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Whether you have brewed one batch of beer or a hundred, finding the best brew kettle can make all the difference in the world.
In addition to the construction material and the volume size, many brew pots will also come with added features to make your brewing day go much smoother. Although these extra features can make the brewing process more efficient and more of a convenience, they certainly are not required.
Of course your budget will be a factor in your decision, but it’s important to find a good quality brew kettle that will last you for years, or even a lifetime.
Related: Best Propane Burners for Homebrewing
Table of Contents
Quick Recommendations
In this post, we are going to review the brewing kettles for homebrewing, but if you are in a hurry, here are the ones that we recommend you have a look at.
- Best Overall For Quality and Value: Spike Brewing Brew Kettle
- Best 10-gallon Brew Kettle Under $200: CONCORD Home Brew Kettle Stock Pot
- Best Electric Brew Kettle: Blichmann Boilmaker G2
- Northern Brewer Megapot 1.2 Brew Kettle
- Anvil Homebrew Kettle
- BrewBuilt Brewing Kettle
- Ss Brewtech Homebrew Kettle
- Basic 5-gallon/20-qt Stock Pot
8 Of The Best Brew Kettles For Homebrewing
Spike Brewing Brew Kettle
Material: Polished 304 grade 18-gauge stainless steel
Capacity Sizes: 10, 15, 20, 30, 50 gallons
Suitable For Induction Burners: Yes
Pros: Choice of NPT or tri-clamp fittings, sanitary weldless fittings, modular design, front-to-back handles
Cons: Accessories are not included and are sold separately
Bottom Line: If you’ve seen our review on the Spike CF5 Unitank, you should already know that we are a big fan of the quality and craftsmanship of their brewing equipment.
Spike Brewing kettles give you the some of the most flexibility and options of any brew kettle on the market. There are 5 different size kettles, and depending on your preference, you can choose between NPT or Tri-Clamp connectors for your thermometer and valve.
Once unique feature of this brew pot is that the handles are mounted from front-to-back, rather than on the sides. This is designed to reduce the spacing when brewing with a 3-vessel system. Besides being used as a standard boil kettle, each pot can also be used as a hot liquor tank or a mash tun.
Another cool and useful option is the available steam condenser lid. This feature will allow you to brew indoors without worrying about moisture and condensation on your walls an ceiling.
Northern Brewer Megapot 1.2
Material: Heavy-duty stainless-steel
Capacity Sizes: 8, 10, 15, 20, 30 gallons
Suitable For Induction Burners: Yes
Pros: Heat protection with silicon coated and riveted handles, can be used as a mash tun, tri-clad bottom for induction burner use, 1.2:1 height to diameter ratio
Cons: Heavy, temp gauge readings can vary
Bottom Line: This heavy-duty brew pot from Northern Brewer is part of the “Megapot” family, comes in 5 different sizes, and all are available with an optional spigot and brewing thermometer
It is made from a higher grade stainless steel and has a thick 4mm thick Tri-Clad bottom to ensure even heat distribution. And as the name says, it has the preferred height/diameter ratio of 1.2:1 for the optimal evaporation rate. It also has sturdy welded heat-proof silicone handles to protect against burns and make lifting easier.
Another useful feature on the Megapot 1.2 are the etched volume markings that are on the inside of the pot. All models are also induction cooker ready and suitable to be used with an optional false bottom, and as a mash tun for all grain brewing.
Anvil Brew Kettle
Material: 304 Stainless-steel
Capacity: 5.5, 7.5, 10 gallons
Suitable For Induction Burners: Yes
Pros: High quality construction, great for BIAB, dual gauge thermometer, 1.2:1 ratio
Cons: Fittings can leak
Bottom Line: This brew kettle from Anvil won’t let you down on brewing day. No matter if you prefer extract brewing, all-grain, or the “brew in a bag” (BIAB) method, this kettle will get the job done.
The high-quality brew pot is constructed of heavy-duty 18-guage, 304 grade stainless-steel, which is highly durable and easy to clean. It has a tri-ply clad bottom, which means it can be used on an induction burner if needed, and it has the optimal 1.2 to 1 height/diameter ratio for help in reducing evaporation.
Also included in a dual F/C temperature gauge, and etched internal side-wall markings for water volume, in gallons and liters To eliminate leaks and to prevent contaminants from finding a place to hide, no rivets are used in manufacturing.
Concord Home Brew Kettle and Stock Pot
Material: 304-grade stainless-steel
Capacity Sizes: 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45 gallons
Suitable For Induction Burners: No
Pros: Comes with ball-valve and thermometer, budget friendly
Cons: Not suitable for induction burners, no internal volume markings, has weld-less fittings which can leak
Bottom Line: This budget friendly brew kettle is perfect for someone who is looking to upgrade their small and basic brew pot, and makes our list as the best 10-gallon brew kettle under $200.
