Looking to buy a propane burner

I used the sp10 for a number of trouble-free years. It is a bit noisy but is built well and very capable of boiling 5 gallons in short order. http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-SP10-High-Pressure-Outdoor/dp/B000291GBQ
I used it for 30+ gallon batches - a bit undersized for that, but it got the job done.

 

I use a 60K btu natural gas Hurricane burner for 10 gallon batches. It's perfectly adequate, IMO - 12 gallons from mash temp to boil in about 20 minutes. I built a wind screen from sheet aluminum. It surrounds the keggle, bathing the sides with heat to achieve this efficiency. If natural gas is an option for you, I'd strongly recommend it. It's now about 95%+ cheaper per BTU than propane in my area and, not counting portability, there is no downside that I'm aware of. if you need it to be portable, you can use the propane orifice that is supplied (I paid $7 for a natural gas orifice and change them out, as needed)

 

This is what I use:

http://www.google.com/products/cata...5fhE-moiQK92ZibCw&ved=0CNQBEPMCMAo#ps-sellers

It has 2 30,000 BTU burners. It is very sturdy. If you think that two burners would be useful, I recommend it.

Camp Chef also makes a version with 1 30,000 BTU and 1 60,000 BTU burner and a version with 2 60,000 BTU burners (see their website).

 

Put me down as another SP10 user. It's been great for me and brings 6.5-7 gallons to a good boil in about 10 minutes. Unless you modify it, it does not work for keggles since the base isn't wide enough.

If you do get it, just do a dry run with it to burn all the paint off.

 

http://www.lowes.com/pd_48651-58355...fryers&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=tyrkey+\
This is very inexpensive, works great for 5 gal batches.

 

I just got a KAB6 Banjo Cooker by Bayou Classic for about $90. Worked great! I have seen talk of people needing to modify it but from my experience that MAY only be necessary if you boiled in a keggle since that would raise the bottom an additional inch or so.

 

50k to 60k btu is plenty for 5 gallon brewing. you don't get so much more performance with the 100k+ burner, but it will suck down fuel faster. and if you want to go to 10 or more gallon boils it is nice. just know that if you like a certain 60k burner it will work fine. then again, bigger is better. i have 120k and i can't ever remember thinking it is too much.

avoid using your burner in a garage. these burners are incredibly hot. the first time you boil you will be impressed with the heat. nothing at all like your stove or bbq. more than enough to burn your house down and fast. that and they need plenty of oxygen to burn cleanly.
Cheers.

 

Blichmann's top tier burner is the Weber grill of the burner world, you're paying probably double to triple the price ...but in the long run, my opinion is that it's well worth it since it's built like a tank with top of the line components.

 

I'm in the SP10 crowd. I brew 5 gallon batches. No complaints here.

 

Good for converted keg

http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic...2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1331577663&sr=1-2

 

I can't say that I'm in love with my KAB6 (with keggle set-up) - it eats propane tanks and requires a windscreen...

 

I think if I had a keggle I would want the burner close to the top. I can see that. With a pot though, it works great.

 

I also want to vote for this burner it's great! I have brewed 3 batches outside this winter and even with temps in the 20s It was able to hold a rolling boil with very little effort.

 

I bought a Camp Chef burner from MoreBeer. It works great.

 

Do you have issues with round kegs sitting stable on the square top burner?

 

Not this one. The problem is when you set a keg on a circular burner, which is why I bought this one. Whenever there is a thread asking about a burner for a converted keg, this is the one that is generally suggested.

 

Got to say - the Bichmann top tier is more expensive, and I debated between the SP10 and the Blichmann. Went with the Blichmann and really love it. I like the adjustable kettle supports - It is built well and looks and works great - but I think the SP10 would be a good choice as well. I do use mine in the garage - well clear of anything in the dead of a Minnesota winter, but I monitor continuously. Good luck and Happy Brewing.

 

I see you are sold on sp10 already, but here is another vote. Got ours free and was only expecting to use it until a better new one came around and I could afford it. Still using the sp10 and no plans to retire it.