Had to cool a batch the old fashioned way!!

[paul84043]

Last year I brewed through the winter with no problemo, everything was fine and dandy.
This year a funny thing happened.....the freaking hose froze solid!!!
I don't have a sink adapter for a hose and didn't think of it until I actually ran into the problem!
I had to cool my batch of beer the old fashioned way, in a snowbank.
IT FREAKING SUCKED!!!
I have no idea how people live without a wort chiller?
I could cool a batch in UNDER 4 minutes with my chiller. it took over 30 Mnutes in the snow and I froze my butt off. I don't know about you, but that makes that little 30$ gadget worth it's weight in GOLD.

Home Depot, HERE I COME!!!

[S.F.B.]

Man, that sucks. I never think of getting one of those adapters either...
...I work at a hardware store!

We normally don't have a freezing problem here. I hope the freeze didn't cause any other problems.

[paul84043]

It's actually pretty normal in the winter here, it's just that the last few have been so mild, I expected brewing this winter to be just like last....duh....

[GunNut76]

Paul- I do not own a chiller (yet) and I just cool the wort in the bath tub. Of course my cold water comes out at 50 degrees too.

[paul84043]

How long does it take you to cool a batch to 80F ??

Even in the summertime with the warmer temperature water coming from the faucet, I'm still under 6 minutes with the chiller.

[GunNut76]

I don't really time it, but if I had to guess...45 min. I drop it from 200+ to 100 in about 5 min...it's just going from 100 down to 70 that takes forever. Gives me time to have a couple more tho! :D

[tjones_jr]

i don't have a chiller either, and after a fiasco trying to cool it in the sink with ice...i just decided to forget about it.

I cover the container with a sanitized lid and leave it on the kitchen counter until the next day. So far so good, but maybe Santa will be nice and bring me a chiller.

[paul84043]

I'm far too impatient to let it sit like that.
I have always heard that rapid cooling is important for many different reasons, so I bought a chiller first thing.
If I can get my wort cool in under 6 minutes and be on my merry way, I would say that's worth the 30$ for a chilller. (Or the 12$ to make your own.)

[fuji6100]

I've always used the sink/ice bath method. I start by filling it up with ice/water and leaving that until all the ice melts. Then I turn the faucet on low and let it pour new, cool water into the far side of teh sink, while the excess water spills across the divider and down the opposite drain (My sink is far enough inset that I can do this without it overflowing). Since the warmer water rises to the top, it spills off the warm water and keeps constant cool water around the pot. I stir with a sanitized spoon every 10 mins or so, and I usually get mine down ot pitching temps in about 30 minutes.

[toneyc]

I bought a wort chiller on my second or third batch and only used it a few times. It's a real hassle. It takes longer than using ice, and you have this stream of near boiling water to deal with. I'm sorry, Paul, but I have a real hard time believing 4 minutes, how is your chiller made that you can do it that fast? I don't think mine would do it that fast, even with 32* tap water. As it is, I think my tap water is usually over 60*. I *think* mine is a 25" coil of 3/8" copper tubing, but it has been so long since I looked at it that I may be mistaken. What's your's?

Note: I'm not trying to start an argument or step on anyone's toes, I'm just curious cuz mine don't work that way.

:)
Toney.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by paul84043
I'm far too impatient to let it sit like that.
I have always heard that rapid cooling is important for many different reasons, so I bought a chiller first thing.
If I can get my wort cool in under 6 minutes and be on my merry way, I would say that's worth the 30$ for a chilller. (Or the 12$ to make your own.)

To whom it may concern... THIS was paul84043's 800th post! Raise a toast to the man, wouldja? SALUD!

[paul84043]

Wow, it just seems like yesterday that I passed 600....

Toney...

Yes...under 6 minutes every time, even in the summer.

I can't figure out what I would be doing different.

The hot stream of water is a pain until it gets under 140F, then it's okay. I always grab a handful of paper towels to wipe the soot and stuff of of the pot, so I use that to hold the copper tubing until the temp drops. I timed my last batch, it was less than a minute to under 140F, then three to four more to 80F.

I typically have about 3 gallons left after the boil to cool off, sometimes a bit more, but never less. I put the lid on the pot at the end of the boil, move it out on the patio, hook up the hose and throw the other end out on the lawn.
I gently agitate the chiller in a slow circular motion taking care not to splash.
Agitating the chiller is critical, otherwise you simply set up a stable temperature boundary that actually insulates the chiller coil.
That's all I have ever done and is just works....

Edit.. My chiller is just the standard chiller sold by the HomeBrew stores. Nothing special, but as Tweek mentions in the following post, it does extend from the bottom of the kettle to what is typically the upper level of the hot wort.

[Tweek]

ToneyC, I wonder if your chiller is the right shape for your brewpot. I got my chiller when I was doing five gallon batches, then when I switched to doing 10 gallons and upgraded my pot to a 13 from an 8 I noticed my chiller didnt work fer sh*t so I stretched it out a bit so that it runs the entire height of my wort and now its back to under 10 minutes for 10 gallons. Of course it also depends on how high I turn on the water on, if I just let it trickle out it takes a lot longer. As far as the hot water is concerned I catch it in my mash tun and my other brewpot and use it to clean with, by the time those are both full the water has cooled enough for the less delicate parts of the garden.

[paul84043]

It's actually kind of surprising that a chiller made for 5 gallon batches will still function well for a 10 gallon batch...that's pretty impressive.

They also have the "dual coil" chillers that would probably really kick butt in a larger batch.

[Tweek]

yeah, if I had a some extra $ I would go get a new cooler, among other things but after strectching it out it works like a charm.

[toneyc]

Well.... I may just have to try it again this weekend, keeping in mind the points you guys have made.

I bought my first all-grain batch today. I plan to brew it up Saturday come hell or high water!

:D
Toney.