10 or 20 gallon sculpture

[breyton]

I posted this on B3 forum, but I know alot you also have sculptures. Any advice? Pope Jamil and Dr. Scott...give me you opinions.

Well, I have been brewing on and off for about 14 years now and recently have been brewing all grain 10 gallon batches on my home built Polarware and sanke keg system. After this past weekends mechanical problems with my rig and constantly running in and out of the garage checking my sparge, I may have convinced or just worn down my wife to reluctantly go ahead with a sculpture.

So its the 1550 or 2050. I am not sure how often I will brew more than 10 gallons at a time, but there is a relatively small up charge for a 2050 vs. a 1550 (approx $266). I know with a 2050 5 gallon batches are not possible, but is there any downside to doing 10 gallon batches on the 2050?

If I am going to spend this amount of cash on a sculpture, does it make sense to get the bigger system in case I need to or just want to make bigger batches? I worry I am just talking myself into the 2050 when I really just need the 1550, but why change now.

What do you 1550 & 2050 users think? Give me the pros and cons.

[bub]

This will sound a bit assholic but you need to answer those questions for yourself.... Ignore the price because it is inconsequential. Will you ever move up to 15 or 20 g batches? You can do a 10g on a 20g system, but you would be hard pressed to do 20g on a 10g system.
BUB

[breyton]

Bub,

You are right in that I should make my decision on my own requirements. The issue is that each system costs a bundle, so I am trying to get any and all feed back on each system. I most likely would never brew a 20 gallon batch due to restrictions in fermentors and finding enough people to drink all that brew in a reasonable amount of time. The alure of being able to do it just because I can (as heard from Dr. Scott) has some merit when buying a system for this price.

10 gallon batches would most likely account for 90+% of all my brews, so the 1550 looks like the most sense. I will need to wrestle with this one for a while. I will be in San Fran in the fall and hope to get to B3 to have a look at each system.

[SunkenBier]

I run a 1550 and love it but I would also love larger pots. If you have room for the 2050 I would go for that. You will have far less chance of a boil over and you will have a larger mash ton so you can make stronger beer as well as having a wider mash ton since the 2050 has larger pots. Im sure there are some other reasons but its the morning and thats all I can think of at the moment.

[JB-Brewer]

breyton, are you getting that thning shipped to Mass?

[breyton]

J-B Brewer

Not sure when I will make the order, but it will be going to Mass. B3 quoted me around $400 for residential and around $280 (cant remember for sure) if I have it shipped to a business.

[Mr. Big]

More Bigger Better. You can brew 10 gallons in a 20 gallon system, but not vice versa. My experience is that to really end up with 10 gallons of finished beer in kegs, you need to come out of the boil pot with 11.5 gallons. Taking into consideration evaporation from a rigorous boil that could go on for 2 hours for some beers, you need to have at least 13.5 gallons in the boil pot. Talk about boil-overs! Other options include resigning yourself to ending up with 8 or 9 gallons of finished beer. You can use 3 gallon and 5 gallon corny kegs. Might save you some dough.

[milton]

I have the B3-2000, 20 gallon system. Mostly I make 10 gallon batches with no problems. 20 gallons makes it easy to brew with friends or a club and still get a lot of beer for your self.
You will be surprised how fast 20 gallons goes. I keep a keg on tap at my local homebrew shop for customers and friends. Our club has many events we attend and pour 20 to 50 gallons at and I can always donate without taking a big hit in inventory. I have no regrets on the 20 gallon system.