Beer Forum

Currently I am using a converted keg and would like to move that to a HLT. Therefore, I am looking to purchase a new kettle and I have a couple questions.

I want at least the same volume as the keg so I am looking at a base price for a 15-18 gallons pot. So I only have to make a single buy, is there any negative effect if I purchase a 25-28 gallon pot, just in case I want to brew up a big batch on the brewing process?

Typically I do a 5 gallon batch, boiling around 8 gallons, occasionally I do a 10 gallon batch boiling around 13 gallons.

Thanks for any input.

Boiling a small amount of wort in a big pot like that might do two things:

#1) there won't be as much thermal mass above the burner - so you would have to watch out for excessive carmelization. It would be helpful if it had a thicker plate on the bottom to spread out the heat - but I have not seen that in any brew kettles, and #2) the wider pot will have more surface area - resulting in a higher evaporation rate. That's no big deal - you would just have to adjust your pre-boil volume to account for the greater evaporation rate.

Other than those two, I don't think there would be any other issues.


Mylo

are you gonna lay out the big bucks for stainless steel or are you going to convert an aluminum boil kettle?

Skeeter wrote:are you gonna lay out the big bucks for stainless steel or are you going to convert an aluminum boil kettle?

Stainless is what I want. I think Morebeer has a 28 gallon modified one for $277 plus a false bottom for the whole hops filtering should bump me to about $350. I think about $80 less for a 15 gallon one...

MyloFiore wrote:Boiling a small amount of wort in a big pot like that might do two things:

#1) there won't be as much thermal mass above the burner - so you would have to watch out for excessive carmelization. It would be helpful if it had a thicker plate on the bottom to spread out the heat - but I have not seen that in any brew kettles, and #2) the wider pot will have more surface area - resulting in a higher evaporation rate. That's no big deal - you would just have to adjust your pre-boil volume to account for the greater evaporation rate.

Other than those two, I don't think there would be any other issues.
Mylo

You FORGOT the most important issue with Boiling a small amount of wort in a big pot like that!
LESS WORT = LESS BEER!!

yabodie wrote:

Skeeter wrote:are you gonna lay out the big bucks for stainless steel or are you going to convert an aluminum boil kettle?

Stainless is what I want. I think Morebeer has a 28 gallon modified one for $277 plus a false bottom for the whole hops filtering should bump me to about $350. I think about $80 less for a 15 gallon one...

you can get a $25 gallon aluminum pot for about $135

http://www.overstockedkitchen.com/product/UP-APT-100/100_QT_COMMERCIAL_ALUMINUM_STOCK_POT__NSF.html

I was lucky enough to snag one of the deal of the day for a 15 gallon pot from B3 so I am set right now...

I am happy with my sanke boil kettle.
I am not happy with my sanke MLT. I have to many problems trying to maintain temperatures. Especially when you are making small beers, like I am now with the hop prices and all. A sanke MLT laughs at an 8# grain bill!

I Currently I am mashing in a cooler and transferring to the Sanke to lauter, classic german style brewing and it sucks. I just got a 10 gallon igloo which I will be converting to a mash tun as soon as the false bottom arrives.
I would suggest you do the same.

Just my 2 cents.

PS I have no kettle carmelization issues doing 5 gallon batches in a 15.5 gallon kettle,