't the pot, then what was it? Since I stopped using that pot, I've never had that flavor in my beer again, and I've used the exact same recipes in both the aluminum pot and the SS pot now.

 

[Evan!]

No idea. But aluminum doesn't give a metallic taste to beer. I've been using an aluminum kettle through about 80 batches, and never gotten any metallic flavors.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

The pot could have dissolved metallic solids into your beer if it was not fully oxidized or had some patches of non-oxidized or weakly oxidized areas.

My personal take on the Al thing is that it is a fine medium but takes much more care. I had an Al pot that I used for cooking once. Then just to be sure I did a full water boil before brewing with it again... huge oil slick of fats and stuff on the surface... recleaned/reboiled, same thing... a third time same thing...

I finally said the hell with it, and went and bought my first stainless pot.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

I've got a 60 qt. aluminum kettle and am interested in getting set up with a march pump and plate chiller. Would this weldless valve work?

Weldless home brew fittings

That would work, but I would suggest getting it from here:

Bargain Fittings

He is a vendor on here and really great service and support to customers and our community.

 

[Deacon240]

If it wasn't the pot, then what was it? Since I stopped using that pot, I've never had that flavor in my beer again, and I've used the exact same recipes in both the aluminum pot and the SS pot now.

Did you boil water for ~1hr in the aluminum kettle first before brewing? Did you use any soaps/cleaning agents/scrubbing on the al kettle after boiling water (if you did)?

If you didn't get a good oxide layer on the kettle or if you cleaned the oxide layer off that could be how you got the metallic flavor in your beer. If you had a good oxide layer on there it was something else.

 

[Benthic]

Personally, I'm making plans for the Boilermaker.

Brian

 

[Eskimo Spy]

Even when I move to AG, I won't be making more than 5 gallons at a time. I'm thinking about buying the following, is it worth the extra $40 to but the thermometer? I use an infrared thermometer right now, so I'm really wondering why I would need the thermometer...

10 Gallon MegaPot. This pot has a capcity of 40 quarts, or 10 gallons. It is 13" tall and 17" in diameter. Wall thickness is 1.0 mm.

10 Gallon MegaPot w/ ball valve $184.99

NORTHERN BREWER: Brew Kettles

 

[Cyprus]

How many gallons are you actually going to start with to end up with 5 when the boil is finished?

 

[Eskimo Spy]

6-7, depending on evaporation.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

We have the same exact pot from the same manufacturer. It might be an option.

Click here

Forrest

 

[Dog House Brew]

Yeh, 2 years ago I said the same thing, won't do more than 5 gallons. I now am set up for 15 gallons and could have saved a lot just being ready for 10 gallons. 10 gallons for not much more, twice the beer, same amount of time. You said extract, you will move to AG. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jimba009]

i am trying to decide between the 10 gallon and 15 gallon megapots. i don't plan on using it for a mlt (have a 10gal rubbermaid for that), does anyone have thoughts on ball valves and such for these?