This commercial grade 304 stainless stock pot comes in 9 different sizes and is economically priced compared to similar models. It does come with two pre-drilled holes for the ball valve and thermometer, but they are not installed for shipping purposes.
Unfortunately this brew kettle is not built with the Tri-Clad bottom that other some brew kettles have, which can lead to some scorching on the bottom, which means it cannot be used on an induction burner.
BrewBuilt Brewing Kettle
Material: 304-grade stainless-steel with mirror polished finish
Capacity sizes: 10, 15, 20, 30, 50 gallons
Suitable For Induction Burners: Yes
Pros: 1-1/2″ welded tri-clamp ports, easy to clean, notched lid allows for additional accessories, tri-clad bottom for induction brewing, leak-free fittings
Cons: Would prefer a more shallow pot if being used as a mash tun
Bottom Line: Like the name says, all brewing kettles manufactured by BrewBuilt are specifically “built” for brewing. There are various sizes to choose from, which means you can choose the best size pot for whatever beer batch size you prefer to brew.
It is built with high quality 304 stainless steel construction, designed for all tri-clamp fittings, and has an aluminum tri ply bottom that will allow you to use with an induction burner. The inside wall of the kettle has etched volume markings, and the lid is made to hang on the silicon coated handles.
One other feature that is unique to the BrewBuilt model is the notched lid and the hard silicone plug, that wont interfere with an immersion chiller or other accessories.
This brew kettle is built with the optimal 1.2:1 boiling/evaporation rate ratio, and is great for any beer batch size. The kettle can be ordered with either a ball-valve or butterfly-valve, or it can be ordered with 2 or 3 blank sanitary weld TC ports.
Ss Brewtech Brewing Kettle
Material: 304 Stainless-steel with mirror finish
Capacity: 10, 15, 20, 30, 50 gallons
Suitable For Induction Burners: Yes
Pros: Tri-clamp fittings, trub dam, Tri-Clad bottom
Cons: Thermometer not included
Bottom Line: This brew kettle from Ss Brewtech is also made of durable 304 stainless steel which also features etched internal volume markers for easy measuring. It is also suited for use on an induction burner because it has an aluminum core Tri-Clad bottom.
The TC ports are all sanitary welds and has silicone mounted handles that are mounted front-to-back to save space when brewing with a standare 3-vessel setup. Another feature that is not common is the trub dam that helps minimize trub when transferring to your fermenter.
Blichmann Boilmaker G2 Brew Kettle
Material: Heavy-gauge, 1 piece stainless-steel with brushed finish to hide fingeprints
Capacity: 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 55 gallons
Voltage Req: Available in 120v or 240v
Pros: Made in the USA, limited lifetime warranty, glass filled nylon handles
Cons: Not much other than the steep price tag
Bottom Line: Blichmann makes quality equipment and is a trusted name when it comes to homebrewing, and that includes their line of electric Boilmaker G2 brew kettles.
The Boilmaker is available for 120v or 240v circuits, and the heating element is designed to prevent scorching of the wort during the boil. The “BrewMometer” displays the temperature and 8 other suggested brewing temperature ranges. There is a sight-gauge linear flow valve for better flow control. snap-in dip tube drains within 3/8″ of the bottom, and the cool to the touch glass filled handles.
Although the price might be out of range for some homebrewers, the Boilmaker G2 already comes with most “optional” accessories already included in the price.
5-Gallon/20-Quart Basic Brewing Stock Pot
Material: Stainless-steel
Capacity: 5-gallon/20qt
Suitable For Induction Burners: No
Pros: Inexpensive, good for 2.5g batches and partial boils for 5g extract kits, can be used on a kitchen stove or propane burner.
Cons: No special features like thermometer, ball-valves, silicon handles, cannot be used on an induction burner
Bottom Line: This standard 5-gallon brew kettle is suited for the homebrewer who is interested in doing standard five gallon extract brews with partial boils.
At a lower cost than many other similar models, this is a budget friendly, no-frills, brewing pot that will handle all your smaller brewing jobs. Weighing just over 4 pounds, this standard brew kettle can be easily handled and stored away.
Because some brew kettles are made with a thinner gauge steel, it will lack the sturdier construction of other larger brew kettles. This model has the tendency to rattle on the stove when heating up, and doesn’t have the Tri-Clad bottom which is more susceptible to burning on the bottom.
What's Most Important To You In a Brewing Kettle?
Most every item for sale these days has a “top-of-the-line” option, along with a bare-bones, stripped-down version too.
Beer brewing equipment is no different, and that includes a brew kettle too. When it comes to finding the right brew kettle or pot for you, there are a few things for you should consider before you make your purchase.
