I've been doing some thinking about how I'd like to start brewing. Looks like outdoors is my best option. I want to start with the burner and then hunt patiently for a killer deal on a steel pot. Found a decent price on one of these. Is it worth getting? I can't use my stove, it's a glass top.
I have two of them and am happy with the purchase. I did a ten gallon batch last weekend (14 gallon boil in a keg...dicey, but no boilover thanks to fermcap). It can take a bit to get going, so I usually start heating my first runnings during the sparge. That way, it doesn't really end up seeming like I'm waiting around forever to get a rolling boil started. After I finish the sparge, I stir the wort and take my gravity/volume readings, set up my pond pump/CFC, and set timers for my hop additions...usually approaching the boil by the time I'm finished with that. As I'm getting close to boiling, I dial it back some to prevent boilovers. Keggles sit nice and sturdy on the burner stands. I also make hand-cut fries using the burner when I'm cooking moules-frites.
I think that it's around 50k BTU. The make/model is Bayou Classic SQ-14 if you're looking into it. Amazon was the cheapest route for me, too.
Unless you're going with a keggle, I'd recommend getting the SP10 instead. It's more btu's. Also, an aluminum kettle will do just fine and you won't have to hunt for a killer deal.
I have this one also. It has worked well for me. Usually takes around 15 minutes to get 6 1/2 gallons to a boil.
Good point...the fact that I use kegs was a major factor in going for this burner, as I'd read that a keggle doesn't sit sturdily on the SP-10 (people put BBQ grill grates on top of them to sturdy the kegs).
