Spike Brewing Kettle Review (2019). READ before buying?

Design 

Whether you are building a new set up or upgrading your old gear, the kettle is at the heart of any brewing rig. There are numerous options on the market - aluminium or stainless, welded or weldless, a number of ports, and innovative designs. What I loved about Spike’s kettles is that they are modular and one kettle can take up the function of any of the three tanks in an all-grain brewing set up. Before upgrading to their 3 kettle single tier system, I replaced my old stainless Boil Kettle with the Spike 15 gallon V3. Immediately the advantage of their Tri-clad bottom became apparent with my propane burner. The heat distribution was smooth and uniform along the bottom and sides of the kettle. In previous thin-walled kettles, I’d noted temperature differences of a couple of degrees across the kettle while the Spike V3 with its thick walls had about half a degree of difference. So that avoids hot spots and differential heating. 

Homebrewers often favour kettles because of their dished bottoms that naturally allow kettle trub to collect. I find it has more downsides to it than advantages such as the convex outside shaping being unstable on burner platforms and uneven heat distribution. Spike’s kettles have a fair amount of thought put into their design in the form of “stepped bottom” on the inside to collect trub while maintaining efficiency and a flat bottom on the outside for stability and uniform heat distribution.
While being stable and robust, the Spike Kettles are also appropriately sized. With a height-width ratio of 1.2:1, my 15-gallon kettle works perfectly for smaller batches as well. While brewing large batches, there’s enough room for boil over and have the least impact on efficiency.

Construction

There are times when some of the ingredients used in the boil can deteriorate a kettle made out of softer metal like aluminium, while on the other hand, a robust stainless steel kettle is almost indestructible and lasts for decades. Having experimented with aluminium kettles in the beginning years of my brewing journey, vessel deterioration is something I’ve observed personally. These 1.2mm thick 304 stainless kettles are not only impervious to chemical deterioration but can also take the abuse of an average home brewer.

The kettle’s welded fittings are a bit of a luxury for me upgrading from weldless fittings. The pristine, sanitary welds are easier to clean and maintain as they have fewer nooks and crannies.

Features 

Brewers who have used clunkier lids would come to appreciate this thoughtfully designed version of the Spike. It can be removed and rested on the kettle handle as you go about your task. It is an excellent upgrade as you don’t have to find a place for the lid.

The kettle handles are covered in wear resistant silicone grips that make it easy to carry while avoiding a burn. Anybody who has thoughtlessly grabbed a kettle handle during a full boil would understand what I mean here.

Internal volume markings give you an exact idea of how much liquid there is in the kettle. The markings go a long way in helping you prepare consistent batches. Although Spike maintains it is permanently etched into the stainless steel wall, they recommend not using aggressive abrasive cleaners on them. After over a dozen batches the markings on my kettle still look brand new. 

ADVANTAGES

SHORTCOMINGS

• The optional 3-piece ball valve extends out about 6.5 inches from the side of the kettle to keep its lever away from the heat. The lengthy design could grab you while you walk by especially if your brewing set up is in a crowded garage or basement.