The Kettle That Replaced a Legend | $199 BIAB Build

Today we’re building a brand new 19L BIAB kettle from scratch. My old brew pot didn’t survive the move to Brisbane, so rather than replace it with another off-the-shelf system, I decided to build something simple, solid, and dial it in properly from day one. In this video I cover: • What to look for when buying a kettle • Drilling stainless steel (and avoiding work hardening) • Passivating drilled holes properly • Installing weldless fittings correctly • Preventing stainless thread galling • Measuring boil-off rate accurately • Determining real dead space • Building a proper equipment profile in Brewfather This setup cost me $199 all in, and it will be the new BIAB system used on the channel moving forward. The first beer going through it? My version of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale — the beer that started it all for me back in 1995. If this helped, give it a thumbs up and consider subscribing. More brewing, less fluff. Life’s too short to drink dodgy beer. Timestamps 00:00 - 01:13 Intro & Why The Old Kettle Is Gone 01:13 - 03:43 What To Look For In A Kettle 03:43 - 04:01 Drilling Stainless (Quick Tips) 04:01 - 05:43 Passivating Stainless Steel Properly 05:43 - 06:29 Choosing Ball Valves & Fittings 06:29 -08:01 Ball Valve Teardown (Dead Space Explained) 08:01 - 08:45 Washer Orientation Detail 08:45 - 10:13 Installing Weldless Fittings 10:13 - 11:21 Thermometer Installation & Calibration 11:21 - 12:01 Preventing Stainless Thread Galling 12:01 - 13:21 Leak Test & Starting Boil Off Test 13:21 - 15:33 Why You Can’t Shortcut Boil Off Testing 15:33 - 16:27 Cooling Curve & Thermal Mass Results 16:27 - 17:17 Calculating Boil Off Rate 17:17 - 18:31 Measuring Dead Space 18:31 - 21:36 Building The Brewfather Equipment Profile 21:36 - 22:12 Full Cost Breakdown ($199 Total) 22:12 - 23:14 The Sierra Nevada Origin Story 23:14 - 23:51 What We’re Brewing Next