Made my 7th batch today, 5th all grain, Ed's oktoberfest ale. For the first time I felt like I knew what I was doing. I didn't have to refer to my computer or books and could just brew. I got a great rolling boil for the first time and my best efficiency yet (83! normally around 65-70).
Then its time to cool it. I have an IC that I made myself, and I combine that with an ice bath in my sink. I use cold water until the IC gets the wort down to 100 or so, then use the ice, since the IC usually slows down significantly at that point. Also, buying 7 bags of ice at almost $2 a pop really increases the cost of each brew. I live in a city apartment, and since I've got the ice bath in my sink, I dont really have anywhere for the water to exit. Usually I fill pots, switch and run to the bathroom, a total mess. But not today! I got a 25 foot tube to run all the way to the bath tub, no more mess!
That is of course, until the tube explodes, showering me and my apartment with hot water. Totally took my IC out of commission. There was no way I was getting it down to 70 with what I had, so I had to run to the store and get more ice.
The tubing running to my tub was a slightly smaller diameter than what I normally use and what was on the other connections (faucet to pre-chill, pre-chill to chill), so maybe more water was going through than it could handle. Maybe it was the temperature of the water after it runs through the wort, but I thought these tubes are supposed to withstand that.
I was so close to a relatively flawless brew day! Maybe next time......
Then its time to cool it. I have an IC that I made myself, and I combine that with an ice bath in my sink. I use cold water until the IC gets the wort down to 100 or so, then use the ice, since the IC usually slows down significantly at that point. Also, buying 7 bags of ice at almost $2 a pop really increases the cost of each brew. I live in a city apartment, and since I've got the ice bath in my sink, I dont really have anywhere for the water to exit. Usually I fill pots, switch and run to the bathroom, a total mess. But not today! I got a 25 foot tube to run all the way to the bath tub, no more mess!
That is of course, until the tube explodes, showering me and my apartment with hot water. Totally took my IC out of commission. There was no way I was getting it down to 70 with what I had, so I had to run to the store and get more ice.
The tubing running to my tub was a slightly smaller diameter than what I normally use and what was on the other connections (faucet to pre-chill, pre-chill to chill), so maybe more water was going through than it could handle. Maybe it was the temperature of the water after it runs through the wort, but I thought these tubes are supposed to withstand that.
I was so close to a relatively flawless brew day! Maybe next time......