- The price
- Material
- Capacity
- Physical size
- Volume markings
Price
The price is usually the #1 factor when it comes to buying a new brew kettle. These brew pots can start to become very expensive when you begin adding additional accessories and increasing the capacity size.
Unless you know you are going to be brewing for many years to come, it doesn’t make much sense to buy a low-quality and undersized kettle that you will probably need to upgrade down the line. The least expensive is not always the best deal, and the last thing you want to do is buy the cheapest one you come across and find out later that it is a piece of junk.
But at the time time, if you don’t plan to stop brewing anytime soon, purchasing a high-quality kettle that will last forever might be a better choice. Most brands will have the “add-on” ports already drilled so you can add your accessories a little bit at a time.
It’s best to find out what your brewing needs are going forward, and then decide on how much you can afford to spend.
Material
You will have two choices when it comes to choosing a kettle. Unless there is something I am not familiar with, all brew kettles will be made from either stainless steel or aluminum.
Aluminum: Although aluminum is more lightweight, conducts heat better, and cools down much faster than its stainless counterpart, aluminum is not as durable, and can be easily damaged.
The aluminum oxide coating that is protecting the surface of an aluminum kettle can corrode and become pitted over time, where stainless steel will not. And the worst part about aluminum is it can react to certain chemicals like alkalis and acids, which can leave off-flavors in your beer.
Stainless-steel: Because it’s easy to clean, durable, and resistant to corrosion, stainless-steel is what all the professional and commercial breweries use for all their boiling tanks and conical fermenters.
Home brewers prefer these SS brew kettles because they are made from a food-safe 304-grade stainless steel that is lightweight but strong, and will last a lifetime if taken care of.
Volume Capacity
The capacity size is just as important when buying a brew kettle.
If you are only interested in doing 5-gallon extract brewing recipe kits with a 2 or 3 partial boil, a 5-gallon brew pot will get the job done. But for a full-volume boil with the same extract kit, a 7-1/2 or 8 gallon kettle will be needed.
If and when you take the next step to brewing in a bag (BIAB) or all-grain recipes that require a full boil, that same extract brewing kettle won’t be big enough.
So to account for the additional water that you will lose during evaporation, along with total grain bill, you will need a 10 or 15-gallon brew kettle. These larger kettles will give you the needed capacity and flexibility of brewing any size extract, BIAB, or all grain recipe.
Physical Size
The actual height and diameter of a brew kettle matters. A tall brew pot will take up more space and be more difficult to store, and it might not even fit on your kitchen stove if you have a microwave oven or vent above it.
But according to brewing scientists, the ideal kettle size should have a height to diameter ratio of 1.2:1. This just means that the height is 1.2 times taller that the width or diameter.
A homebrewer will need to calculate the amount of evaporation that will be lost in the long boil. It has been proven that a kettle
with a 1.2:1 ratio will have a more consistent evaporation rate and less of a chance of having a messy boil-over.
Volume Markings
Brewing beer is a science, and starting with the right amount of pre-boil water is necessary in order to hit your specific gravity numbers.
It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but having easy to read volume markers on your kettle can take some out of the guesswork on brew day. Most brew kettles will have internally gallon/liter marks etched on the inner wall of the kettle.
What Makes a Good Brew Kettle?
A good brew kettle is well-built and has the volume capacity to comfortably boil the amount of wort for the beer batch size you are brewing.
Any size brew kettle, whether its just a basic kitchen stock pot or kettle that is made especially for homebrewing can work equally fine, as long as it gets the job done. So the one that’s right for you is what makes a good brew kettle.
Final Say
You certainly have a lot to think about before you choose your brew pot, especially when you have so many options to choose from. But for me and one that I highly recommend you get is a brew kettle from Spike Brewing.
If you read some of our other reviews, it’s no secret that we think Spike makes some of the highest-quality brewing equipment that you can find anywhere. You should never spend more money than what your budget allows, but it doesn’t always pay-off in the long run to buy the cheapest one either.
Although any one of the kettles above should get the job done on brew day, I just prefer the one from Spike. The quality manufacturing along with the modularity and available options, is why this brewing kettle came out as my favorite and #1 on our Best Brew Kettle list.
Happy Brewing!
Spike Brew Kettle
With NPT or TC Fittings
Spike’s CF line of brewing kettles are professionally manufactured and welded in the United States. Every pot is made from polished 304 stainless-steel, and has the Tri-Clad bottom for boiling on an induction burner.
Russ Palomino - Contributor
Russ is a southern California native and an Electrical Engineer. After receiving a beer starter kit as a gift about 7 years ago, he was immediately hooked and continues to brew today. When Russ isn't brewing beer, he enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and just spending time with his family.
