DIY Coolship plans? Has anyone built a coolship?

[bgramer]

I would like to jump into spontaneous fermentation and brewing traditional lambics using a coolship.

This has led me to thinking about how a coolship can be built. It must be shallow and have a wide surface area to accommodate the scale I want to brew at (10 gallons+) so I can either fill two carboys and or an used 8 gallon barrel.

I looked at chafer food pans online but it only holds up to 8 quarts so scratch that. A video on BrewingTV shows a guy using a converted fish gutting station but they aren't easy to come by.

Has anyone found anything that could be converted into a coolship? Would love to see what this community has come up with. My hope is to find something simpler than going to a metalworking shop to give them specs for dimensions to build one out.

Thanks!

 

[WI_Wino]

Here's a thread from last year that I thought was interesting.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=484727

It's plastic so I think you'll have to do some cooling before you move the wort to the container.

 

[WI_Wino]

Maybe a couple of these would work

http://www.acemart.com/standard-sta...ainless-steamtable-pan-vol20069/prod3841.html

 

[botigol]

How much volume do you need? My thought would be to have a wide basin to collect the ambient bacteria and yeast, then once it gets going, pitch that vessel into the larger container of wort. No practical experience here, just a thought.

 

[bgramer]

Maybe a couple of these would work

http://www.acemart.com/standard-sta...ainless-steamtable-pan-vol20069/prod3841.html

That looks like it could work because being contained into a smaller container could prevent it from cooling too fast. I do like having an opening where I could drain the wort into another vessel for long term fermentation.

I just came across these maple syrup evaporator pans. A bit pricey but it's already ready to go, complete with 1/2" fittings to attach a ball valve to. The only thing I'd want to do is build some kind of stand to put this on top of.

http://stainlesssteelcreations.net/24in24in7inf.html
This particular model holds 17 gallons. Can be used to fill 2 carboys if I brew 10 gallons, or 16 gallons if I want to fill up 2 small oak barrels that have already been innoculated with bugs from dregs.

I have a little brewing alcove in my garage, was thinking of posting boards to a wall and the ceiling where I'd leave the coolship, and prep the wood by spraying with fermented starters and dregs over time, this way whenever I put hot wort in the coolship, the steam releases the flora from the wood into the environment.

 

[Gus_13]

That looks like it could work because being contained into a smaller container could prevent it from cooling too fast. I do like having an opening where I could drain the wort into another vessel for long term fermentation.

I just came across these maple syrup evaporator pans. A bit pricey but it's already ready to go, complete with 1/2" fittings to attach a ball valve to. The only thing I'd want to do is build some kind of stand to put this on top of.

http://stainlesssteelcreations.net/24in24in7inf.html
This particular model holds 17 gallons. Can be used to fill 2 carboys if I brew 10 gallons, or 16 gallons if I want to fill up 2 small oak barrels that have already been innoculated with bugs from dregs.

I have a little brewing alcove in my garage, was thinking of posting boards to a wall and the ceiling where I'd leave the coolship, and prep the wood by spraying with fermented starters and dregs over time, this way whenever I put hot wort in the coolship, the steam releases the flora from the wood into the environment.

Holy crap this is awesome. That would make an awesome koelschip.

 

[foltster]

If you have a spare sanke keg, lay it sideways and cut out the "top" of the side like the BBQ guys do.

Can probably squeeze in 6-7 gallons that way. Not quite the volume you are after but seems DIYable.

 

[Coff]

Maybe a couple of these would work

http://www.acemart.com/standard-sta...ainless-steamtable-pan-vol20069/prod3841.html

I use one of those hotel pans, has worked very well for me but this volume cools a little too quickly. I might actually insulate mine for slower cooling and longer exposure.

http://www.alesoftheriverwards.com/2015/04/barclay-farmstead-spontaneous.html