- Tom Green
*Bison Brew is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Electric brew kettles are an excellent choice for smaller spaces and indoor brewing. There are no exhaust fumes aside from water vapor and that sweet smell of boiling hops!
Electric brew kettles can be used in a 2-or-3-vessel all grain system or with a single-vessel Brew in a Bag (BIAB) set-up. Instead of relying on propane, consider going electric. We really love electric brewing for its efficiency and ease of setup on brew day.
The main piece of equipment for electric brewing is the boil kettle.
There are a few great options on the market. We’ve gone over our top picks for boil kettles before, but now we’re specifically highlighting kettles suitable for electric brewing. That means you don’t need propane, a stovetop, or induction. Electric kettles are heated with an electric element that’s either immersed in the wort/water or concealed below the kettle’s bottom.
For any electric brewing, we highly recommend always plugging your kettle into a GFCI rated outlet. Safety first – electricity and liquids don’t mix, but with the right precaution, electric kettles are just as safe, if not safer, than gas burners.
What Is The Best Electric Brew Kettle?The best electric brew kettle is the Blichmann Boilermaker G2. Top-notch build-quality, made in America, fully stainless steel, and extremely powerful. It comes in a range of sizes and a host of features and options to meet your exact homebrewing needs. We love the Boilermaker G2 because it brings wort to a boil quickly, it’s easy to clean, and it looks and feels amazing.
If you’re looking for an entry-level or less expensive option, you can’t go wrong with the Digiboil Electric Kettle.
Blichmann Boilermaker G2 Electric Brew Kettle Our PickBlichmann continues to blur the boundary between homebrewing and professional brewing. You get a near-pro experience with their Boilermaker G2. It’s extremely sturdy, expertly designed, and boils fast and efficiently!
The electric version of the Boilermaker G2 is powered by Blichmann’s Boilcoil immersion heater.
It comes equipped with either NPT fittings for convenient disassembly and cleaning. You can also opt for that pro look with welded tri-clamp fittings.
The Boilermaker G2 comes in a range of sizes, from 7.5 gallons all the way up to 55 gallons. Material wise, it’s built like a tank with heavy gauge 304 stainless steel. They’re made in America and have a lifetime warranty!
In true Blichmann style, there are no shortage of options either. Choose from temperature gauges, sight glasses, and whirlpool arms. You’ll need a controller to control temperature. Blichmann sells their own brand called BrewCommander. You can also opt for another brand and save some money.
All in all, you get what you pay for with the Blichmann Boilermaker G2. It’s an amazing piece of equipment and the Boilcoil immersion heater will get your wort up to a boil super fast. It’s easy to clean, looks great, and will last you a lifetime.
Volume
7.5 gallon
10 gallon
10 gallon
15 gallon
20 gallon
30 gallon
55 gallon
Material
304 stainless steel 304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
Power
120 Volt
17 Amp
2000 W
120 Volt
19 Amp
2250 W
240 Volt
16 Amp
3750 W
240 Volt
19 Amp
4500 W
240 Volt
21 Amp
5000 W
240 Volt
24 Amp
5750 W
240 Volt
48 Amp
1150 W
Dimensions
12.3″ diameter x 14.8″ high
13.9″ diameter x 16.4″ high
13.9″ diameter x 16.4″ high
16.0″ diameter x 18.25″ high
17.7″ diameter x 20.7″ high
19.7″ diameter x 23.6″ high
23.6″ diameter x 28.3″ high
Top Electric Brew Kettles SummaryThere are a few more very solid options for electric brew kettles. We’ll cover them all below.
Here’s our quick summary to help you with your decision:
Kettle
Verdict?
Pros
Cons
Blichmann Boilermaker G2 Electric Brew Kettle
Our pick
Amazing quality
Customizable options
Powerful, fast, and efficient
Expensive
Confusing to configure options
Digiboil Electric Kettle
Best budget electric brew kettle
Great value
Simple to use (plug and play)
Lower build quality
Gigawort Electric Boil Kettle
Best electric brew kettle for small batch and extract brewing
Great value
Nice looking design
120V works on normal outlets
Smaller batches only
SS Brewtech eKettle
Great electric brew kettle
Amazing design
Top quality
Need to use the SS Brewtech controller
BrewBuilt Electric Kettle
Best Blichmann alternative kettle
Great value
Lots of options
Can also use on gas burner
Average build quality
Digiboil Electric Kettle Best budget electric brew kettleFor an easy to use, easy to clean, and compact kettle, the Digiboil is an amazing product. Available in 2 sizes, either 35L (9.25 gallon) or 65L (17.1 gallon) volumes.
The smaller volume has a dual heating element control, with 1900 W and 500 W elements for a combined total of 2400 watts. The larger version has a triple heating element control with 2000 W, 1000 W, and 500 W elements for a total of 3500 watts.
The heating elements are concealed under the kettle for ease of cleaning. There’s a built-in digital temperature control that allows for accurate temperature selection. That’s a great feature for mashing BIAB. When it comes time to boil, full power can get it rolling extremely fast.
A stainless steel 1/2″ ball valve makes it easy to drain or attach a pump to move the liquid to another vessel.
