LordHedgie
Well-Known Member
I got a really nice plate chiller about a year ago, and I've fallen in love with it. I really couldn't imagine brewing all-grain without it. The only problem is I haven't been able to come up with a really good system for putting the wort in it, so I'm open to advice.
When I got the chiller, I took an old Ale Pail, poured the hot wort into it, and used the Pail to gravity-drain the wort through the chiller. The spigot that came with the Ale Pail stank, so I replaced it, and it worked for the better part of a year. Now the Pail and spigot are becoming a sanitation headache with lots of scratches, so I'm looking for a better replacement. To press the issue, the spigot started leaking this last batch, so I need a replacement now...
I've been considering drilling a hole in the side of the brew kettle and installing a kettle valve on it, then draining directly from the kettle to the chiller. I've also been thinking about getting a pump, although I'm not 100% sure how that system would look. You can't pump hot wort directly; would I prime the lines and chiller with cool water, then place the pump behind the chiller? Are there any better solutions I'm not thinking of? How do you move wort through a plate chiller?
When I got the chiller, I took an old Ale Pail, poured the hot wort into it, and used the Pail to gravity-drain the wort through the chiller. The spigot that came with the Ale Pail stank, so I replaced it, and it worked for the better part of a year. Now the Pail and spigot are becoming a sanitation headache with lots of scratches, so I'm looking for a better replacement. To press the issue, the spigot started leaking this last batch, so I need a replacement now...
I've been considering drilling a hole in the side of the brew kettle and installing a kettle valve on it, then draining directly from the kettle to the chiller. I've also been thinking about getting a pump, although I'm not 100% sure how that system would look. You can't pump hot wort directly; would I prime the lines and chiller with cool water, then place the pump behind the chiller? Are there any better solutions I'm not thinking of? How do you move wort through a plate chiller?