popsicleian
Well-Known Member
I have completed two no-chill brew sessions now, and while the results are TBD, I'm very much sold on the process. I have a 14 month old, so the more I can break up the brew day the better--it's really hard for me to block off several hours at a time for more conventional brewing methods. I use no-sparge BIAB for the same reason. I also don't brew very hoppy beers since my wife doesn't like them, so I am finding it easy to adjust my hop schedule to accommodate the no-chill process. I used an immersion chiller for my first 8 brews, and I can always go back to it if I decide I want to make a hop bomb, but it was a pain in the ass for many reasons (mostly because I don't have the connections and had to use a sump pump, but also because of the ridiculous amount of water I was using).
I have been using this container from Amazon since I didn't want to pay the US Plastics shipping: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064O8OYK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I don't have anything to compare it to, but it seems fine so far. My only complaint is that it's a little difficult to tighten the lid enough to get a good seal, and it's sometimes hard to unscrew it as well.
My first no-chill batch was a very simple saison--100% pils malt with 3724/3711 and Styrian Goldings/Hallertau. I didn't end up having time to do a 90 minute boil, so I shortened it to 60 mins and cranked up my burner to get a VERY vigorous boil (and ended up melting the gaskets in my ball valve, but that's another story...). I didn't detect any DMS in the sample I took while bottling, but time will tell. Did FWH and another addition in the cube. Pitched my yeast about 24 hours after the wort went into the cube.
I brewed my second no-chill batch last Thursday--a dampfbier. It was about 70% pils malt, and I was able to do a 90 minute boil, but the boil wasn't as vigorous since I had to brew inside due to rain (I actually had less boil-off than the previous 60 min boil batch). This recipe just had one 60 min bittering addition, which I moved to 40. We were leaving town for the weekend the following morning and the cube was still pretty warm, so I decided to keep it in the cube for a few days, and finally pitched my yeast last night. It made me a little nervous to leave it in there for longer, but the cube seemed to maintain a very good seal/vacuum.
The saison still needs to bottle condition for another week or two, but assuming the results are good this will definitely be my primary method from now on.
I have been using this container from Amazon since I didn't want to pay the US Plastics shipping: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064O8OYK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I don't have anything to compare it to, but it seems fine so far. My only complaint is that it's a little difficult to tighten the lid enough to get a good seal, and it's sometimes hard to unscrew it as well.
My first no-chill batch was a very simple saison--100% pils malt with 3724/3711 and Styrian Goldings/Hallertau. I didn't end up having time to do a 90 minute boil, so I shortened it to 60 mins and cranked up my burner to get a VERY vigorous boil (and ended up melting the gaskets in my ball valve, but that's another story...). I didn't detect any DMS in the sample I took while bottling, but time will tell. Did FWH and another addition in the cube. Pitched my yeast about 24 hours after the wort went into the cube.
I brewed my second no-chill batch last Thursday--a dampfbier. It was about 70% pils malt, and I was able to do a 90 minute boil, but the boil wasn't as vigorous since I had to brew inside due to rain (I actually had less boil-off than the previous 60 min boil batch). This recipe just had one 60 min bittering addition, which I moved to 40. We were leaving town for the weekend the following morning and the cube was still pretty warm, so I decided to keep it in the cube for a few days, and finally pitched my yeast last night. It made me a little nervous to leave it in there for longer, but the cube seemed to maintain a very good seal/vacuum.
The saison still needs to bottle condition for another week or two, but assuming the results are good this will definitely be my primary method from now on.
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