I need some advice. I have been using an 8 gal boil kettle and I think it is time for an upgrade. I have only made IPA's and will be branching out to other styles later. I have made 3 all-grain batches and am seeing the need for 1 kettle for hot liquor tank and 1 for my boil kettle. My 8 gal kettle is just not really cutting it when I am trying to make 5-6 gal batches and batch sparging. I am looking to purchase a 15 gal with temp port, ball valve, and volume measurement. Here are my questions: I have read about site-glass issues such as getting clogged with hop/trub, the volume being hard to measure due to wort shooting up the site glass and out the top port; scorching of the glass from the heat, etc. Some kettles have volume measurements inside the kettle. Anyone tried both and have some suggestions? I am looking at BoilerMaker™G2 brew kettle or NB MegaPot 1.2™ Brew Kettle (no site glass). My other option is a cheap kettle and drilling my own holes. Anyone have good luck keeping these from leaking? Do you etch the site glass yourself? Anything I am not thinking about with this method? I may eventually go to 10gal batches. Will a 15gal kettle be enough? I really only want to buy this once since they are so expensive. Thanks for your help.
I have a short fat 15 gallon kettle, and without fermcap I can't do 10 gal batches. I got everything pre done except a site glass. I marked my spoon in 1 gallon incriments to match my kettle. ghettofab ftw.
I have the 10 gal and 15 Winware Aluminum stock pots and love them. Cheap and durable...Not for impressing friends tho...I boil 8 gals for 6 gals on the 10 and 13 gals for 10 gals on the 15... http://www.amazon.com/Winware-Profe...421712455&sr=8-2&keywords=10+gal+aluminum+pot
I'm a fan of buying a new kettle and immediately drilling several holes in it. You can get a site gauge/thermo combo, will only need one hole. My gauge came with decals that attach to show quantity, pretty easy to configure. You can etch the inside of your kettle (search this forum for details), or use a marked spoon like SFACRKnight . . . any method will work. My site gauge has worked as advertised, even added one to my HLT. Adding a ballcock valve will be essential at this weight . . . I've done several and none of them leak. Consider if you want a bazooka filter (I like 'em), easier to configure at the beginning. If you go the self-help route search Amazon for "Winware ss kettles", nothing fancy here but mine has held up well. Just about everyone sells the hardware . . . the guys at brewhardware.com have a pretty good product line for kettles. With the dough you save by DIY you can add quick disconnects and save your fingertips. This is my DIY kettle:
I searched using 'kettle' and came up with this thread. I'm certain that other threads also discuss your question. I also saw another link within the thread that I'm linking, so maybe that can get you farther toward an answer. http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/brew-kettle.190092/#post-2536464
I have been using the marked up spoon up to this point too! Price is certainly right. I have been considering this one too. I like what you have done. That is exactly what I am looking to do. Thanks for the link. I read many threads here, but missed that one.
