Kettle Size for 5 gallon batch (full volume boil)

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by mscerbo1427, Jan 16, 2018.

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  1. mscerbo1427

    mscerbo1427 Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2017 New York

    Hey guys - looking to upgrade some equipment and came across a packaged offering from Northern Brewer that includes an 8 gallon TallBoy kettle. Wondering if that is large enough to handle full volume boils for 5 gallon batches? Thanks in advance!
     
  2. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Considering what liquid may boil off over a 1-hour boil (assuming a gallon) and you therefore start with 6 gallons, you should be okay. If your typical boil-off rate is higher, you may be pushing the limit and will want to watch that pot like a thirsty hawk.
     
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  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    As @Mothergoose03 alluded to it is dependent on your boil off rate.

    For the sake of discussion the default sizes for the Brewers Friend calculator is a pre-boil volume of 7.5 gallons and a post boil volume of 5.5 gallons. Considering this as a 'baseline' I would suggest that an 8 gallon pot is on the small size.

    Cheers!
     
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  4. Supergenious

    Supergenious Maven (1,273) May 9, 2011 Michigan

    8 gallon will work, I used one for 5 gallon batches for years. However it is the minimum I would go with. You need to be very careful with boil overs. I’ve since upgraded to a larger kettle and find it much easier to deal with.
     
  5. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    Be safe and go with ten and that way you can biab without worry if u choose to go that route. Buy once cry once.
     
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  6. Lukass

    Lukass Pooh-Bah (2,891) Dec 16, 2012 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    10 would be ideal, but 8 should be fine. Like the others said you'll have to babysit it. Considering you'll want to start the boil with 6 to 6.5 gallons, that leaves you with less than 2 gal headspace. Keep some cold water handy next to the kettle, and 10 drops of FermCap added to your wort pre-boil should help keep the foaming down.
     
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  7. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Depends on what you mean by a 5 gallon batch. I end up kegging 5 gallons, but that is after 6 gallons into the fermenter, 6.5 gallons post boil, and often 8 gallons to start the boil. No problem, as I use a 15 gallon brew pot. I've come sort of close, but I've yet to have a boil-over. Personally, I'd not go with anything less than 12 gallons. Cheers!
     
  8. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    8 works for me, but I also have a 12 gallon pot for any stout over 8 %. Those beers seem to be more of a boil over concern vs pales IPAs.
     
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  9. csurowiec

    csurowiec Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2010 Maryland

    What’s your definition of a 5 gallon batch? Do you define it as putting 5 gallons in the fermenter or do you define it as packaging 5 gallons of finished beer? The reason I ask is if you are planning to package 5 gallons of finished beer then an 8 gallon pot would be tricky because you will be starting your boil with 7-7.5 gallons of liquid to get 6ish in the fermenter. As said above you will have to watch it very close to avoid boiling over and making a mess. I use a 10 gallon pot and would recommend this size.
     
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  10. frozyn

    frozyn Maven (1,435) May 16, 2015 New York
    Trader

    When I was kitting out early last year as I started homebrewing, the general consensus I found was to get a boil kettle 2x the size of the batch you wanted to brew. I BIAB 2.5 gallon batches (which I measure as the volume that goes into the fermenter) and my 5 gallon BK has been great. Upper limits were tested when I pulled off an 11.2% imperial stout successfully.
     
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