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Best kettle size?

Post #1 made 11 years ago
by Shovel
I am getting ready to change over from extract to BIAB and it's apparent I need to upgrade my kettle to a larger size. ( i have a 5 and a 6 gallon now). Is fifteen gallons the optimum size or will a ten gallon kettle work good enough? I will mostly be brewing mid level beers with an occasional big belgian or barlywine thrown in to keep things interesting. I understand "go big or go home" but Fifteen gallons just seems like it might be too big or a hassle to work with on normal recipes plus its another 50$. Thanks!

Post #3 made 11 years ago
by Rick
I use an 11 gallon, and couldn't imagine going smaller for 5-6G batches. Once I near 7% ABV I have to start withholding water from the mash, and/or reduce the batch size. I'm not happy about either, but I'm getting by.

15 gallons would be ideal, IMO.

With that said, once I upgrade myself I'm shooting for 25G. This will enable me to do a double batch up to 1.100 OG without withholding any water. I'd likely need a bigger burner for that, or at the very least a higher psi regulator, and possibly welded bits for stability with larger diameter.

Look as far ahead into the future as possible, and plan for that! I have a strong desire for double batches, so I know it would be a waste to get a 15G pot for myself. I almost purchased one a few months ago, and I'm glad I did not.
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Re: Best kettle size?

Post #4 made 11 years ago
by Lumpy5oh
I just upgraded to a 15gal pot and tested it with the 4" turkey fryer burner and 12gal of water. I turned it off after 20 min and the water had only gone from about 30f to 70f. I am going to upgrade my burner before my next batch (first BAB).
Some people are like slinkies. Not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

Weehoosebrewing.ga
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Post #5 made 11 years ago
by thughes
Consider that for an average 1.050 starting gravity beer (@ 5.0% ABV) the grain and initial volume of water are going to displace @ 9.5 gallons. I recommend AT LEAST a 15 gallon pot to start with but can assure you that the extra $$ spent on a 20 gallon pot will never be a regret.

---Todd
WWBBD?
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Post #6 made 11 years ago
by porkpie
Wow, the answers here are blowing my mind.

I did my very first batch before I found this forum, and made what I now understand to a Maxi-BIAB, to get five gallons of beer out of a five-gallon pot.

I thought I might spoil myself and get a 7 gallon kettle!

Post #7 made 11 years ago
by Shovel
Thanks for the replies everyone. I kind've assumed i would need the fifteen and this seems to confirm that would be the smallest i should consider. Now it's off to do some shopping :-))

Post #10 made 11 years ago
by Shovel
"I have a 15 gallon kettle, but if I could it do over, I would purchase a larger one."

Indieg, do you need a larger kettle to do batches larger than 5 gallons? Or really big beers or? Sorry, i'm just trying to figure out what's the best for me. I can't see myself doing anything more than five gallons and I'm concerned that if the kettle gets too big heating and evap will be more of a problem. The link to the BIABrewer kettle size mentioned above says an 18 gallon is optimum but that size isn't really available in the US and even with that I'm having a hard time getting my head around needing something that large.

Thanks to the admin for putting the hint up. I figured that information was on the site but couldn't find it when i searched.

Post #11 made 11 years ago
by PistolPatch
Shovel, sometimes, as we brew more, we want to brew larger volumes less often. Not everyone goes this way but a lot do. The larger kettle size doesn't cost much extra to buy and doesn't cost any extra to heat really. As for the evaporation rate, you could reduce that by floating a stainless steel bowl on the wort although I do not bother.

I do both single and double batches in my 70 L* kettles (I have two). When I double batch, I no-chill the first half of the wort into a cube for pitching several months to over a year down the track. The second half I chill and pitch immediately. On double batches of average gravity brews, I have to add a bit of top up water but not too much.

So, there can be a lot of versatility in a larger size kettle. It's certainly worth another think.

:peace:
PP

*18.5 US gallons or 75 quart. Here's a 75 quart one for $150. It's only $20 more than the 50 quart one.

[I'm going to be very erratic in the time I have available to spend here in the next three or so weeks so the above may be all I am able to contribute here.]
Last edited by PistolPatch on 08 Jan 2014, 17:50, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #12 made 11 years ago
by Rick
PistolPatch wrote:Shovel, sometimes, as we brew more, we want to brew larger volumes less often. Not everyone goes this way but a lot do. The larger kettle size doesn't cost much extra to buy and doesn't cost any extra to heat really. As for the evaporation rate, you could reduce that by floating a stainless steel bowl on the wort although I do not bother.

