Choosing a kettle

@mugs1789

Same here.

Never once really "cleaned" it. Just run hot tap water through it until it runs clear and put it away once i'm done brewing. It will also sanitize anyway during the next boil... At most I will spritz the outside with Starsan before transfers and such, never any issue with contamination, even on the cleanest of lagers where you would really notice.

I consider them extremely low maintenance.

 

If you have never broken one down to clean than prepare to be amazed. It's probably what I consider to be sanitized "dirt". Like how laying on the floor of a hospital is worse for you than laying in mud. Laying in mud won't cause you much harm but is still gross.

 

I have a 15 gallon pot, and try to boil 14 gallons... I get away with it, but barely. Always go bigger. I thought to myself sure I can do 10 gallon batches easy with a 15 gallon pot .. then I thought.. my fermentation chamber can hold more than that.... Now here I am with a 15 gallon pot I wish was 18...

 

Stainless. As big as you can afford. You can always do a small batch in a big kettle, but never vice versa.

FWIW

 

Spigot: you appreciate your back... you want to minimize chances of contamination= yup
thermometer: you may want to try BIAB= yup
recirc port: you like hops and want to experiment with ways to use them on the hot side= yup
stainless: you want to clean with pbw and use all manner of organic acid in brewing= yup
15 gallon: you want to brew large (10 gal) batches or again BIAB with large grain bills= yup
you don't want to later look back and wish you didn't have to buy yet another kettle= yup
the gas company just shut off your service= nope

 

aaaaaand...
Ball valves do get super nasty.
Just because you don't have issues with contamination doesn't mean you are not compromising quality. Same with draft lines.