Upgrading my kettle

[BrianL]

I got the ok to replace my keggle with a Blichmann. I can squeak a 20 gallon on my brewstand, so thinking about going that route for the most flexibility down the road. Other than the obvious issues that I can work around like thermometer height, does anyone have a good reason why a 6 gallon batch is a bad idea in a 20 gallon kettle?

Anyone know the top and bottom sight glass increments on the 20 gallon boilermaker?

[Bugeater]

About the only thing I can think of is that the diameter of the new pot is probably quite a bit wider than you old pot. This increased surface area will increase your boil off rate. You will need to account for this in your preboil volume. Also, make sure you get a stirring spoon with a longer handle. You don't want to be reaching down into that big pot with a short spoon. Steamed fingers aren't fun.

Wayne

[BrianL]

Roger that. I think I'm safe to go with the big kettle.

It was only 2 years ago that I thought my new 7 gallon kettle was huge!

[krizwit]

The biggest problem with 6g batches is you are more likely to run out of beer...

LIke Bugeater said, you will have to figure out your boil off rate, but after that you dont need to worry about much besides getting a thermometer to monitor the temps when you are cooling.

Good call on the 20g blichmann. I dont understand why they have a 15g. The 20 isnt much more and give you piece of mind when brewing a 11-12g batch.

[Spelt]

Changed out my turkey fryer for a polarware. Nearly doubled my boil off rate. Makes it hard to get a 5 gallon batch out of the 7 gallon pot.

[krizwit]

Changed out my turkey fryer for a polarware. Nearly doubled my boil off rate. Makes it hard to get a 5 gallon batch out of the 7 gallon pot.

Add water while you are boiling or dont boil as hard. The wort doesnt need to be leaping out of the pot. Most commercial brewers get around a 8% boil off rate.

[Cliff]

I got the ok to replace my keggle with a Blichmann.

Why get a blichmann? I mean for the money you could get two 15 gallon SST posts here
http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/
and have a MT and a BK to start your fancy pants electric brewery or just stick with propane and make a Brutus style brewery.
or you could get two aluminum pots and save even more
http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/upd ... p4868.aspx

Drill a hole install a tap and away you go.
And for that price you won't mind drilling more holes for other purposes like sparging pumping and integrated coolers.

The shape of the pot is entirely irrelevant, don't let anything you read about that sway you.

As an aside electrical brewing is fast fast fast. You can get 15 gallons boiling in mere minutes with a couple water heater elements in the wort. Minutes~!!

check this out
http://www.alenuts.com/brutus.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCVsoULzCyg