Kettles

[yabodie]

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.

[Mylo]

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

[Skeeter]

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

[yabodie]

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...

[Kahluaman]

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!!

[Brant]

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

[yabodie]

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...

[kace069]

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,