Brew Kettle Advice

[JimH]

Hey guys! So, the old anniversary is coming up. 9 years with my fantastic wife. She knows what she wants (and bought it already, lol), and she asked what I wanted. She suggested a new kettle, as I move up and do more, my 13qt ain't cutting it now. I was looking at moving to a 8 gallon or so kettle, and looking for some advice. Not sure exactly what I am looking for, but I wonder if the valve and thermometer are really worth it. I am on a bit of a budget for this purchase, probably not more that $150, but closer to $100. I know I can find some decent kettles from various homebrew websites for about $90. Any input?

[BlackDuck]

If you can afford it, I would recommend one with the valve. It makes it so much easier to drain into the fermenter. The thermometer isn't all that necessary as you can still take it's temp with a hand held thermometer. And if your only using it to boil in, then it really doesn't matter. Just bring it to a boil and let 'er rip. Also, if you can afford it, I would go with a 10 gallon pot. If you ever want to get into 5 gallon AG, full volume recipes, the 8 gallon will be tight. I have a 10 gallon pot and my recipes are usually around a 7.5 gallon pre-boil volume. And I have just enough space for the hot break foam.

And congrats on the anniversary!!

[gwcr]

I would go with a 10 gallon SS kettle. Definitely makes it easier to do full volume boils for 5-6 gallon batches. Lots of varieties out there to choose from. If you can swing a valve in your budget I would do it (mostly because I wish I had one on mine...).

[Dawg LB Steve]

AIH has a sale on Brewpots 9 Gallon 1 Weld is around $70 and a 15 Gallon 1 Weld around $110. Saw something last week about equipment, if you know this is going to be something you will continue doing and growing you should invest in the bigger stuff cause it will be a one time purchase rather than buying up into incremental sized pots. My 2 cents would be opt for the 15, this leaves room to do a 10 gal. batch if you feel that itch!
Happy Anniversary!

[jimjohson]

Jim, FWIW I bought a 32qt and wish I'd have got the 40qt. You really got to watch it for boil overs.

[JimH]

Thanks guys. I am looking at AIH now. That looks like a really good deal, and I am sure I can find a valve in town to put on that thing.

I was wondering, I see some turkey boilers and stuff like that from other retailers. Are they sometimes cheaper, avoiding the homebrew premium markup, or not so much?

Also if there are any other things I should spend the money on, I am all ears.

[Dawg LB Steve]

You will probably spend as much or more that way, considering AIH has the 1 and 2 Weld pots on sale and you don't need to drill AND install a weldless valve.

[RickBeer]

Wow, you guys really have your priorities all wrong. On my anniversaries I ask for something wrapped in something flimsy...

Coming up on 34 years next month and I love getting the same present each year.

[JimH]

http://www.homebrewing.org/One-Weld-9-G ... 1683.html#

So, here is what I am looking at, thanks to Dawg_LB_Steve (can I just call you Steve?)

Thoughts? It fits my budget, has the nipple for a valve, and will allow me to upgrade my brewing. I do have an electric stove (for now), think this will cause problems with that pot?

[BlackDuck]

Looks like a good pot for the money....did you see you can add the spigot for $14.99?

[JimH]

Looks like a good pot for the money....did you see you can add the spigot for $14.99?

Yes, I did. Should I do brass? Is SS worth the extra? Or should I just grab a valve at the local hardware store? $15 seems high, but I haven't priced them locally.

[John Sand]

If the electric stove is a glass-top, the pot diameter should not exceed the ring size, or you'll have trouble getting a boil. My glass top will boil 7+ gallons, but only if the pot fits and is flat on the bottom. The stove has sensors to prevent the non-heating potion of the top from overheating.
I second the notion of a ten gallon pot, or close. I bought two pots this year, 30 and 40 quarts. The 30 was okay, but really had to be watched, and often boiled over.

[Dawg LB Steve]

So, here is what I am looking at, thanks to Dawg_LB_Steve (can I just call you Steve?)

Yes Steve works for me. The article I saw was something posted to facebook I think, but have that first hand knowledge of that spending. Bought 5 g pot for partial volume 5 g boils, the 7.5 g turkey fryer for full volume 5 g boils, then 13.25 g SS pot and Bayou Classic 185,000 btu burner for 10 g full volume boils, now I'm looking at 20 g SS pot from LHBS to fill half barrel kegs. Once I started kegging and had multiple kegs I found it just as easy to brew bigger batches in the same amount of time.

[DaYooper]

On the subject of upgrades, I see the two weld is $10 more. I am sure you could get a plug for it and then down the road if you decide to go BIAB it would be as simple as screwing in a thermometer.

[JimH]

Done!

I went with the 9 gallon and the two weld. I think this will do well for me for quite some time. I can get a stainless plug for the thermometer hole until I think I need it, and that saves me from having to buy a new pot anytime soon. Now, I just need to make a wort chiller.....