Pot Sizes

A lot of turkey fryer pots are 30qt. (7.5g). I used one for quite a while for 5g batches and worked it worked great! Just need to pay a little bit of attention in the beginning to prevent a boil over (use fermcap, kill the heat for a sec, or use a spray bottle of water).....other than that you'd be good to go

 

I highly highly highly recommend at least 8.5 with preference to 10 gallons, esp if doing all grain brewing. When you get big beers and do longer boils you will need more space for more water. I used to use 7.5 gallon pot and thought it was too small and very frustrating.

 

I think it would be worth it to pony up for a 10 gallon pot for 5 gal batches. Being able to boil full blast right off the bat without having to babysit at all is not only more convenient, but will (imo) result in better beer.

 

I second a 10 gallon pot. Though I have a 10 gallon pot or 2 that used to be boil kettles, HLT, etc that are rarely used in place of 15 and 20 gallon pots. I wish I would have just bought the bigger pots to begin with....I spent 10 times the amount on pots verses the rest of my mash and boiling items!

 

+1

 

I personally think 7.5 gallon pot is more than adequate, I've done a few full boils in 6.5 gallon pot. I did have one boilover and it was a nightmare to clean up, I wasn't paying close enough attention though. Won't happen again - hopefully.

 

I'm a big fan of my 10.5 gallon kettle. I ordered the Polar Ware 10.5 Gallon Economy Kettle from Northern Brewer. When all was said and done (and shipped) it cost a bit under $90, which was the best price I could find. As others have said, it is nice to be able to do full volume boils. I live in an apartment and don't really have the ability to brew outside with a propane burner. What was nice about this kettle is that it spans two burners on my (gas) stove, so things heat up quickly.

 

I have the 10.5 kettle also and am glad I spent the extra money. I just started brewing so having the extra space makes a big difference for me. Doing a full boil I start with around 6 1/2 gallons of water because of boil off. Once I add the wort and it starts boiling it rises easily to the 8 gallon mark. I even had a very slight boil over last weekend before I added ferm cap.

 

This is the right answer. I got my 7.5 gal pot with my turkey fryer when it was on sale. It is definitely adequate for 60-90 minute boils with extract batches, but even those can get a little tight. If you are investing the money now, best to invest it in something that is going to last.

 

I got a 60 qt (15 gallon) aluminum pot from amazon for under $100 shipped - and I can now do double batches in the same pot.
(might be this, not sure exactly)
http://www.amazon.com/Winware-Profe...5&sr=8-1&keywords=60+quart+aluminum+stock+pot

Clean it, prep in (boil water in it for 15 min to build the oxidization layer), done.

NOTE - lid is extra ($12 = shipping), but my SS lid from my 10 gal pot fits.

Wish I bought it in the first place, as I now have a 5gal enamel, an 8 gal enamel, a 10 gal SS, and a 15 gal aluminum.

Way too much pot!

 

I got a 10 gal aluminum pot, brand new, from Academy Sports for $40. But before that I used a 7.5 gal, and it worked just fine.
(I bought my 10 gal about a year or so ago, so prices might have gone up a few $$. Also, shop for them around fall. Prices on outdoor cookware usually drop after the summer.)

 

I always say, bigger is always better in brewing and boobs. That being said, 7.5 should be fine. I do 5 gallon full boils in a 6.5 gallon pot. Is it ideal? Nope, but I make it work and pump out award winning beer nonetheless.

 

I was at stracks grocery store the other day and saw a 5 gallon pot (stainless steel) for 9 bucks...it seemed pretty light and thin but for 9 bucks i would guess it is a good deal.

 

Not that I can tell so far, but I've only used the aluminum pot twice (well, 3 times if you include seasoning it). Everything wipes right off of the bottoms of both pots just by using a wet sponge.

 

A 5 gallon pot would be useless for full boil 5 gallon batches. (BTW, SS pots are always thinner than aluminum.)

 

I have a 8.0 gallon pot from morebeer that works just fine for 5 gallon batches (and I brew all-grain). Bigger would be nice but it is not absolutely necessary. You just have to pay attention at the beginning of the boil for a few minutes that's all. Now if you ever want to do 10 gallon batches, well then you have to go bigger obviously (~15 gallon pot).

 

I know that it would be useless...but i just saw it and thought it was a decent deal and thought i should post it.