Volume
35L / 9.25 gallon
65L / 17.1 gallon
Material
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
Power
220V /15A
2400 watts
Dual heating element control (1900W and 500W)
220V / 20A
3500 watts
Triple heating element control (2000W, 1000W, and 500W)
Dimensions
29″ H x 15″ W (including handles)
29″ H x 19.5″ W (including handles)
Gigawort Electric Boil Kettle Best electric kettle for small batch brewingNorthern Brewer’s Gigawort is a sleek, compact, and easy-to-use electric kettle for small batch brewing and extract batches. With a maximum volume of 4.4 gallons (16.6L), it isn’t large enough for 5-gallon brewing. But for small batches up to 4 gallons, you won’t find a better option.
The Gigawort uses a standard 120 volt outlet, letting you brew anywhere, anytime. Dual elements of 1600W for heating to boiling and 600W for maintaining boil allow for accurate temperature control. There is a digital temperature screen, making it easy to set and hold specific temperatures.
The concealed elements allow for an easy clean up. An integrated ball valve with a dip tube lets you transfer every last drop of wort without lifting the kettle.
Volume
4.4 gallons (16.6L)
Material
304 stainless steel
Power
120V
1600 W
Dimensions
19.75″ high x 10.75″ in diameter
SS Brewtech eKettle Great electric brew kettle optionLike Blichmann, SS Brewtech puts professional-grade equipment in the hands of homebrewers. Their eKettle is a high-quality electric kettle that gives brewers consistency batch after batch.
The eKettle comes in two sizes – a 10 and 20 gallon version. They both have a maximum power output of 5500 watts. In order to use the eKettle, you must connect to a SS Brewtech eController (sold separately). Doing so gives you a full range of precise temperature control due to the built-in PT100 thermo probe.
The eKettle comes equipped with a 1.5″ tri-clamp ball valve port with a trub dam and an optional 1.5″ tri-clamp accessory port (to attach a whirlpool arm).
The heating element is rated at 5500 watts and is removable which allows for easy cleaning. SS Brewtech designed a low watt density circular element that’s specifically sized to each kettle volume (10 or 20 gallon).
We really like the eKettle because it’s sturdy, easy to clean, and looks amazing. The major drawback is that a SS Brewtech brand controller is required. We’d recommend this kettle to fans of SS Brewtech, especially if you have other pieces of their equipment as part of your brewhouse.
Volume
10 gallon
20 gallon
Material
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
Power
240 VAC, 30 amp residential circuit
5500 watts
240 VAC, 30 amp residential circuit
5500 watts
Dimensions
13.8″ diameter x 16.5″ high
17.7″ diameter x 21.3″ high
BrewBuilt Electric Kettle Best Blichmann alternativeBrewBuilt offers a range of sizes in their electric kettle series. From 10 gallons all the way up to 50 gallons, there is definitely a kettle that will suit your homebrewing needs. These could even make a great pilot brewery kettle for pros!
With an all 304 stainless steel, thick-walled construction, these kettles are built to last. There’s also a two-piece, 304 stainless ball-valve for easy cleaning.
The ultra-low density “SlingBlade” heating elements have lots of power without the threat of wort scorching. The element has a 1.5″ tri-clamp connection into the side of the kettle. This can be removed and plugged with a gasket if you wanted to go direct fire (propane). Very handy for homebrewers who like to get outside to brew as well.
You need to supply a temperature control. Unlike the SS Brewtech eKettle, however, you’re free to select any controller you please.
BrewBuilt is a great electric brew kettle. Similar to the Blichmann in size and features. It might not be as highly precision-built, but it’s a fantastic option at a lower price point.
Volume
10 gallon
15 gallon
22 gallon
31 gallon
50 gallon
Material
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
304 stainless steel
Power
240 Volt
20 Amp breaker required
3750 W
240 Volt
20 Amp breaker required
4500 W
240 Volt
30 Amp breaker required
5000 W
240 Volt
30 Amp breaker required
5750 W
240 Volt
Requires 2 x 30 amp circuits
2 x 5750 W
Dimensions
13.75″ diameter x 16.54″ high
15.75″ diameter x 18.9″ high
17.72″ diameter x 21.26″ high
19.69″ diameter x 23.62″ high
23.6″ diameter x 28.3″ high
Final ThoughtsElectric kettles are a great choice for all levels of homebrewers. If you’re just starting out, the Digiboil is an excellent option. You can use it for extract batches, partial mash, and BIAB. It’s inexpensive and reliable.
For more advanced brewers, you can’t go wrong with the Blichmann. It’s a top-quality kettle that will last a lifetime.
The common thread among all of these kettles is stainless steel construction. That’s important for longevity, and it’s just easier to keep clean and sanitary. We also should remind you to always use a GFCI (rated outlet). Electricity and liquids don’t mix! Always be safe when brewing with electricity.
Latest ArticlesGet updated on the latest brewing techniques, recipes, and discounts on kick ass equipment with our monthly newsletter.
Email SubscribeWe’ll respect your privacy and only send you our best stuff. Promise.
Share:Original Source Here