WANTED: Keggle or keg to be turned into keggle (or 15+ gallon pot)

joelmercer · July 18, 2015, 06:20:56 PM

Hey,

I'm looking to move up to 10 gallon batches and I figured a keggle would be the next logical step.

Have one for sale? Have a keg I can turn into a keggle.

Let me know,

Joel

Jake · July 19, 2015, 10:36:27 AM

I'd look into those OBK kettles. I don't own one but i hear good things. Good price.

http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/16_Gallon_Stainless_Steel_Advanced_Brew_Kettle_p/brew-kettle-16gal-advanced.htm

Roger · July 19, 2015, 01:48:48 PM

Quote from: joelmercer on July 18, 2015, 06:20:56 PM
Hey,

I'm looking to move up to 10 gallon batches and I figured a keggle would be the next logical step.

Have one for sale? Have a keg I can turn into a keggle.

Let me know,

Joel

Do you plan to go electric or gas fired?

joelmercer · July 19, 2015, 10:47:33 PM

Quote
Do you plan to go electric or gas fired?

Gas (blichmann burner).

Joel

joelmercer · July 19, 2015, 10:54:41 PM

Quote from: Jake on July 19, 2015, 10:36:27 AM
I'd look into those OBK kettles. I don't own one but i hear good things. Good price.

http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/16_Gallon_Stainless_Steel_Advanced_Brew_Kettle_p/brew-kettle-16gal-advanced.htm

That is a good price.

I just figured it would be cheaper and easier to get a local used pot or keg. I'm not sold on having a keg, just thought it would be cool, and it might be easier to find a used keg than a used pot that nobody wants.

Joel

Roger · July 20, 2015, 01:15:25 AM

I think it all boils down to if you think you'd enjoy fabricating you're pots or something a little more turn key. I built an electric brewery with converted kegs and I love them. Although the OBK kettles are a great price for what you get. You don't actually save much money going with kegs after buying the keg then the time to do the modifications, the hardware and whatever else. However a home made home brewery is quite rewarding when its all done.

joelmercer · July 20, 2015, 10:13:42 AM

Quote from: Roger on July 20, 2015, 01:15:25 AM
I think it all boils down to if you think you'd enjoy fabricating you're pots or something a little more turn key. I built an electric brewery with converted kegs and I love them. Although the OBK kettles are a great price for what you get. You don't actually save much money going with kegs after buying the keg then the time to do the modifications, the hardware and whatever else. However a home made home brewery is quite rewarding when its all done.

Yeah, I figured it would be fun and look cool. I don't know how how much people are selling them for. I figured they'd be a little bit cheaper. My time is worthless, and I just need to cut a whole in the top and one the one whole I need for a valve (which I already have), so I figured it wouldn't cost me anything to do that

Roger · July 20, 2015, 02:10:56 PM

Quote from: joelmercer on July 20, 2015, 10:13:42 AM
Quote from: Roger on July 20, 2015, 01:15:25 AM
I think it all boils down to if you think you'd enjoy fabricating you're pots or something a little more turn key. I built an electric brewery with converted kegs and I love them. Although the OBK kettles are a great price for what you get. You don't actually save much money going with kegs after buying the keg then the time to do the modifications, the hardware and whatever else. However a home made home brewery is quite rewarding when its all done.

Yeah, I figured it would be fun and look cool. I don't know how how much people are selling them for. I figured they'd be a little bit cheaper. My time is worthless, and I just need to cut a whole in the top and one the one whole I need for a valve (which I already have), so I figured it wouldn't cost me anything to do that

Well since your time is worthless... Make sure to a lot of research. The first keggle I made I regretted doing it the way I did and ended up completely redoing it. There's a lot of different ways to set up your keggle and since you're building it from scratch it's completely custom you can do anything you want.

Two Wheeler · July 20, 2015, 02:46:10 PM

@Roger - What did you do the first time, and what did you do when you re-built? What are the main considerations with keggle building?

Roger · July 20, 2015, 05:51:23 PM

Quote from: Two Wheeler on July 20, 2015, 02:46:10 PM
@Roger - What did you do the first time, and what did you do when you re-built? What are the main considerations with keggle building?

