Buying A New Kettle...is Bigger Always Better?

[originalben]

I have the opportunity to pick up a new Bayou Classic 82 qt ss kettle and ss basket for less than a 62 qt one.
I do mostly 5 gallon batches and the thing just looks huge...will ther be any downside to getting the larger kettle?
Still able to do 5 gallon batches?

Thanks!

 

[bignath]

I have the opportunity to pick up a new Bayou Classic 82 qt ss kettle and ss basket for less than a 62 qt one.
I do mostly 5 gallon batches and the thing just looks huge...will ther be any downside to getting the larger kettle?
Still able to do 5 gallon batches?

Thanks!

Only thing i can think of is if the pot has a larger diameter that what you're currently using, you'll lose more to evaporation i would have thought.
May have to tweak some of your recipes until you get the new pot "dialled in" to your processes.

 

[brettprevans]

Welcome to the forum. I'm guessing ur from US with your measurements. Too late at night in Aust tp work out conversions but bigger isn't always better if the dimensions don't suit your purpose. Ie I'd large diameter u get a lot of boil off etc. Weight up ur system requirements and needs.

Large systems have their places. I would recommend getting a system that can handle a double batch (ie 2 x corny kegs ~19l or 5gal per keg) as no doubt you'll want to do doubles, or a really big gravity beer lke a sable batch of 12% beer which will almost need a double tun. I'm sure people with post with their thoughts for i to have a think. Personally I have a 50L hlt, 50l mlt and 90l kettle (sorry cbf changing it into gallons for u).

Night and again welcome to AHB

 

[kelbygreen]

Yep I agree I just ordered a 80lt (or 21.12 US gallons, or 17.59 UK gallons) pot for my kettle to do double batches I think it should be enough as only want 42lts output in fermenter

 

[HoppingMad]

Bigger is definately the way to go if you can scrape up the cash to make the leap.

Agree with the comments about evaporation (had to tweak my recipes a tad) but having the flexibility to do double batches with headroom is fantastic. Also having headspace for vigorous boils without the boil over, and you don't need to watch the pot as much which makes for a more relaxing brew.

I went from a 50L to a 105L and have never looked back. My lagers/pales have also worked a lot better as with more vigorous boils you lower your chances on DMS.

Hopper.