I do both single and double batches in my 70 L* kettles (I have two). When I double batch, I no-chill the first half of the wort into a cube for pitching several months to over a year down the track. The second half I chill and pitch immediately. On double batches of average gravity brews, I have to add a bit of top up water but not too much.

So, there can be a lot of versatility in a larger size kettle. It's certainly worth another think.

:peace:
PP

*18.5 US gallons or 75 quart. Here's a 75 quart one for $150. It's only $20 more than the 50 quart one.

[I'm going to be very erratic in the time I have available to spend here in the next three or so weeks so the above may be all I am able to contribute here.]
Get out of my brain!! :argh:

I've almost pulled the trigger on that exact pot every day for the past week. Also, I just purchased a no-chill cube in preparation, just so I don't need a better chiller. The shipping for the pot is $40 to where I live, but I really think it's a perfect diameter for BIAB. Still a great deal, but I just spent money on a kegging setup ... and find it hard to justify another big purchase so soon.

I really hope I'll be able to get away with using my 10 psi SP10 burner. If not, at least upgrading from that is relatively cheap.
Last edited by Rick on 08 Jan 2014, 21:52, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #13 made 11 years ago
by jhough
Shovel, I've been thinking of upgrading too. A 15 gal would be fine , but , you need to think about your fermenting equipment also. If you are only doing 1 5g batches in carboys then a 15g would be fine. But , if you want to ramp up production then GO BIGGER !
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Post #14 made 11 years ago
by Shovel
Well I really wasn't thinking about double batches and I am fermenting in a 6 gallon carboy, but all of you have got me thinking about at least the 18.5 gallon size. It's a bit of a coincidence but i'm in the same position as Rick in that i just bought a kegging system so i'm taking my time and researching the kettle purchase (and looking for a sale!). There was a bit of a draw to the 10 gallon size as I could have used it in the kitchen when the weather was bad for brewing. Since that's out of the equation the only real difference is cost which isn't that much so i think i will take the advice here and go big. Thanks again for all the input!

Post #17 made 11 years ago
by beeeeeerman
Im a newbie here and I have begun brewing using a 4 gallon pot. Im only wanting to do 2 gallon batches, that way i can brew regularly and have more variety. I do love to drink beer, however I do go to the local pub for a bit of my drinking so I figure 10 bottles a week of home brew is good.

Post #18 made 11 years ago
by Shovel
Hey everyone. It's been a while since I initially posted this question so I thought I should update everyone. A friend ended up having a retired 1971 Hamms Sankey 15.5 gallon keg that he didn't want any more. Since it was only a couple years younger than me i decided it was destiny and converted it to a keggle. My first batch went like clockwork until the boil. My turkey burner took forever to get 7.5 gallons up to temp and then never did get a good boil. So the short story is i now have a great keggle thanks to everyones input and now i just have to figure out the burner situation. Thanks again for all the advice.

Post #19 made 11 years ago
by PistolPatch
beeeeerman, yoo count the e's :),

You can learn a lot from small batches. They are harder to measure and control but if you choose your malts and hops carefully you can educate yourself faster than someone who brewrs larger batches less frequently.

Shovel,

Get a three ring camping burner with an adjustable regulator. Or an Italian spiral burner. I have both of these and can heat 60 litres of water at say 20 C to mash temp in about 25 minutes.

:peace:
PP
Last edited by PistolPatch on 20 Feb 2014, 17:12, edited 2 times in total.
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Post #20 made 11 years ago
by Shovel
Thanks Pistolpatch, i've noticed a lot of you guys have those burners in AU but i haven't found them in the states. The shipping would probably be killer to get one over here. I've looking at what they call a banjo burner in the states. I'm going to try a test boil with some adjustments to my set-up this weekend. If things don't improve drastically i'll be out shopping for a burner.

Post #21 made 11 years ago
by BobBrews
Shovel,

I use the burner below. It has removable legs so that I can drain the pot into a no-chill cube. The added height makes it easier for me. It sounds like a jet taking off but it boils water quickly. I use a 15.5 gallon keggel but normally I just brew 5 gallon batches because I like variety. beeeeeerman You have to drink more and faster if you want variety, not smaller batches? Get your head on straight! :lol:

http://www.campchef.com/stoves/single-b ... ooker.html
Last edited by BobBrews on 20 Feb 2014, 22:24, edited 2 times in total.
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