Need a bigger and better burner.

[RobjF]

Hi guys.
Finished my second AG brew on the weekend. I've just progressed to AG and on a new 3v keggle brewery I'm putting together. At the moment I'm using a borrowed 3 ring and dropping in an immersion element in to get it up and cranking on 30l brews. I want to buy a really good fast working burner not overly bothered on cost just want to get it right first time. My HLT is electric so just need it for my kettle. And when I install my new pump into the brew rig ill be able to heat my kettle as I fly sparg getting it going even quicker. Well that's the plan anyway.
Any feed back on burners people are using or have used, good bad and the ugly would be greatfully received.
Cheers rob.

 

[GalBrew]

Italian spiral burner, with med or high pressure reg. I have boiled around 70L no problem and not close to full flame.

 

[WarmBeer]

+1 Italian Spiral Burner.

Heaps of heat, plus near silent. Match it with an adjustable regulator, and you've got great control for bring up to boil and avoiding boilover.

 

[pk.sax]

I have to turn mine nearly off to avoid a boilover and it's just on a med pressure reg.

 

[RobjF]

They seem to be very popular with the people that use tem. Anyone know somewhere in Melbourne I can buy one???

 

[WarmBeer]

I bought mine from Beerbelly in Adelaide. He's upgraded the stand since I bought mine, but well worth the cost, you'll have it for ever.

 

[Mardoo]

I'll put in a plug for the Rambo burners. That is, if you also like wok cooking. I love mine. Finally, fast boils and REAL wok cooking. But that's me

 

[DU99]

try cellarplus they are in epping(near freeway) or city,plus you can get from here

 

[Cocko]

The Keg King one seems like a beast and good value for money... maybe an over kill.

Have never heard a bad word from spiral users though.

Keg king thread here + search more

I used to use a rambo on a 120lt kettle brewing 'quad; batches = 4 cubes - it was fine but very noisy.

I would vote, go electric if you can. 2c.

 

[brente1982]

They seem to be very popular with the people that use tem. Anyone know somewhere in Melbourne I can buy one???

Im about to go to cellarplus right now actually to look at other stuff, but ill check out their burners for you and report back.

 

[431neb]

Most know already but I thought I would remind others that a three ring burner is pretty insipid under a 50 litre keg. Without my stone age over the side element I would be waiting a week to get to boil. Yep Captain obvious. I'm here all week.

 

[Blitzer]

I was checking out the italian spiral burner from Beerbelly. Cheapest shipping to Brisbane $76.20. Ouch!
Anyway know where to get these things in Brisbane?

 

[brente1982]

Ok, went to Cellar Plus in Epping, first time ive been there. The shop is obviously geared mainly towards wine making, but also beer and cider brewing and also sausage making, if yuore into it. Some people could spend a week in there i reckon.

As for the burners, they had 4 options, only got pictures of 3 and the 4th has a big hot plate over the top of it. Obviously the 2 in the stands are Italian spiral burners. The all black frame has more holes than the silver frame yet is cheaper. I dont know why, and couldnt find out why on any of the packaging. They also had a range of different regulators there, even ones with a turn dial on top of them (adjustable type i assume).

 

[pk.sax]

That black spiral is what Beerbelly used to sell before it got fancy. Great product, I think someone had something to say about the fewer holes one, didn't get a bad rep by memory. The black one should have a sticker on it 'omac' or something. At that price, it's a no brainer.

Re regulators, definitely get an adjustable one. It makes all the difference in how efficient it burns. I go through bugger all gas for my brews.

 

[brad81]

Re regulators, definitely get an adjustable one. It makes all the difference in how efficient it burns. I go through bugger all gas for my brews.

Can you please elaborate on that one? I use a low pressure regulator with a mongolian 32jet burner and end up getting 3-4 brews plus heating cleaning water per 9kg cylinder.

 

[pk.sax]

Higher pressure = more through mixing of air into the gas stream due to the suction effect it creates. More air = cleaner efficient burns.

I've got easily 7-8 brews minimum from one cylinder, using the gas to heat strike water + mash firing + boiling and a bit of BBQ use.

I've never used a Mongolian though and hear they are meant for lp regs. Someone else may know if they can handle a hp reg.

 

[Danwood]

I just got a 4 ring from Rays for $100 after their loyalty card thingo deal.

I was pretty pleased with myself at that price. I'd rather have a spiral though, but thought they were way more expensive than that !

Although, after mounting in a car wheel hub as heat shielding and getting a med adj reg, I'm hoping I'll be ahead of the spiral regarding gas usage and not toooo far behind on power. My rig is 2 tier, 98l pot biab with 40l birko hlt, similar to op's set up.

I also like the spread of heat with the 4 ring....more even...so long as you can stop the heat spilling up the sides of the pot and being wasted.

Anyone get any scorching issues with the more heat-focused spirals? Suppose it'd depend on pot quality too.

 

[brente1982]

Ive heard stories of people not being able to obtain perfect blue flames with some of them, as some of the holes have been blocked by the coating they put on the outside of the cast iron. They have had to drill them out in order to acheive it. Anyone else come across this problem?

 

[Danwood]

Yep, 5 jets on mine are blocked, all in the same area.

I haven't poked around with it yet

 

[JDW81]

I've never used a Mongolian though and hear they are meant for lp regs. Someone else may know if they can handle a hp reg.

I've got a mongolian and was told by the retailer and a gas fitter mate of mine not to use a high pressure reg, he did say why but I can't remember. My 23 jet gets me 4-5 brews (depending on boil length) out of a 9kg cylinder with a heap of barbie use in between.

JD.