Brewpots

[DrewG]

Looking to upgrade to a pot large enough for a 7 gallon starting volume. I like the northern brewer 8 gallon megapot with valve and thermometer. I am concerned it wont be big enough for a 7 gallon boil. Any recommendations?

[tomsawyer]

It'll work with Fermcap S.  Otherwise you'd be better off with a 10gal pot.

[theDarkSide]

It can be done, but it is not fun.

I'd go with at least a 10 gallon pot, but you need to consider if you will go to larger batches in the future.  I was doing full wort boils in a 7.5 gallon pot with Fermcap-S and a spray bottle of water.  I then moved to a 10 gallon pot since I doubt I will ever do more than 5 gallon batches.

[hokerer]

Yeah, I'd recommend you definitely step up to at least a ten gallon.  I've got the ten gallon MegaPot from NB and it's just about perfect - no thermo nor valve though.  If you can install your own thermo and/or valve, you can get the identical pot for a lot less here...

http://www.instawares.com/stainless-steel-stock-pot-sps-40.upi-sps40.0.7.htm?view=list

...or here...

http://www.waresdirect.com/products/Restaurant-Supply/Update-International-/Stainless-Pot168823

[brushvalleybrewer]

I've got a 10 and start with 7. I've only had one tiny boilover and that was from really not paying attention. There have been plenty of times when I thought it would go over, but 10 seems to be the right size for a 7 gallon start.

[livefreebrewfree]

I was just in this same position (see my thread at http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=10373.0 for the post I put up. I ended up getting a 10 gallon pot off Amazon and definitely don't regret it. I did a buddy brew day with two friends and they both had boilovers with their 8 gallon pots. Meanwhile, I was boiling away with no problems at all. So while I know budget fits into it a lot, you'll save yourself a ton of headaches if you save up a little more and get the bigger 10 gallon kettle.

[thetooth]

With kettles, bigger is definitely better.  I have a 7.5g, 12g, and 25g.  I haven't actually used the 7.5g kettle in years now.  I use the 12g for my 5-8 gallon batches, and the 25g for 8-15 gallon batches.

[garc_mall]

I have a 7.5 gallon Brewpot that I got with my turkey fryer. If I go over 6 gallons into it, I am almost guaranteed a boilover. One of my next purchases is going to be a 15g pot so I can do either 10g batches or long boils for some of my 5 gallon batches.

[euge]

10 gallons would be an absolute minimum for a 7 gallon boil. I went with 80qts and rarely have problems, though for many a 60qt would be ideal.

Not big enough and you run into problems. Buy too small and you'll end up regretting it.

[Slowbrew]

My 12g kettles works really well.  Even with the extra space it stills boils over now and then.  (See earlier comment made about not paying attention.  )

Paul

[DrewG]

Thanks for the advice guys, 10 gallon NB Megapot w/ therm and ball valve looks good........or maybe the blichmann.....that guys makes some great looking gear. Anyone have any?

[mtnrockhopper]

On my 7.5 gallon kettle, a gallon of volume is 2 inches of vertical space.  When I start at 6.5 gallons it seems really close to the top. Now I have a 15 gallon kettle. Much better.

[Gribble]

If you have the ability to do it, either buy or build a keggle.  That way you're not buying a pot now and another pot later when you decide you want to do 10 gallon batches.

[nateo]

The only downside that I see with bigger pots is they weigh more. I have a 15g aluminum pot and it's really easy to lug around and scrub out, although batches smaller than 5 gallons are kind of awkward.

[oceanselv]

I use the 10 gallon mega pot for 7-8 gallon boils with no problem. If you get the valve and thermo, I would also recommend a site glass.