But I looked into your suggestion anyway. Originally the price was going to be about the same for a 14.5 gallon conical. But I called midwestsupplies and asked some questions about anything I would need to purchase with the Blichman to be ready to go when I buy it. They didn't know the answers and needed to email Blichmann and ask then get back with me. In the mean time while doing that the $50 off sale ended.
I emailed Stout with the same questions and a few others. They promptly emailed me back, as in real time, with the answers and pointed out two conicals not on their website. This type of customer service to me is a big thing. As soon as I hear back from them on a question I asked when I got home from work last night I am fairly certain I will be ordering a 10 gallon conical for around $400.
Other selling points. On both the AHA forum and the brewtalk forums several said tri clamps are far superior to threaded fittings for both cleaning and durability. Tri clamps are standard on all Stout conicals but they are an extra $150 on the Blichmanns.
The Stouts come with the hose barbs on them with the Blichmanns I would have to purchase them seperately.
Stout Tanks custom builds commercial equipment for commercial breweries, the home brew versions are just miniaturized from those designs. The owner and founder of Stout Tanks has been a home brewer for 20 years.
Blichmann is an engineer and home brewer and builds the very best you can buy of what he builds. But it looks to me like the Stout equipment is not that far of a cry from what he does. It is certainly still an enormous step up for a guy who has been working with plastic buckets. I just can't justify the difference in price between the two. Also this way I will be dealing with the manufacturer and not a middle man.
Even though it is one more thing to clean around and sanitize I am going to get the one with the thermowell and thermometer. If anybody reading this thinks that would be a mistake now would be the time to respond.
