New Brunswick Craft Brewers Association

Uncategorized Boards => My Rig => Topic started by: HopHead on January 21, 2016, 10:01:32 AM

Title: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on January 21, 2016, 10:01:32 AM
Looing for opinions on whether to order 20 or 30 gallon boil kettle?? I'm ordering 20 gallon mash tun and HLT.  :cheers:
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Two Wheeler on January 21, 2016, 10:21:13 AM
You'll never say "Damn, I should have got a smaller pot"
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on January 21, 2016, 10:37:18 AM
You'll never say "Damn, I should have got a smaller pot"

Thanks, that's what I figured. Just wanted to hear it from someone else I guess.  ;D   Was a little concerned whether or not I could still do 5 gallon batches in a 30 gallon kettle outfitted with an electric element.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Two Wheeler on January 21, 2016, 10:41:08 AM
Haha, I might have been a bit quick to reply.

If you're doing 5-10 gal batches the 30 might actually be overkill, but you won't have to worry about boil over. Make sure the 5 gal level covers the element and you're good.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Jake on January 21, 2016, 12:15:04 PM
As Jordan said, if you're getting a 30 gallon pot, chances are you wont be able to do 5 gallon batches ... maybe.

We have a 30 gallon pot and the elements sit about 3 or 4 inches off the bottom of the pot, I'd assume right around the 3 or 4 gallon line ... i'd think you'd at least want a couple inches of liquid on top of the elements too for that you don't scorch the wort. Diameter of the pots will play a role in this decision too. The skinnier/taller the pot, the smaller batches you'll be able to do (asdsuming you're putting elements at the 3 or 4 inch off bottom mark), but if short and stubby you'll have hard time doing 5 gallon batches.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Al-Loves-Wine on January 21, 2016, 01:06:14 PM
I can say when I look in my 30g kettle, you wont be doing 5gal batches in it. The element itself sits at about the 4g mark. As Jake said you would most likely scorch your wort.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on January 25, 2016, 12:16:45 PM
Thanks Guys,

I decided to go with the 20 gallon kettles. probably won't be doing many 5 gallon batches, mostly 10-15. Now to begin ordering parts for the control panel.

On a side note, any preferences between camlock or quick connect fittings?? I'll need to order these as well.

:cheers:
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: blisster on January 25, 2016, 12:41:47 PM
any preferences between camlock or quick connect fittings?? I'll need to order these as well.

I've used both... Camlocks, hands down!

:cheers:

Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Roger on January 25, 2016, 12:48:36 PM
I like the camlocks myself. They're all manual no springs or small moving parts to get jammed up. Only down side I can see is you might need to use two hands instead of one.
I think most people use the camlocks but maybe someone who uses quick disconnect can give reasons why they like them better.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Two Wheeler on January 25, 2016, 01:00:39 PM
Camlocks here. One plus is if you join us the for Mash Occur (club brew day) most people have camlocks and gear can be shared easily.

Also, camlocks are easier to deal with when hot as you can grab the ring on the lever with bare hands.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: DeMerch on January 25, 2016, 05:15:17 PM
I have quick disconnects, and while I don't hate them, if I could do it over again I'd go with camlocks.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on January 28, 2016, 12:40:59 PM
Thanks for all the advice.  :D
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on February 25, 2016, 11:53:01 AM
Feel like a kid on Christmas morning. one 20 gallon SS Brewtech insulated mash tun, two 20 gallon SS Brewtech kettles. Received these today. Now I need to do some work on the brew room.

May need a hand when it comes time to calibrate and test. Definetly will need advice. This is a big step for my novice brewing experience. lol

 :cheers:
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Eric on February 25, 2016, 01:12:18 PM
Hi,

I am looking to buy the same system, 20 Gallons mash SS and only Qty: 1X 20 Gallons Pot with pump and electric element.
I would like to brew 5 to 10 Gallons..

The question is... do you think to be able to brew a 5 Gallons batch in the 20 Gallons mashtun?
Also( 5 gallons batch) are you planning to do a batch sparge with adding strike water after 1 hour or you planning (fly sparge) to start brewing with all your amount of water and rise the temp to strike to finish mashing.

i'm worry about the 20 Gallons mashtun been too big, to batch sparge a 5 Gallons? 
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Jake on February 25, 2016, 02:43:45 PM
That is a SOLID set up!
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Roger on February 25, 2016, 05:30:35 PM
Oooo pretty...  :cheers:
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: mikegraham on February 25, 2016, 06:05:14 PM
I want but my wife would kill me
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: robcoombs on February 25, 2016, 06:47:39 PM
I want but my wife would kill me
Just order your gear and sleep on an air mattress for a while... Worked for me...
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: mikegraham on February 25, 2016, 06:48:27 PM
I want but my wife would kill me
Just order your gear and sleep on an air mattress for a while... Worked for me...
Lol my next buy is a 15 or 19 gal pot lol
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Roger on February 25, 2016, 07:34:28 PM
I want but my wife would kill me
Just order your gear and sleep on an air mattress for a while... Worked for me...
Lol my next buy is a 15 or 19 gal pot lol
Ha! Air mattresses go on sale all the time...
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on February 29, 2016, 03:45:46 PM
Hi,

I am looking to buy the same system, 20 Gallons mash SS and only Qty: 1X 20 Gallons Pot with pump and electric element.
I would like to brew 5 to 10 Gallons..

