a thought on cask conditioning

[b3s]

another stupid newbie trick...i was re-reading some of richard english's posts on gravity casks and was wondering something really stupid...

lets say i was making a brew for a party and i wanted to cask condition...what about getting one of those picnic coolers (viz bottom spout cooler...many use them for mashing i hear), priming that, closing the top, and letting it condition for two weeks?

yeah, the first couple of glasses would be full of gunk, but wouldn't the rest be ok?

has anyone done this?

thanks.

[Richard English]

I would rack the beer off the lees first (you can always put it back into the picnic cooler if you want once you've rinsed it out). This will ensure that all the debris is removed (remember, it's not only yeast in that sediment. There can be all sorts of impurities that creep into a wort, no matter how careful you are).

Once you've racked the beer into the container you intend to use for dispense, add a little priming sugar and, if you want to, a few dried hops. Let it condition for a day or so (the exact time will vary according to the strength of the beer and how close it is to fermenting out) and serves as soon as it's clear.

That's the way it's done in English pubs.

[jstrausss]

How is a Cooler Used For Mashing ? isn't mashing dealing with very High Temps . I 'm Such a newbie :)

[batkins]

a cooler not only retains cold, but will retain heat.

[b3s]

Originally posted by jstrausss
How is a Cooler Used For Mashing ? isn't mashing dealing with very High Temps . I 'm Such a newbie :)

insulation is insulation. put a false bottom in, 158F water and grains, and let it sit for a while. don't even have to open it up and let the heat to test for conversion since you can just open the tap for a second.

from my understanding, this is a common practice for mashing. another one is to use your bottling bucket and your (obsolete) plastic bucket fermenter with 1/8" holes drilled in the bottom...and something along the lines of a very large tea cozy.

[jstrausss]

ok - Just thought the Cooler Plastic Would Melt . It sounds like a great Idea , and if its a Commonly used Methode then I'm in :)

[Tweek]

Yeah the cooler method is commonly used. However you need to get one that is designed for the heat. Using a cooler that is for cold beverages only will impart a plastic flavor on your beer. Rubbermaid makes good hot/cold coolers. I have one that I use, works great.

[paul84043]

Just for clarification....

Jstrauss mentioned the cooler melting....I hope you're not thinking that heat is being applied to the cooler.....

Most plastics will begin to melt somewhere in the 230F and up range. I don't know of any that will melt below the boiling point.

180F water won't even melt a milk jug, I boil my brewing water and put it in milk jugs while it's still pretty hot to guarantee that the jug is sterile.
They're tricky to move by hand because they're so hot! but they hold together.