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Hey guys,

So I'm making the move to all grain and I would like your opinion. My mash tun is probibly a little overkill for 5 gallon batches (62quart cooler because I had it laying around) so I think i might make the move to 10gal batches at the same time. The question I ask is should I go to some place like big erics and get a 15 gallon stock pot or should I keep my eye out for a sanke keg?

Thanks!
Andrew

Both.

Sometimes kegs can be hard to get your hands on and if you can find a decent 15 gallon kettle that fits your price range first, grab it. When you do get your hands on a sanke, you just convert it or the stock pot into your Hot Liquor Tun.

Edit: Some people have aquired a keg by getting it from the liquor store - pay the deposit, but don't return it. Its expensive (here), but its not your fault that the liquor store charges a deposit that is less than the value of a new keg. Some have ethical issues with this method, since its the brewery that's losing, not the liquor store.

How much does a 15 gallon stock pot go for nowadays? I'm making a similar move and I was just going to stick with 5 gallon batches and get a big pot from Crappy Tire. But I could be enticed...

Not too sure, i'm guessing probably $100 - $150 for a good tri clad pot, but i'll let you know my next week day off. Might be as late as the 24th when i get a chance to go to big erics. I'm also going to keep my eye open for the next time Paderno is at the forum with their factory second sales. I remember seeing big pots there but not sure if they were 15 gal or not

I can't imagine what a Paderno 15 gal pot would cost...

mr x wrote:I can't imagine what a Paderno 15 gal pot would cost...

The biggest Paderno stock pot I've seen at the factory on the Island was somewhere around 25 qt. I believe and was somewhere between $500 and $550. Couldn't imagine tossing that on a propane burner...

i bought a 48 litre pot at rona. very thin aluminum, but it's big enough for me

Well looks like Paderno is out I thought I saw some decently huge stuff there but never did look at the price tag

I just checked and full list price on a 27 quart is $536 from paderno I didn't even spend half that on the two stock pots I have now and they are full on 18/10. (yes i love to cook)

I used a mega-thin aluminum turkey fryer pot for years. Worked like a charm.

The $60 48L aluminum stock pot at RONA is a great deal! I have a sanke keg ready to be converted, but I need to figure out my 'hop stop' and wort chilling options before jumping up to full boils. Tempted to just make a simple immersion chiller like most folks.. but am open to ideas. Maybe a cheap plate chiller is the way to go (then I need a pump.. )

Tim

The Rona pot does sound like the way to go. I can get all the copper I need for my chiller at the same time.

I'm still using a thin aluminum turkey fryer / propane burner setup. It's only 7.5 gallons, which limits me to 6 gallons or less with all grain, although I'll often add malt extract and dilute after boiling to up batch sizes. It was cheap enough though, so no complaints.

Recently I stumbled across http://www.canadiantreasureseekers.com/ ... list&c=287.

Free shipping and I think the pots are pretty good. You can find reviews on most of them (some on HBT). If I didn't already have a keggle I may get a 44qt or larger from them.

-Rob

I guess the main thing i should be asking is "is my 62 quart cooler not going to give me the recommended 4" grain bed on a regular 5 gal batch under 1.060"

Pour ~10lbs of grain in there and find out. If not & you still don't have a kettle big enough to handle a full boil for a 10 gallon batch, do a few partigyle batches until you do. That way you'd add enough grain to get you 4" depth and get 2 beers out of every brew session

I really like the idea of the partigyle batches. I didn't know what the term was at first but it sounds like it would be a lot easier than my odd thought of putting pop bottles full of hot water in to take up space.

I used this article and associated table to help sort out my recipes when I do a partigyle session (mostly the tables). Just to make sure the second runnings aren't too light, I give the mash tun a little recharge with about a pound of base malt and let it sit for another hour - it would sit that long anyway, since I only have one propane tank.