Cooker for brewing

[protectivedad]

So first a confession, I've been cheating at brewing. I just started and I've been using the Fiesta Brew. I hang my head . . .

What I want to do is just the next step, and instead of using the Fiesta Brew wort make my own wort in the simplest way possible. I don't have any pots for brewing, etc. I need to minimise any type of smell in the house or my wife will be upset.

I was in Canadian Tire and I saw a country cooker for 69.99 and on impulse I bought it. I haven't opened it and I can return it. It is propane fuelled with 41,000 BTUs and a 30 quart aluminium pot. http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2 ... ?locale=en

What I'd like is an honest opinion on how it will hold up to what I'd like to do. Is 30 quarts big enough to make a 23L batch? Is it usable for a simple BIAB? Is it a good value for 69.99 or am I better off buying separate stock pots and burners, etc? I just want to dip my toes in and see if I want to go the next step extract brewing, then maybe partial mashes, BIAB.

Normally, I'd research first and buy second, but I haven't opened it so I can always back out. Plus, I had a $50 Canadian Tire GC from a trampoline I bought for my kids.

[Jimmy]

I'd be more inclined to go with something like this:

http://www.kent.ca/kbs/en/product.jsp?n ... logId=1198" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It will fit a variety of different pots, including keggles, and is a sturdy design. Also, I believe the one you picked up has a timer, and would be a pain in the ass.

You can pick a 70qt pot up at Cash & Carry by the rotary for about $70 if memory serves me correct...this would be enough that you shouldn't need to upgrade down the road.

I'm sure more will chime in with more input...but either way, welcome!

[KMcK]

What you've got will do you fine for a single batch, so it's just a matter if that's enough for the forseeable future or if you see yourself moving up to double batches soon. You can tell your wife it's for lobster boils.

[protectivedad]

What you've got will do you fine for a single batch, so it's just a matter if that's enough for the forseeable future or if you see yourself moving up to double batches soon. You can tell your wife it's for lobster boils.

That's so funny, I just finished with this conversation.

My wife walks into the office sees the box and says, "what's that?" Her eyebrows furled together.

"It's a country cooker," I respond. "Remember, you talked about deep fried turkey last Thanksgiving."

"No," she says slowly.

"Sure you do, one of your co-workers mentioned how great deep fried turkey was. I saw this and thought of you honey."

She eventually remembered and seemed happy I thought of her while I was out shopping with the kids.

[protectivedad]

I'd be more inclined to go with something like this:

http://www.kent.ca/kbs/en/product.jsp?n ... logId=1198" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks I remember a thread I read talking about a burner from Kent. My concern is the cost if I decided I just don't like it and want to keep with the Festa Brew. I was concerned about the timer, but I figure I can MacGyver something up so that it doesn't piss me off too much. How long does it take to boil a batch?

I had forgotten about the Cash & Carry, I'll have to go down there and browse around to see if I can think something up.

As responded earlier it has the benefit of a good WAF (wife-acceptance-factor). In a while I can mention my wanting to make my own wort but needing a large pot, etc. She'll eventually think up the idea that the country cooker could probably handle that. And, if I give up on making wort, she can still use it to make turkey and cook me some lobster.

But of course if it was useless for making beer, I'd have a quick change of heart and return it, after my wife decided we didn't really need it. I figure I could push the fact that you can't have stuffing in a deep fried bird (you can't can you?).

[bluenose]

What you've got will do you fine for a single batch, so it's just a matter if that's enough for the forseeable future or if you see yourself moving up to double batches soon. You can tell your wife it's for lobster boils.

That's so funny, I just finished with this conversation.

My wife walks into the office sees the box and says, "what's that?" Her eyebrows furled together.

"It's a country cooker," I respond. "Remember, you talked about deep fried turkey last Thanksgiving."

"No," she says slowly.

"Sure you do, one of your co-workers mentioned how great deep fried turkey was. I saw this and thought of you honey."

She eventually remembered and seemed happy I thought of her while I was out shopping with the kids.

well played sir... tip o the hat to you... you have much to teach me

[LeafMan66_67]

Yes, well played. When I upgraded to keggle, I used much the same line ... "But honey, I can't do lobster and beer in the same pot ... I needed another pot anyway!"

As well, nothing wrong with Festa Brew .. you will find that a lot of people here started with that before moving on.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Yes, well played. When I upgraded to keggle, I used much the same line ... "But honey, I can't do lobster and beer in the same pot ... I needed another pot anyway!"

As well, nothing wrong with Festa Brew .. you will find that a lot of people here started with that before moving on.

yeah, honestly moving from festa brew to all-extra might be a bit of a step down for some styles of beer - i find malt driven styles hard to do with extract. hoppy styles will be much better. but that's just my experience im sure other people have had different xxperience!

[amartin]

I use a similar propane cooker for that, and it works fine for 23L.

[RobD]

I'm perhaps a little late to chime in on this, but I've got that same pot/burner at home and it worked great for 5g batches. The one major downside to it was that I couldn't get it to ever have a blue flame, so the bottom of my pot was always covered in soot after boiling a batch. It was a huge pain, and after a few batches, I got sick of the mess it made. I was given permission to upgrade to the burner at Kent's after 4-5 batches. I'm WAY happier with the Kent's burner.

[protectivedad]

I'm perhaps a little late to chime in on this, but I've got that same pot/burner at home and it worked great for 5g batches. The one major downside to it was that I couldn't get it to ever have a blue flame, so the bottom of my pot was always covered in soot after boiling a batch. It was a huge pain, and after a few batches, I got sick of the mess it made. I was given permission to upgrade to the burner at Kent's after 4-5 batches. I'm WAY happier with the Kent's burner.

Never too late to chime in. Thanks for the info hopefully I can get a blue flame.

[BenFrank]

Did you ever get that blue flame?

I'm looking at stainless stock pots to atleast mix coopers kits in, and they are all around 50 bucks...

For an extra 20 this kit seems like a steal!

[LeafMan66_67]

Did you ever get that blue flame?

I have the same one - blue flame is no problem when bringing up to a boil, but harder to attain when at lower temperatures maintaining the boil, even with adjusting the vents, especially when using the 30L aluminum pot that came with the kit. I have a 58L keggle that I used for the first time last weekend on that same burner - blue flame and no soot through a 90 minute boil, so I'm happy.

[Relic]

At Canadian Tire the 36 quart pot regularly goes on sale for $80. Only an extra 6 quarts but gives ya some extra headspace for doing 5 gallon batches. Timer is nothing to worry about. At first I just wound it up and jammed it with a piece of cardboard to prevent it form moving. I have since bypassed it.... simple procedure with soldering iron.

[derek]

At Canadian Tire the 36 quart pot regularly goes on sale

fwiw, at Canadian Tire, _everything_ regularly goes on sale. If they've got something you want, try to plan the purchase well ahead. You can even get their online site to email you when it goes on sale.

[Stoker]

Good day.
I am also going the BIAB route for simplicity rather than any other reason. You may want to do some research on Australian "No Chill Method". It may save you a lot of problems with odor, space, equipment and will probably keep the wife a lot happier. Good luck.
P.S Depending on your situation you may want to look at an "Electric Brew Kettle". Look up "Electric Brewery" on the net to get an idea.