The question is... do you think to be able to brew a 5 Gallons batch in the 20 Gallons mashtun?
Also( 5 gallons batch) are you planning to do a batch sparge with adding strike water after 1 hour or you planning (fly sparge) to start brewing with all your amount of water and rise the temp to strike to finish mashing.

i'm worry about the 20 Gallons mashtun been too big, to batch sparge a 5 Gallons?




I'll be doing a recirculating  system. Draining from the center drain in the mash tun circulating through the herms coil in the HLT. This will control my temp and i'll be able adjust any desired changes. Going to be a learning curve for sure, going from a five gallon cooler setup. But looking forward to the challenge.  ;D

To answer your question about whether you could do a five gallon batch, I'm not sure. Haven't used this size system before. I'm hoping so. Maybe someone with more experience could answer this question.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on February 29, 2016, 03:52:23 PM
I want but my wife would kill me
Just order your gear and sleep on an air mattress for a while... Worked for me...

Absolutely worth sleeping on an air mattress.   :banana:
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on February 29, 2016, 03:59:05 PM
Control panel coming along nicely!!  :)
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: fakr on February 29, 2016, 05:08:06 PM
I have a 30Gal blichman boil kettle and I need pretty much 10Gal to cover the element, but wouldn't use less than 12Gal.
I'll be honest about my experience with cam locks...a long time ago I stopped hooking\unhooking the locks...I've been pulling the hose right off the hose barb of the cam locks if I need to disconnect a hose...I'd be content with noting but hose barbs on all my kettle and pump fittings...as long as the hose barks are slightly bigger than the hose ID.  All my hoses fit snug and I have no pressure in any of my lines....thats my experience anyway.
Beautiful controller!
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Jake on March 03, 2016, 09:37:08 AM
@HopHead (http://nbcba.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1744) question for you. I'm on the SS Brewtech website and it shows the inside of the pot and it has a pick-up tube/trub dam included on all their kettles. Did yours come with this attachment included? I'm on the OBK website and there's no mention of it nor are there any pictures of the inside of the kettles. Where did you order your equipment from?
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: HopHead on March 03, 2016, 10:21:14 AM
@HopHead (http://nbcba.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1744) question for you. I'm on the SS Brewtech website and it shows the inside of the pot and it has a pick-up tube/trub dam included on all their kettles. Did yours come with this attachment included? I'm on the OBK website and there's no mention of it nor are there any pictures of the inside of the kettles. Where did you order your equipment from?

To be honest, I never opened the box with the valve and accessories in the pots. I was more concerned with the insulated mash tun. lol. I'll have a look tonight and get back to you. I purchased a hop screen for my boil pot. The one they use in the "electric brewery". I purchased from OBK.  :cheers:
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Eric on March 03, 2016, 05:11:59 PM
I ask OBK 2 weeks ago and all SS pot are coming with the trub tube
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: mikegraham on March 03, 2016, 09:03:03 PM
I ask OBK 2 weeks ago and all SS pot are coming with the trub tube
did u order yet @Eric (http://nbcba.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2044)
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: nagirroc on March 04, 2016, 09:23:00 AM
Hi,

I am looking to buy the same system, 20 Gallons mash SS and only Qty: 1X 20 Gallons Pot with pump and electric element.
I would like to brew 5 to 10 Gallons..

The question is... do you think to be able to brew a 5 Gallons batch in the 20 Gallons mashtun?
Also( 5 gallons batch) are you planning to do a batch sparge with adding strike water after 1 hour or you planning (fly sparge) to start brewing with all your amount of water and rise the temp to strike to finish mashing.

i'm worry about the 20 Gallons mashtun been too big, to batch sparge a 5 Gallons?

I use 15 gallon pots and I feel it just works when mashing smaller beers. It works fine but I feel like the grain bed is thin.
Title: Re: 20 or 30 Gallon pots??
Post by: Eric on March 04, 2016, 09:16:41 PM
Not wet, I should order a SS 20G mash and a SS 20G kettle next week.
I still asking quote and waiting for the cheapies one... :-\