Taking my Homebrew Outside (Question about Propane)

[DrDonkie]

I think I brewed my last AG Stove top beer. I love brewing but I start to hate it after the 7th hour. My stove burns at about 10,000 BTU . I am going to pickup a 100,000 BTU Banjo before I brew my next beer.

My question is... How many batches can I get out of a 20 lb propane tank when brewing with a 100,000 BTU Banjo?

Thanks and Happy Brewing!

Dave

[spiderwrangler]

It'll depend. I don't have a # for you, but based on how long it takes to heat water, length of boil, temp and wind, it's gonna vary.

[DrDonkie]

All I would like is a ballpark number. 9 out of 10 batches are 60 minute boils (the other one is a 90).

[snowcapt]

I get about 5 or six- if I remember correctly. That includes heating my strike and sparge water, plus the boil. It is a good idea to have a spare tank on hand, too. It sure sucks to run out of propane.

[DrDonkie]

Got it!

Thanks guys!

[CRBrewHound]

I get about 3.5 to 4 using a banjo with 15 gal keggles

[brewinhard]

I get about 5 or six- if I remember correctly. That includes heating my strike and sparge water, plus the boil. It is a good idea to have a spare tank on hand, too. It sure sucks to run out of propane.

You most definitely will want to have an extra tank around for those unlucky days when you think you have enough gas only to find out that it sputters out midway through the boil!

[Afterlab]

It can also depend on how efficient your burner is at transferring the heat/energy it creates from burning the propane into the brew kettle. If you buy a cheaper burner with a high BTU capacity but poor efficiency at transferring that energy and it takes a really long time to get your strike, sparge and wort up to temp, then you are wasting more propane in the long run and possibly extending your brew day. Long story short it is worth the extra money to get an efficient burner the that uses less propane versus getting a cheaper propane burner and consistently burning through more propane and having to get your tanks refilled. Chances are like most brewing equipment you will end up upgrading at some point down the line.

Whatever route you take making beer outside trumps brewing on your stove top any day