Quick kettle question

[ckpash88]

36 quart stock pot would be just fine for 5 gallon all grain? Or should I get the 44 quart?

[morticaixavier]

Get the 44 qt. if you can afford it. or even a bit bigger! I have a 50 liter kettle and when I want to do a 10 gallon batch (not very often but on occasion) it is _just big enough to start with a 12 gallon preboil volume. You may only do 5 gallon batches now but eventually someone is going to ask you to brew for a party and 2 10 gallon batches is a lot easier than 4 5 gallon batches

[ckpash88]

Will the 36 hold enough water for 5 gallon all grain I don't do 10 gallons I won't for a while don't have the space

[bluesman]

I think you'll be fine if you are just using it for a BK. Bigger would be better to allow for potential boilover room.

However, if you plan to use it as a mash tun with a water to grain ratio of 1.5:1. a general rule of thumb for mash tun capacity is 2lbs of grain for every gallon of kettle volume. So your 9 gallon kettle would comfortably fit 18lbs of grain with 6.75 gal of water.

[linenoiz]

A few drops of Fermcap in the boil would alleviate any boil-over issues. I used a 7 gallon turkey fryer for a BK for a long time. Made quite a few messes until I started using Fermcap.

[bluesman]

A few drops of Fermcap in the boil would alleviate any boil-over issues. I used a 7 gallon turkey fryer for a BK for a long time. Made quite a few messes until I started using Fermcap.

+1

Fermcap works well.

[tygo]

I'll add another vote to get the bigger pot. 

[Gribble]

I'll add another vote to get the bigger pot. 

+1   Head space is a wonderful thing.

[euge]

I'll add another vote to get the bigger pot. 

+1   Head space is a wonderful thing.

+10 It's the best thing!

Get the 44qt for now. You'll brew comfortably in it.