6 Best Propane burners for Home Brewing in 2020
Brewing beers at home is all fun and games till you fail to find the right apparatus. Now, that doesn’t often happen as people usually start with the right apparatus. However, if you’re looking forward to taking your homebrewing levels up a notch, you might end up needing more sophisticated and professional equipment. Also, if you’ve decided on making a bigger batch of beer, then some additional investment is needed!
Most of the times, home brewers shift from a small stove to a more equipped propane burner. If you want to know more about propane burners, let’s tell you!
Propane Burners for Beer Brewing
Most people might think why invest in something like a propane burner when beer can be brewed on any flame – be it a stove or a bonfire. As for the stove, it is efficient for brewing a small batch of beer, but for a bigger batch, you might need to shift to something bigger and better. Propane burner stands true to its performance and helps in brewing bigger batches of beer with great ease!
However, if you’re planning on brewing your beer on a huge campfire while being out and about, there are several drawbacks attached to it too! One of these drawbacks is that you wouldn’t be able to control the flame. The other one is that your carbon footprint is surely going to increase if you keep on brewing your beer on a campfire. So, investing in a cleaner and more refined method is a great idea! And a propane burner is here to the rescue!
The best part about a propane burner is that you can buy it based on the batches of beer you’re planning on brewing and the type of utensils used for the same. You can start by comparing the burners on the basis of their BTU!
Now, what is BTU, you ask? Let us explain!
BTU (British thermal unit). BTU is a traditional unit used for measuring heat!
“One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.”
BTU is basically a standardized unit of measuring energy. This unit is generally used to describe two elements – one is the heat content of fuels and the second is the heating power of an appliance used for heating or cooling. So, here when we talk about the propane burners, the BTU is termed as the heating power of the burners.
So, when you’re buying a propane burner, looking for high BTU is one of the things that will make your purchase easy.
Just to make it clear, 1 BTU is equal to 253 calories or 0.293071-watt hours. So, you can do the math while making the purchase.
As beer lovers are opting for home brewing on a large scale, the demand for propane burners in increasing every day. This increased demand has led to the transformation of the design of the traditional burners, and now, the products are better in quality, functionality, built, and durability.
The areas in which these improvements are made are the usage of material, the performance of burner, the control over the flame, heat output of the burner, the facility of usage and storage, the adjustments based on the size of utensils, and more! Everything has gotten better in the designs of today, and better models of burners are being introduced every day! So, let’s have a look at some of these burners so that you can pick the best one!
6 Top Rated Propane Burners
1. Gas ONE 200,000 BTU Square Heavy- Duty Single Burner
The Gas ONE propane burner is a square, heavy-duty gas stove that can be easily used to brew beer outdoors. It comes with a steel-braided hose, an adjustable 0-20 PSI regulator, and is a portable gas stove! This burner comes in handy to brew beer in the outdoors, to fry a turkey, and to prepare maple syrup! So, you hit many birds with one stone.
Why Buy It?
The burner is made of cast iron and is a study and portable stove, ideal for beer brewing, outdoor cooking, fishing, and camping. The heat output of this burner is 200,000 BTU that can be controlled with the help of an adjustable heat knob or regulator. The heat output is high, and thus, this stove is one of the best options available to brew large batches of beer.
Pros
- CSA certified regulator
- Heavy-duty appliance
- Made of cast iron, thus, sturdily built
- Durable
- Portable
Cons
- Some attachments come uninstalled
- Black paint gets transferred to pots due to high heat
- Difficulty with height and flames
2. Bayou Classic KAB4 High Pressure Banjo Cooker
This is a versatile burner that is ideal for home brewing, outdoor cooking, and camping cooking adventures. The burner is made of cast iron and is protected by 360 degrees of windscreen protection shield made of steel. The paint on the burner and shield is known to be resistant to high heat and is not transferred to pots or utensils while cooking. The burner comes with a 30-PSI regulator which is adjustable and certified for safe usage.
Why Buy It?
The Bayou Classic is a compact and portable burner that offers a versatile usage. The burner is ideal for brewing big batches of beer outdoors. Because of its compact size, it can easily be carried to a backyard, on a camping trip, or on any outdoor cooking spree. The burner is specially designed to hold pots of 100-Qt. capacity.
Pros
- Steel windscreen protection shield
- Heat-resistant paint
- Better capacity for bigger pots
- Versatile usage
Cons
- May have a problem with regulator
3.Concord 16" Banjo Single Burner Stove Brewing 200,000 BTU
Meant to last for a lifetime, the Concord burner is built with cast iron and comes with a weatherproof coating on its surface. The heat output of this burner is 200,000 BTU, and it also comes with a CSA-certified 20 PSI regulator. The burner comes with a stand that can be used for its proper placement outdoors. The stand is detachable and allows easy storage.
