Spike Tank alternative: DrainPro bottom-drain kettles compared
The Spike Tank and the DrainPro are both bottom-drain brew kettles. Compared the same way, with a CIP lid on both and the false bottom counted in the mash tun, a 20 gallon set of all three vessels is about $800 less from Bräu Supply.
The Spike Tank and the DrainPro are both bottom-drain brew kettles. Compared the same way in Canadian dollars, with a CIP lid on both and the false bottom counted in the mash tun, a 20 gallon set of all three vessels is about $2,000 CAD less from Bräu Supply, before Spike’s shipping and import charges.
DrainPro vs Spike Tank
| Bräu SupplyDrainPro bottom-drain kettles | Spike BrewingSpike Tank | |
|---|---|---|
| Price in US dollars, each with a CIP lid | ||
| Boil kettle, 10 gal |
$575 CIP lid included |
US$737 Tank US$684 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Boil kettle, 20 gal |
$775 CIP lid included |
US$989 Tank US$936 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Boil kettle, 30 gal |
$1,025 CIP lid included |
US$1,295 Tank US$1,242 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Boil kettle, 50 gal |
$1,475 CIP lid included |
US$1,901 Tank US$1,848 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 10 gal |
$600 CIP lid included |
US$791 Tank US$738 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 20 gal |
$800 CIP lid included |
US$1,043 Tank US$990 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 30 gal |
$1,050 CIP lid included |
US$1,349 Tank US$1,296 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 50 gal |
$1,499 CIP lid included |
US$1,955 Tank US$1,902 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 10 gal |
$679 False bottom and CIP lid included |
US$797 Tank US$582 (no door) + false bottom US$162 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 20 gal |
$1,149 False bottom, grain door and CIP lid included |
US$1,499 Tank US$1,230 (with door) + false bottom US$216 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 30 gal |
$1,449 False bottom, grain door and CIP lid included |
US$1,829 Tank US$1,530 (with door) + false bottom US$246 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 50 gal |
$1,999 False bottom, grain door and CIP lid included |
US$2,687 Tank US$2,334 (with door) + false bottom US$300 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| How it's built | ||
| Lid | Included on every vessel, with a welded tri-clamp CIP port for a spray ball or steam condenser, at no extra charge | Standard lid included. A CIP lid is a US$52.80 add-on that replaces it at order time, or a separate lid at US$98.40 to US$198 if you buy it later |
| Drain | Welded 1.5" tri-clamp bottom drain on a sloped floor; the vessel empties completely | Bottom drain in a domed bottom |
| Fittings | 1.5" tri-clamp throughout, TIG-welded | Welded fittings; Spike says the welding is done in Milwaukee |
| Walls | 1.2 mm 304 stainless, mirror polished inside and out | 304 stainless (Spike lists 1.2 mm walls on its OG kettle) |
| Mash tun | Laser-cut false bottom (1 mm slots) and recirculation ports included; hinged grain door from 20 gal up | Spike+ false bottom sold separately; grain door optional |
| Sizes | 10, 15, 20, 30 and 50 gal | 10, 15, 20, 30 and 50 gal |
| Buying and owning | ||
| Shipping in the US | Free to the lower 48 on orders over $600; the price you see is delivered, with tariffs and duties paid by us | Free US shipping on orders over $150 |
| Warranty | 2 years on stainless vessels, plus parts support | See Spike’s warranty page |
| Where it’s made | Designed and assembled in Vancouver, BC | Spike says its fittings are welded in Milwaukee. US customs records show Spike importing stainless steel pots from China from 2015 to 2021 (see the FAQ below) |
All prices in US dollars. Spike prices as listed on spikebrewing.com in November 2026. Both columns include a CIP lid, and the mash tun rows include a false bottom. Valves and elements are left out on both sides.
| Bräu SupplyDrainPro bottom-drain kettles | Spike BrewingSpike Tank | |
|---|---|---|
| Price in Canadian dollars, each with a CIP lid | ||
| Boil kettle, 10 gal |
$612 CAD CIP lid included |
about $1,036 CAD Tank US$684 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Boil kettle, 20 gal |
$828 CAD CIP lid included |
about $1,391 CAD Tank US$936 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Boil kettle, 30 gal |
$1,115 CAD CIP lid included |
about $1,821 CAD Tank US$1,242 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Boil kettle, 50 gal |
$1,633 CAD CIP lid included |
about $2,674 CAD Tank US$1,848 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 10 gal |
$648 CAD CIP lid included |
about $1,112 CAD Tank US$738 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 20 gal |
$864 CAD CIP lid included |
about $1,467 CAD Tank US$990 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 30 gal |
$1,151 CAD CIP lid included |
about $1,897 CAD Tank US$1,296 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Hot liquor tank, 50 gal |
$1,691 CAD CIP lid included |
about $2,750 CAD Tank US$1,902 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 10 gal |
$761 CAD False bottom and CIP lid included |
about $1,121 CAD Tank US$582 (no door) + false bottom US$162 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 20 gal |
$1,259 CAD False bottom, grain door and CIP lid included |
about $2,108 CAD Tank US$1,230 (with door) + false bottom US$216 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 30 gal |
$1,581 CAD False bottom, grain door and CIP lid included |
