WORT Chilled 6gal to 66 degrees in 6 min, 10.5 gal to 68 in 8 min

**DMCarson** · 03-08-2010, 10:07 PM

Me and my brew buddy use a drill motor and a stainless steel jiffy mixer(5-10 gal)[i got the idea when reading about whirlpooling]

http://www.jiffymixer.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=css_ne w.tpl&product_id=6&category_id=6&option=com_virtue mart&Itemid=1

which creates a very efficient tornado of post boil wort forcing it through our wort chiller(while ground water is ran through it) which is 3/8" nom(1/2" od) copper (cant remember but either 10' or 20'). I got the thing for about 50$ and I cooled 5.5 gal to 66 degrees in 6 minutes, our 10 gallon batch (10.5 g or post boil wort) cooled to 68 degrees in 8 minutes, both produced condensation on the outside of our SS converted keg/keggle. The mixer fits perfectly in the middle of the corney diameter size chiller. I drained our wort and pitched. The best part is i move the mixer from the bucket of starsan into the keggle with my wort chiller during the last 15 minutes to let the boil kill anything just in case. As soon as the burner is shut off I turn on the mixer and my partner hits the garden hose faucet and I right away start chilling, I dont have to wait for my pump to make a whirlpool(which I hear can take people up to 5 minutes possibly if their technique is not sound)

the mixer has a 20.5 inch shaft which is long enough to give you comfortable working room while running it in your wort. I found ours on ebay for about $45 shipped. The model you will want is the ps-1, if you really need more power theres a 10-15 gal but we found the ps1 does fine with 15 gal of wort since it is made for higher viscous liquid like paint and other industrial food processing. Note on the drill motor:the shaft diameter is 1/2" so youll need a 1/2" chuck, my dewalt 18 volt cordless does fine and my buddies ryobe corded 2 speed also fits.

wildwest450 · 03-08-2010, 10:17 PM

You use that right after boil? I've always been told to wait until at least 100f before you start whipping the wort around.

**Irrenarzt** · 03-09-2010, 12:54 AM

+wet cardboard

shortyjacobs · 03-09-2010, 01:33 AM

I did the exact same thing this past weekend with 11.75 gal wort.

I got down to 80F in about 7 minutes...I was operating the stirrer VERY slowly for this bit, as I didn't want to aerate. The surface was barely disturbed at this point, but the temp still dropped like a stone. My previous record for a double batch was around 15 minutes unstirred.

After I got below 80F, I hit "high gear" on my cordless. I have never been more impressed by anything in my life. Gods own whirlpool in my keggle. I had the stirrer sitting about 1/2" from the bottom, and the vortex reached DOWN TO IT. I could SEE it. I had a 21" deep vortex! (I was doing this to aerate as well...I can't make a frickin oxygen stone work to save my life)....It was friggin incredible.

Edit: They are also the best mash stirrers in the world.

**DMCarson** · 03-09-2010, 01:36 AM

so far havent had any issues with anything. What is the reasoning for that, or is it just traditional opinion/advice?

shortyjacobs · 03-09-2010, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMCarson

so far havent had any issues with anything. What is the reasoning for that, or is it just traditional opinion/advice?

I believe they are worried about Hot Side Aeration....HSA is a problem above, (I believe) 140F. I waited until 80F until I kicked up the RPMS to be safe. As long as you aren't mixing much/any air into it, you can use the stirrer while it's hot....just go slowly.

Others will argue that HSA is a myth, and it doesn't matter...but I would wager that whether you stir your wort fast or slow during the major cooling phase won't make much of a difference in cooling rate....the trick is just moving the wort around, not beating the living snot out of it...

**DMCarson** · 03-09-2010, 01:58 AM

I agree that the Vortex is impressive and reaches to the bottom. I will definitly let it drop before going full bore. I did notice that with the 5 gallon batch there might have been some aeration which I would take from the foam layer on the top layer. The 10 gallon batch was a more subtle spin. I appreciate the advice I always appreciate taking some of the wisdom of others. Like you said with some not believing...i always saw things like that as a better safe than sorry.

P-Lay · 03-10-2010, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortyjacobs

I did the exact same thing this past weekend with 11.75 gal wort.

I got down to 80F in about 7 minutes...I was operating the stirrer VERY slowly for this bit, as I didn't want to aerate. The surface was barely disturbed at this point, but the temp still dropped like a stone. My previous record for a double batch was around 15 minutes unstirred.

After I got below 80F, I hit "high gear" on my cordless. I have never been more impressed by anything in my life. Gods own whirlpool in my keggle. I had the stirrer sitting about 1/2" from the bottom, and the vortex reached DOWN TO IT. I could SEE it. I had a 21" deep vortex! (I was doing this to aerate as well...I can't make a frickin oxygen stone work to save my life)....It was friggin incredible.

Edit: They are also the best mash stirrers in the world.

Sounds really cool. Any chance we could get some pics?

**fastricky** · 03-10-2010, 01:28 AM

Wow, outstanding! Looking to order that puppy now...

shortyjacobs · 03-10-2010, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-Lay

Sounds really cool. Any chance we could get some pics?

I was drunk and alone, and it took two hands to attempt to control the drill. SWMBO will be enlisted this weekend for photographic duties though, although it will only be around 6 gal....

Oh, and the entire inside of the keggle had around 3/4" of foam on the walls and bottom after wort was drained...