Budget lobster pot / homebrew kettle / large stock pot?

Hi,

I am looking to make some home-made beer. Many of these recipes recommend a five-gallon pot of some sort.

Does anybody have a particular deal to recommend on such a pot?

Thanks in advance.

Assuming you're doing an all-grain batch and targeting for five gallons of beer, you'll need more like a 7.5 gallon stockpot. Here's one source for $85. But unless you're using a Cajun Cooker or other outside high-BTU device, I'd suggest breaking the wort down into two or three four-gallon stockpots to get the boil going more quickly on a stovetop - that size stockpot is available pretty much anywhere.

It has been 15 years since I have done any significant brewing, but you should be able to get large blue cast enamel pots at any 'farm and fleet' type store for a whole lot less than $85. These are large enough to cover 2 burners on your stove, so there is no need to break the wort into more than 1 pot. Google farm and fleet and you will find Blain's in Illinois, and Mills near Milwaukee and some others. Give them a call.

I loved brewing, but it is a long process and takes quite a few trys to get right. Your biggest problem will be keeping everything properly clean. My best suggestion is to buy high quality liquid yeast and give it a big head start. You cannot put in too much good quality yeast.

Peter,

I've purchased stainless steel pots in various sizes at Gold Brothers on Madison street. Prices seem reasonable, but as they are a restaurant supply house it's hard to walk out of there without a number of items.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gold Brothers
1140 W. Madison St.
Chicago, IL
312-666-1520

they also have those massive stock pots for steaming tamales at any of the larger Mexican grocery stores (Tony's, Aguascalientes, etc) and they can't be more than 20 bucks. Not sure how "thick" the metal is but if that doesn't matter then you can spend your extra money on other brew toys.

bjt