Why Buy It?
This propane burner is very easy to use, easy to store, and easy to install. As compared to the other variants in this category, the burner is reasonably priced and can easily be afforded. It is great for brewing beers or cooking in the outdoors and supports the pots of 200 QT. It is a sturdy built and is very durable.
Pros
- Great heat output
- Sturdy
- Portable and easy to store
- Holds bigger pots easily
- Detachable stand
Cons
- Paint burns off while cooking, emitting smell and gas
- Not easy to attach and detach the stand
- Regulator quality is not the best
4. Edelmetall Bru Burner
Another outdoor propane burner, the Edelmetall is specially designed for brewing beer at home or in the outdoors. This is a custom-crafted burner that is adjustable as per the size of pots or kettles that are used for brewing the beer. The legs or stand are detachable and can be attached as per the needs. It is made of stainless steel with a copper finish.
Why Buy It?
This burner is a high-quality and high-performing burner when compared to the others in this list. With eat output of 72,000 BTUs, you can adjust and fine-tune the firepower easily for the best brew. The burner allows you to take the firepower from zero to full boil within seconds. You can adjust the heat with the help of a needle valve that helps prevent boil overs.
Pros
- Easily adjustable firepower supply
- Sturdy built
- Detachable legs for easy storage
- Durable
Cons
- No instructions are given
- The leg attachments lack right bolts and alignment
- Hard to assemble
5. Northern Brewer - Stainless Steel Dark Star Propane Burner 65,000 BTU
Dedicated to the passion of home beer brewing, this one is another steal at a pretty affordable price, as compared to others. The Northern Brewer is a propane burner made from polished stainless steel and is an ideal pick for outdoor home brewing of beer.
Why Buy It?
The burner flaunts a sturdy design with a wind guard, lighter port, and three-legged stand that makes it a handy apparatus while brewing beer outdoors. The design of this burner helps it handle bigger pots with great ease. It has a 5 PSI adjustable regulator for a controlled flame. The heat output of Northern Brewer is 65,000 BTU, and it is a great investment, meant to last for a lifetime!
Pros
- Very affordable based on the heat output
- Great heat output
- Controlled boils when brewing beer
- Easily holds bigger pots
Cons
- Paint burns off
- Strong smell when used in the beginning
- Takes time to bring a large quantity of liquids to a boil
6. Blichmann HellFire Floor Standing Burner
This burner steals the show with its looks! It is a floor standing burner and stands true to its name Hellfire. The burner is efficient and highly versatile. It is made from high-quality stainless steel and is designed to hold bigger kettles and pots for the brew.
Why Buy It?
In this list, this is the most efficient propane burner that you will find. The heat output of this burner is a whopping 140,000 BTU. The design is high-quality, functional, and aesthetic. It has a wind and heat shield that allows the flame to burn uninterruptedly and keeps the valve cool. The bars that contain kettles or pots are adjustable to fit different sizes of kettles. It is designed for outdoor use and is a very durable burner.
Pros
- Strong built
- Aesthetic design
- Portable and meant for outdoor usage
- High and adjustable heat output
- Comes with leg extenders
Cons
- On the pricey side
- Quality varies from piece to piece
- Difficult to carry around
- Tricky to assemble
Buying a Propane Burner
When you’re buying a propane burner, there are a number of things that need to be kept into consideration! For instance – the requirement of the burner, the batch of beer to be brewed, the space to set the burner up, the budget, the BTU of a particular burner, the material used, the safety certifications, and more.
So, when you’re out there, buying your ideal propane burner, always make sure you go through some good options, compare them on the basis of different factors, and then make your decision. Buying a propane burner is something that is not done every day. So, make an informed decision and never take anything lightly.
Choosing the Right Option!
Choosing the right option for a propane burner is a bit tricky!
Our buying guide is based on solid research using the reviews given by the actual users of these burners. So, this guide will help you in making the right decision for your propane burner purchase. The qualities, pros, and cons are accumulate based on our research, and you can rest assured that you will make a learned decision.
However, you still might find yourself in a pickle about which propane burner might fit your needs the best. You can compare them all based on the following factors:
- Quality of material used
- Type of paint used
- Portability
- Durability
- Capacity
- Ease of use
- Ease of assembly
- Versatility
- Storage
- Additional features
- Price
All these factors will help you decide which propane burner will suit your needs the best. So, make a learned decision and use this buying guide! After all, you don’t buy a propane burner every day!
