I have a 10-gallon Polarware that I’ve used for about 100 5-gallon batches. It’s awesome.
As for boiloff, I’ve taken some data points and then graphed them. They seem to fit a pretty nice linear equation. I tend to boil off 0.0227 gallons per minute. I just graphed all of my data points using Excel and then added a line of best fit. Put time on the x-axis, and your measured boil-off on the y-axis. Then choose “display equation” and the slope of your line is the rate of boiloff. This seems to hold pretty true for me.
That works out to about 1.36 gallons for a 60 minute boil, and 2.04 gallons for a 90-minute boil.
I was shooting for 5.5 gal batches, which means that I was typically collecting around 7 gallons preboil. This was never a problem in my 10-gallon Polarware. It’s a great kettle that I expect to last me a lifetime!
Remember, all we are doing is giving you something to think about before you upgrade. you will make great beer in your current pot. You dont even need to upgrade your current pot, just put a spigot on it since you where looking to upgrade to a pot of the same size with a spigot anyway.
That’s true. Get a step drill bit and a weldless valve fitting and you’ll have a valve for under $50.
Typical scenario we TRY not to fall into.
…
Brewer guy: Hey internet, I’m thinking of buying a $25 gadget.
Internet: If you’re thinking of getting that, you might as well upgrade to an automated, 20G RIMS system. You’ll save time/money/sweat/marriages in the long run.