Well @Two Wheeler I think the considerations are different depending on what you want to do with it. For example if it's to be used as a BIAB you might want to consider cutting the whole top instead of just between the handles making the opening bigger in order to make getting the bag out easier. Another consideration might be to make sure the valve and or sight glasse are not right above any cut outs along the skirt of the keg so the open flame doesn't burn up seals or your sight glass tube.

Like I say research is your best friend. I looked at many different ways of building my set up. I went through numerous forums, looked at countless pictures, sketched out ideas and I still overlooked something.

Since I went with an electric brewery I didn't like carrying my pots to the washbasin with wires and delicate electronic probes getting wet and bounced of the counter just to clean it out. So I made a new pot with a bottom drain in order to clean in place. Now I'm quite happy with it.

But the way I did it isn't for everyone it took a lot of work, time and money. As long as you're happy with it and it makes beer that's all that really matters anyways.

joelmercer · July 20, 2015, 11:39:30 PM

Yeah good points

I also go with the additude to take off the least amount at first and try it. So make the hole in the top not leaving some room like I've seen other do to keep a lip at the top before cutting the whole thing out. You can always cut, but you can't put back.

I only just use a single valve right now. I haven't got into a temp gauge or glass sight yet. They'd be nice but my budget hasn't hit the point of buying those little things yet, I've been making do without them for now. And put my money toward major improvements and upgrades (like a bigger pot).

I doing biab, I've got a 72 quart cooler which works alright for non-stepping mashes. It's big enough to do most regular to medium-high gravity 10 gallon batches.

I just need a bigger pot right now to move up to a full 10 gallon for most batches (well that's not 100% true, a bigger mini freezer to frement in would be nice. I'm just going to make do fermenting Half in a carboy and half in a corny keg for now)

Joel

Jake · July 21, 2015, 08:32:58 AM

I know on @Roger kettle, he actually flipped it upside down and cut out the bottom of the pot, then he has a tri-clamp fitting on the valve and a 90 degree elbow out, and he built a little box for it to sit on high enough for the elbow. Sounds difficult & a little confusing, but he has a pretty sweet bottom drain kettle that works well. I think you'd need to be going electric for this set-up though.

Roger · July 21, 2015, 09:46:45 AM

Quote from: Jake on July 21, 2015, 08:32:58 AM
I know on @Roger kettle, he actually flipped it upside down and cut out the bottom of the pot, then he has a tri-clamp fitting on the valve and a 90 degree elbow out, and he built a little box for it to sit on high enough for the elbow. Sounds difficult & a little confusing, but he has a pretty sweet bottom drain kettle that works well. I think you'd need to be going electric for this set-up though.

That's correct. You can't do a keggle bottom drain with a propane burner only electric. The high heat will burn up your seals and the wort in the pipe. Plus you'd need to figure out a way for it to sit on the burner with the pipe in the way.

Roger · July 21, 2015, 10:05:48 AM

Quote from: joelmercer on July 20, 2015, 11:39:30 PM
Yeah good points

I also go with the additude to take off the least amount at first and try it. So make the hole in the top not leaving some room like I've seen other do to keep a lip at the top before cutting the whole thing out. You can always cut, but you can't put back.

I only just use a single valve right now. I haven't got into a temp gauge or glass sight yet. They'd be nice but my budget hasn't hit the point of buying those little things yet, I've been making do without them for now. And put my money toward major improvements and upgrades (like a bigger pot).

I doing biab, I've got a 72 quart cooler which works alright for non-stepping mashes. It's big enough to do most regular to medium-high gravity 10 gallon batches.

I just need a bigger pot right now to move up to a full 10 gallon for most batches (well that's not 100% true, a bigger mini freezer to frement in would be nice. I'm just going to make do fermenting Half in a carboy and half in a corny keg for now)

Joel

As far as cutting the top out there's no reason not to go as big as possible without cutting off the skirt/handles. Especially if your using a jig. If you cut it out and find its too small than cutting it out without the jig is gonna be much more challenging.

joelmercer · July 22, 2015, 09:31:57 AM

I pulled the trigger on the Ontario Keg works 16 gallon pot. It's big enough for an 10 gallon batch I think, I'll just watch for the boil overs.

Thanks for all the advice. I hope to have my first 10 gallon batch on the go next week! I need to adjust my mini-deep freeze to be a little taller so I can fit all of this in there to ferment!

Joel