BIAB Setup/upgrade

[TopFlatBrwr]

I'm looking to make the jump from my partial mash biab setup to a full mash biab setup. I'm thinking about getting a Blichmann 15g Boilermaker. I want something that is a quality build and gives me scalability for the future. I figured the 15g kettle would be better for that than the 10g as cost isn't really a limiting factor for me. The only issue is I don't have a garage and doing an outdoor setup in London where it's constantly raining is a pain. So an outdoor propane burner isn't an option right now.

I have quite a large 5 burner range with a hood in our kitchen which I currently use to boil about 4 gallons at a time with no issues. I usually have to turn the center burner to a lower setting anyways. The center burner is a double burner with the flame reaching a 9 inch diameter. The overall grate is 16.5" x 24" (hood is 31" above range) so the 15g kettle can sit comfortably on the range. I'm basically wondering if this burner will be powerful enough for the kettle.



I'm also going to have another 5g pot for a 10 minute sparge on the counter next to the burner. I plan to rig something up to easily move the bag from one pot to another (similar to what I currently do) so that shouldn't be an issue for me. Thanks!

[Kbar]

No disrespect. $50-$90 for a propane outdoor burner. Cook outside. Not inside.

[TopFlatBrwr]

I would get a burner, but I live in London. Outdoor space is limited here unlike most places in the US. The weather (rain) is also quite unpredictable and brewing in the winter would be near enough impossible with where I'm at. Think Pigeon Shit Beer. Sound good? Not so much....

Anyway, I've also looked at The electricBIAB (they don't ship outside the US) and Braumeister. Although the Braumeister looks decent enough I can't bring myself to spend that much on a setup I won't want in the future. I like the hands on part of home brewing and don't currently want a programmed system.

[Ozwald]

That's a beautiful stovetop... but you may be pushing it's limits with something like that. Since cost isn't a factor, go ahead & try it but be prepared to buy a burner as well. Even if it does work, it's not recommended & you'll get much better results with the burner.

[BigHurt99]

FWIW i have been brewing in a bag in a 15.5 g kettle from more beer for about a year now and am glad i stepped up to that size. Before i was doing 2.5 g batches on be stove or extract.

A couple things ro consider about 15g kettle:

1. It works great for 5 gal batches but 10 g batches are limited to about 1.040 ish IME.
2. The same kettle will be great if\when you ever upgrade to a standard sparge as an HLT or boil kettle.

I brew outside on a camp chef burner and routinely brew in the rain or snow but im thinking the rain there is probably more intense. It hasnt beena problem for me though and i love being outside.

Oh and one last consideration is the weight you will be putting on that stove. My 5 g batches typically begin with 8 to 9 g of water (high boil off cuz im at 7000 feet). You will also need to hink about lifted your bag out and holding while it drains and how you can do that inside. I use an 8 foot step ladder. If i can figure how to post pictures ill put some up.

[EllisTX]

That's a beautiful stovetop... but you may be pushing it's limits with something like that. Since cost isn't a factor, go ahead & try it but be prepared to buy a burner as well. Even if it does work, it's not recommended & you'll get much better results with the burner.

This ^^^

Get the 15 gal pot and do a test run with some water. If it doesn't work go from there. Return the pot or figure out a way to brew outside. You could even build/buy a heat stick to assist the stovetop.

[Ozwald]

A couple things ro consider about 15g kettle:

1. It works great for 5 gal batches but 10 g batches are limited to about 1.040 ish IME.

I did 12g boils (10g+ finished) in my 15g kettle for many, many years. Can't recall the largest gravity, but 1.070's were not a problem but that was with a separate MLT (gravity isn't dependent on the kettle with a traditional setup). If cost isn't an issue, buy/build a MLT.

[TopFlatBrwr]

Thanks for all the info guys. I think since I'm in it for the long run I should get something I won't outgrow in a year. I'm looking at doing an electric element with a 20g kettle now similar to what Kal did here: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/heating-elements

Anyone have experience/advice with this conversion?