about $2,572 CAD Tank US$1,530 (with door) + false bottom US$246 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| Mash tun, 50 gal |
$2,229 CAD False bottom, grain door and CIP lid included |
about $3,779 CAD Tank US$2,334 (with door) + false bottom US$300 + CIP lid US$52.80 |
| How it's built | ||
| Lid | Included on every vessel, with a welded tri-clamp CIP port for a spray ball or steam condenser, at no extra charge | Standard lid included. A CIP lid is a US$52.80 add-on that replaces it at order time, or a separate lid at US$98.40 to US$198 if you buy it later |
| Drain | Welded 1.5" tri-clamp bottom drain on a sloped floor; the vessel empties completely | Bottom drain in a domed bottom |
| Fittings | 1.5" tri-clamp throughout, TIG-welded | Welded fittings; Spike says the welding is done in Milwaukee |
| Walls | 1.2 mm 304 stainless, mirror polished inside and out | 304 stainless (Spike lists 1.2 mm walls on its OG kettle) |
| Mash tun | Laser-cut false bottom (1 mm slots) and recirculation ports included; hinged grain door from 20 gal up | Spike+ false bottom sold separately; grain door optional |
| Sizes | 10, 15, 20, 30 and 50 gal | 10, 15, 20, 30 and 50 gal |
| Buying and owning | ||
| Buying in Canada | Priced in Canadian dollars at brausupply.ca and shipped from Vancouver, with no border to cross | Sold in US dollars; duties aren’t collected at checkout, so shipping and import charges are on top of the price above |
| Warranty | 2 years on stainless vessels, plus parts support | See Spike’s warranty page |
| Where it’s made | Designed and assembled in Vancouver, BC | Spike says its fittings are welded in Milwaukee. US customs records show Spike importing stainless steel pots from China from 2015 to 2021 (see the FAQ below) |
Spike lists prices in US dollars only. We converted them at 1.4066 CAD per USD (November 6, 2026), before Spike’s shipping, duties and taxes. Spike prices as listed on spikebrewing.com in November 2026. Both columns include a CIP lid, and the mash tun rows include a false bottom. Valves and elements are left out on both sides.
What Spike does well
Spike has made brew kettles for about ten years and has a large community of owners. The Tank is a solid bottom-drain kettle, and Spike also sells complete Solo and Trio systems built around its kettles.
Where the DrainPro comes out ahead
- The CIP lid is included. Every DrainPro vessel ships with a lid that has a welded tri-clamp port for a spray ball or steam condenser. On a Spike Tank that lid costs extra.
- The false bottom is included. The mash tun ships with a laser-cut false bottom and recirculation ports, and from 20 gallons up it has a hinged grain door for emptying the mash.
- A floor that drains completely. The floor slopes to a welded 1.5" tri-clamp drain, so wort and rinse water leave the kettle without tilting it.
- A delivered price. US orders over $600 ship free to the lower 48 with tariffs and duties paid by us.
- Canadian dollars, no border. You pay in CAD and it ships from Vancouver, with no duties or brokerage to deal with.
Which should you buy?
Choose the Spike Tank if you already own a Spike Solo or Trio and want a matching kettle.
Choose the DrainPro if you want a bottom-drain kettle for less, with the CIP lid and false bottom already included. Buy one vessel now and add the others later: they share the same tri-clamp fittings and stack into a HERMS or RIMS hot side.
FAQ
Is the Spike Tank the same as the Spike OG kettle?
No. The OG has a flat tri-clad bottom and side ports, like our Tri-Clad kettle. The Tank has a domed bottom with a bottom drain, which makes it the Spike kettle to compare with the DrainPro.
Does the DrainPro come with a CIP lid?
Yes. Every DrainPro boil kettle, mash tun and hot liquor tank comes with a lid that has a welded tri-clamp port, at no extra charge. Spike Tanks ship with a standard lid: a CIP lid is a US$52.80 add-on that replaces it when you order, or a separate lid at US$98.40 to US$198 if you decide you want one later.
Where are Spike kettles made?
Spike says it welds the fittings in Milwaukee; its product pages don’t say where the kettle body is made. US customs bills of lading list 78 sea shipments to Spike Brewing from November 2015 to September 2021, including stainless steel pots from China. No shipments under the Spike Brewing name appear after September 2021: since October 2021 Spike has used US Customs manifest confidentiality, which keeps an importer’s name off the public shipping records. Our DrainPro vessels are also made in China to our design and assembled in Vancouver, and we say so.
Does the DrainPro mash tun come with a false bottom?
Yes. Every DrainPro mash tun includes a laser-cut stainless false bottom with 1 mm slots and recirculation ports. Spike sells its Spike+ false bottom separately.
Can I add an electric element to a DrainPro boil kettle?
Yes. It has a 1.5" tri-clamp element port for a 5,500 W 240V element or a 1,650 W 120V element. See what each needs on the electrical requirements page.
What size brew kettle do I need?
About 1.5 to 2 times your batch size: a 10 gallon kettle for 5 gallon batches, 20 to 30 gallons for 10 to 15 gallon batches. There’s a full chart in our brew kettle guide.
Sources, checked November 7 and 8, 2026: Spike Tank; Spike+ false bottom; Add-On CIP Lid; CIP Lid; Spike OG kettle; US Customs and Border Protection bills of lading for Spike Brewing, via ImportYeti. Spike and Spike Tank are trademarks of Spike Brewing. Bräu Supply is not affiliated with Spike Brewing.
The real bottom drain.
For less.
DrainPro bottom-drain mash tuns, boil kettles and hot liquor tanks, 10 to 50 gallons, with the false bottom included.