In today’s world, many people pay the bills with their 9 to 5 job, then take care of their passion in their off hours. Everyone has different careers and different passions – some people work demanding jobs that pay them the big bucks so that they can go yachting in their free time. Other people work low key, low hour jobs and have relatively inexpensive hobbies. There’s a perfect balance for everyone. One hobby that’s gaining steam and popularity by the day is brewing. Brewing, also known as homebrewing or microbrewing, is crafting your own recipes for beer at home. Don’t worry – this isn’t illegal moonshine. This is actually a great way to become a veritable gourmand of different draughts and drafts. This hobby is quite the opposite of a shady, low down way to get your jollies. It’s a fun way to balance enjoying alcoholic beverages and spending time with friends with crafting new recipes, perfecting family favorites, and enriching your personal skills. However, when you’re first starting out, you’ll want to make sure you make the right choice in your equipment. Some is too expensive, and some isn’t pricey enough. Some of the brewing pots you will look at will be too large, and others too small. Luckily, just like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you’ll be able to find brewing kettles that are just right! You may even find yourself with a collection of different sizes to fit any social event. Read on for the full run down on a beginner’s guide to different brewing kettle sizes for different social gatherings!

A Size for Every Brewer and Every Occasion: What Are My Options?

When you’re first looking at brewing kettles, you might be a little overwhelmed at all of the options. This is an understandable response. There are different sizes, materials, and other quirks that separate them and make each one different. Luckily, size is one of the most obvious differences that even the most novice brewer can easily grasp. Here are the most common sizes you’ll be contending with on your brewing journey.

Small Pots Can Still Leave Everyone Satisfied

The ten gallon can come with one coupler, two horizontal couplers, or two vertical couplers. This gives you five gallons of brew, which is sufficient for a smaller gathering but will leave guests of a big bash thirsty. If you want to increase your output without going crazy, then a fifteen gallon might be for you. These smaller brewing pots make manageable brews and are great for novices who are just dipping their toes into the brewing pool.

Mid-Range Pots Are Still More Than Enough for a Party

If you want to move up to a medium size instead of a smaller pot, then you have plenty of options. A twenty gallon or twenty five gallon sized pot hit a happy medium between a smaller starting pot that can serve a smaller clique and an enormous kettle that can slate the thirst of an army. These smaller pots come with vertical or horizontal couplers, giving you room to have your personal preference. If you’re looking for brewing pots that are not too big and not too small, start your search in this range.

A Larger Pot Can Serve All of Your Friends (And Their Friends Too!)

If you look at the previous categories of brewing pots and shake your head in dissatisfaction, then it’s time to go with something big. A forty five gallon pot can suit the wildest desires of even the most experimental, audacious, and ambitious brewer. Be warned – if you end up using this kettle regularly, you’ll probably have visitors banging down your door every evening! Brewing pots are the key to happy guests and friends, so use them wisely!

Having the Right Amount of Brew Can be the Key to a Perfect Evening

There are many factors that go into each and every successful social gathering. Having the right music on and the right guests are major bonuses, as well as having a great host and the right location. If the guests have a high percentage of vegetarians, don’t put out bacon wrapped steak appetizers! One of these factors is having enough drinks for everyone. When you leave some guests thirsty, it leaves a sour taste in their mouths. Whisk those black clouds of dissatisfaction away from any social gathering by being able to provide the right amount of brew. Your parties will be better, your guests will be more sociable, and you’ll be the hero of your social scene! On the other hand, if you end up with a collection of brewing pots that are much too large, you can end up with some issues too. You’ll waste ingredients and money, and you’ll have to grapple with transporting heavy equipment for no real reason. Too big is just as bad as too small, so choose your kettle for the occasion wisely!

When you’re working to pay for your hobbies, you might be tempted to start (and end) your brewing kettle collection with just one. However, you may find that this is a mistake down the road. Brewing kettles, while expensive, are not so pricey that you can’t diversify your collection. When you’re brewing for different groups of people, having different sized brewing pots is a necessity. As previously mentioned, you might end up just like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Some kettles are too big, some kettles are too small… but some kettles are just right! The key is identifying which pot is right for which occasion, as one size doesn’t fit all. With some time and experience, you’ll soon be an expert in identifying which kettle will satisfy your guests without being a waste of effort and brew. Best of luck in treating your social scene to amazing draughts and experimental new recipes!