Starting all grain setup (what size?)

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by CDennyRun, Apr 8, 2014.

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  1. CDennyRun

    CDennyRun Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2014 Washington

    I've done quite a few batches of extract now, and I'm more than ready to move on to all grain. My question for you guys is, should I build this for ten or five gallon batches?

    I really enjoy this and plan on brewing for years to come. I drink a fair amount of beer, and like to hand out my home brew. Essentially five gallons goes away in about 4-5 days, and it would be cool to brew larger batches. I found a 40qt 24ga stainless boiling kettle at my local hardware store for 49.99, which is much less than I've found online. I thought it would be a good introductory kettle for all grain, as my current kettle is a 24 qt, which will not do.

    So is it worth it to start my first all grain setup as a five gallon batch, or do most of you usually want to move to bigger batches shortly after building a five gallon setup, and feel like you've wasted money?

    Part of me is torn, because I would like to brew more than ten gallons in the future. Much like others here, it's a pipe dream to run a nano brewery, and my natural train of thought says "What the hell, go big man!!" but I'm very far from that point. Not to mention I don't have the budget for a 15 or 20 gallon deal.

    The more I type, the more I think I should start with five gallons, but I still want to hear you opinions!

    Thanks for reading the book I wrote on such a simple question. And thanks in advance for any advice!

    Regards,

    Chris

    Edit: I'm also a welder/fabricator and will be building a gravity feed, three tiered system for whatever I decide on. That plays a factor in engineering specs, and whatnot.
     
    #1 CDennyRun, Apr 8, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2014
  2. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Sounds like 10g is the way for you to go, but you could always start out doing 5g biab batches with a nice 15 gallon kettle and then slowly upgrade to a 3 kettle 10g (or larger) setup by adding additional kettles and burners down the road.
     
    #2 koopa, Apr 8, 2014
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  3. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Honestly, there isn't a huge price jump from 10 to 15 gallon kettles...and you can brew a 5 gallon batch in a 15 gallon kettle, but ya can't brew a 10 gallon batch in a 10 gallon kettle.
     
    #3 JohnSnowNW, Apr 8, 2014
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  4. b-one

    b-one Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 California

    Still doing 5 gallons, mainly because I still experiment a lot. Although I don't often end up with 5 gallons of near drain pour, I would not want 10 gallons of some of them.
    Secondly, kegs are 5 gallons. Sure, you could fill two, but you could also brew a variation.
    Lastly (maybe) the larger the batch the longer heating/cooling depending on your burner and cooling solutions. More room for mistakes that end up in bad beer.
     
    #4 b-one, Apr 8, 2014
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  5. CDennyRun

    CDennyRun Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2014 Washington

    Whatever I go with first, I plan on adding thermo gauges, stainless spigots, and so on which is a fair amount to spend. If I do this with 15 gallon pots, I'm limited to 10-12 gallon batches. At this point that's great compared to what I'm working with, because I like beer, and I suppose I could always sell a setup if/when I decide to step it up. And I like John's point about being able to brew five gallons in a fifteen gal. kettle.

    b-one: You have a good point about heating and cooling. I have a 60,000 BTU burner which I know won't bring much more than 8 gallons to a rolling boil. I figured I could use this for heating the hot liquor tank/sparge water, and get a better burner for boiling. That's a whole 'nother chunk-o-change that I plan on spending. Ha ha
     
    #5 CDennyRun, Apr 8, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2014
  6. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    #6 JohnSnowNW, Apr 8, 2014
  7. JoeyBrightside

    JoeyBrightside Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2013 Louisiana

    I started out with a system set up for 5 gallon batches and that's exactly what I still have now. I have two 8 gallon kettles and a 10 gallon cooler mash tun. You can always start out with a 5 gallon setup and sell your equipment when you outgrow it. As b-one noted heating/cooling is also something to pay attention to. I like the 5 gallon setup because I can do a bunch of different batches and still have room for it all. My vote is 5 gallon setup. Whatever you decide on, Godspeed!
     
    #7 JoeyBrightside, Apr 8, 2014
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  8. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    Go for the gusto. Ten gallons for about the same amount of time for five gallons. A no brainer!. Good luck.
     
    #8 premierpro, Apr 8, 2014
  9. WelshBrewer

    WelshBrewer Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2013 Oregon

    I would shoot for a 15G boil kettle so you can do 5G to 12G batches, which ever way you go the time is all the same.
    5G or 100G the time is the same.
     
    #9 WelshBrewer, Apr 8, 2014
  10. ventura78

    ventura78 Pundit (972) Nov 22, 2003 Massachusetts

    Go for double the gusto, ebay has a 40 gallon stock pot like the one I have and its going for $125.69 plus 7.95 shipping. You could do 18 gallon batches! I'm going to brew one up this Saturday.
     
    #10 ventura78, Apr 8, 2014
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  11. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    go big or go home...
     
    #11 SFACRKnight, Apr 8, 2014
  12. kingjohnh

    kingjohnh Maven (1,322) Nov 3, 2009 New Mexico
    Trader

    Go big. Even if you mainly/only brew 5 gallon batches, it depends on what types of beers you are brewing. I brewed a 20% beer recently and it maxed out my 15 gallon boilermaker and had the same thing happen when I made a BCBS clone a few years back. As has been noted by others, you can make a smaller batch, but you can't go bigger. Good luck and keep brewing!
     
    #12 kingjohnh, Apr 8, 2014
  13. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    if you have to ask you probably already answered your own question. I'd go ten.
     
    #13 AlCaponeJunior, Apr 8, 2014
  14. CDennyRun

    CDennyRun Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2014 Washington

    Those look like some pretty nice kettles! A bit out of my budget, but for what they are I think they're priced decently.

    That's a lot-o-beer!
     
    #14 CDennyRun, Apr 8, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2014
  15. ventura78

    ventura78 Pundit (972) Nov 22, 2003 Massachusetts

    I would say you are being too cautious. Aluminum is safe, just do a pre boil before you do a batch and don't scrub it shiny clean after use. Leave that pre boil color on it. You won't be heating it enough to put off toxic fumes. I really think you would love a big setup. You don't have to brew as much, you will get so much more done in just one brew day.
     
    #15 ventura78, Apr 8, 2014
  16. CDennyRun

    CDennyRun Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2014 Washington

    After looking around on ebay, I think I'm going to lean towards 20 gallon stainless stock pots. They're cheap enough, and have all the capacity I think I'll ever need. Adding spigots and temp gauges will probably cost almost as much as the damn pots! Ha ha
     
    #16 CDennyRun, Apr 8, 2014
  17. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Keggles are an economical way to go when you opt for 10 gal batches...put your extra money in a good efficient heat source...(NG is hard to beat).
     
    #17 GreenKrusty101, Apr 8, 2014
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  18. CDennyRun

    CDennyRun Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2014 Washington

    Thanks for the info! I edited that post cause I looked the subject up out of curiosity, and you're right. It looks like the aluminum pots are cheaper too. And yes, I really look forward to having more than five gallon batches! Especially if I brew for a wedding or something.
     
    #18 CDennyRun, Apr 8, 2014
  19. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd get SS if you can swing it, easier to clean I think, but nothing wrong with aluminum at all.

    I'd get atleast a 10g cooler and 10g hot liquor tank. Get an 11-20 gallon kettle your choice.

    You'll be able to do 1.120-ish sized 5 gallon batches with that, and be able to do plenty of low gravity 10 g batches.
     
    #19 FATC1TY, Apr 9, 2014
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