Our picks for the 5 best propane burners for homebrewing are perfect for taking your homebrew to the next level.
Propane burners allow you to move your homebrewing from a gallon on your kitchen stove to 5-gallons or more
To be fair, we’ve never brewed beer in our house. It was advice that we received early on from friends that brew. The helpful words of advice included words like: garage, outside, and propane burner.
So that’s what we did. Our first brew day was outside of our condo garage, on a propane burner that had once been used by my dad to fry a turkey (he also loaned us the pot, but that’s a story for another article).
It was a rough first brew. The burner was either too hot or too cold. We had boil-overs, and it was hard to maintain the right temperature when we were steeping our grains. But, it got the job done, and we ended up with a pretty great first beer.
We start with this story because we learned early on that one of the most important tools for home brewing is the propane burner. Sure, our turkey fryer burner was a little bit of a challenge the first time around, but to this day, we use it for days when we want to use an ingredient kit instead of breaking out the all-grain brew system. Our brew system is made from two propane burners in a frame.
The propane burner is a must-have for any homebrewer.
Our pick of 5 great propane burners are perfect choices for every level of brewer, and all are much easier to use than building a fire.
Table of Contents
Methodology
We couldn’t test every burner on the market. There’s a lot of propane burners to choose from, so we did the next best thing; we relied on our own experience, got recommendations from other homebrews, and we read a lot of reviews for propane burners.
We also used some general features to narrow down our list.
- BTUs – BTUs or British Thermal Units are the normal units of measure for heat. In general, the higher the BTU number the faster your burner will heat your wort. However, you don’t need to run out and buy a 200,000 BTU burner. Most homebrewers will do fine with 50,000 to 100,000 BTUs.
- Materials – You’ll find that most burners today are made with stainless steel frames and cast aluminum burners. These are great, lightweight materials that make moving your burner easier. Cast iron is another option, but it’s heavy.
- Windscreen – Windscreens are a nice option if you’re going to be brewing outside. They help keep your flame going even if it’s breezy.
- Burner Surface Size – By this we mean, the area that you’ll be setting your brew kettle on. Make sure your burner surface is large enough for the kettle you’re using.
- Height – We like taller burners. They keep you from having to stoop to pick up a heavy, hot kettle full of wort. However, shorter burners keep your flame better protected from wind, so pick the option that fits your needs best.
Best Propane Burners for Homebrewing
BrewBuilt AfterBurner Propane Burner
Where to Buy: BrewBuilt, MoreBeer!
The BrewBuilt AfterBurner propane burner is almost the perfect propane burner for homebrewers. It checks off all the boxes. It stands at 2’ tall, so you don’t have to bend over. It’s got a clean, stainless-steel frame with a cast aluminum burner.
The burner top is wide and easily fits a 10-gallon brew kettle. The extra-wide windscreen protects the flame from gusty winds for reliable heat. And it has the perfect BTU rating. This burner ranges from 70,000 to 100,000 BTUs, giving you the right amount of heat for your mash or your boil.
Pros:
- Adjustable BTUs
- Taller than other burners
- Bolt together multiple for an all-grain brewing stand
- Stackable for compact storage.
Cons:
- Uncoated stainless steel gets dingy
- Higher priced than other options
Best All-Grain Propane Burner
Camp Chef Explorer Two-Burner Stove
Where to Buy: Camp Chef, Amazon, Cabela’s
If you’re looking for an affordable option for an all-grain brewing stand, we think you’ll like the Camp Chef Explorer stove. This two-burner stove has dual 30,000 BTU burners for more precise heat control. It stands 29” high for safe moving of heavy pots.
The 32” cooking surface has plenty of room for an 8-gallon mash tun and a 5-gallon brew kettle. The three-sided windscreen and enclosed burners protect your flame even on windy days. This propane stove has adjustable legs so it is stable on uneven surfaces, and collapses down for compact storage.
Pros:
- Two burners in one
- Easy set-up and break-down
- Reasonable price
- Simple to use gas adjustment knobs
Cons:
- Not as big as other all-grain brewing systems
- Lower BTUs
Best Budget Propane Burners for Homebrewing
Bayou Classic SQ14 Patio Stove
Where to Buy: Bayou Classic Depot, Amazon
With 55,000 BTUs the Bayou Classic SQ14 is a great propane burner for the homebrewer that wants a solidly built burner with a low price and good performance. Bayou Classic has a whole range of brewing supplies, and we really like their burners.
They work great, are made from sturdy powder-coated stainless steel, and have really nice cast aluminum burners. The SQ14 has a big enough cooking surface to accommodate a 10-gallon mash tun or brew kettle, easily. They aren’t the tallest options, but for the price, you can’t complain.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Sturdy construction
- Brass gas fittings
- Great flame control
Cons:
- Lower BTUs than other burners
- Only stands 13” tall
Best Propane Burner with High BTUs
GasOne Heavy-Duty Propane Burner
Where to Buy: GasOne, Home Depot, Amazon
This is the propane burner for the homebrewer that is ready for larger batch all-grain brewing. With 200,000 BTUs you’ll have no problems quickly getting your mash to temperature, and 10-gallons of wort are no match for this great burner.
The GasOne Heavy Duty burner has a 15.5” square burner surface and stands 12” tall. We like the sturdy construction, and the longer gas hose to keep your gas tank safely away from the flame. While this burner has plenty of gas control, it’s a little tricky to figure out, so give yourself time to tinker.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Long gas hose
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight, but sturdy construction
Cons:
- Only 12” tall
- Windscreen is small, doesn’t work as well as others
Best High-End Propane Burner
Edelmetall Bru Burner
Where to Buy: Northern Brewer, Amazon
If you have some money to spend, and you want a burner that looks as good as it performs, then the Edelmetall Bru Burner is your pick. This burner has 72,000 BTUs for optimal boil control.
The needle valve allows for heat adjustments with minimal effort. One of the things we like most about this burner is its small size. Yet it easily supports up to 30-gallons.
Pros:
- Attractive copper-clad details
- Optional leg extensions
- Compact design
Cons:
- Expensive
