$0 Wort Chiller

[Erroneous]

I just brewed my second batch (first is bottled and should be done by February) and I made a wort chiller that I hadn't really heard of, so I wanted to share it. Using a 2 compartment sink and a faucet to hose adapter I already had for a bottle washer, I connected a laundry hose I had laying around and put it alongside the brew pot on the right side of the sink. I plugged up the drain on the right side, put a lid on the pot, and ran cold water on low. From time to time I'd use a drill connected to a sanitized bar spoon to aerate and whirlpool the wort and it seemed to chill much faster than simply putting it in ice water. Unfortunately I didn't do it until after chilling the wort to under 100F, so I can't say how fast it really was, but it got down to 80 within about 10 minutes from there.

 

[BlackForestBrewery]

Cool stuff bro! Might be helpful for people who don't have a wort chiller. Thanks for sharing this tip with us. I know it can be a pain in the butt to cool wort down without a wort chiller.

 

[iron_city_ap]

For keeping it on the cheap, that's a great idea.

If you connected the hose to a 'regular' immersion chiller and ran the water into the 1/2 of the sink the kettle is in, I bet it would cool REALLY fast. I would just already have cold water in the sink since the water coming out of the chillers can get pretty hot.

 

[weirdboy]

This was how I chilled my wort before I got a proper wort chiller. My problem is that it wastes a TON of water to chill this way.

One thing that I did to supplement this was cool using just tap water until it got down to about 100F, and then dump in a bunch of ice into the chilling water half and stir like crazy. I would make extra ice in advance of my brewdays for the purpose. Also, here in LA the ground water can be around 80F in the summers so you really need some ice to get it down to proper pitching temps.

Nowadays I use a plate chiller and can get it down to pitching temps in one pass. Uses a lot less water, and I am able to collect that in a bucket and use it to water the lawn.

 

[smokewater]

I just brewed my second batch (first is bottled and should be done by February) and I made a wort chiller that I hadn't really heard of, so I wanted to share it. Using a 2 compartment sink and a faucet to hose adapter I already had for a bottle washer, I connected a laundry hose I had laying around and put it alongside the brew pot on the right side of the sink. I plugged up the drain on the right side, put a lid on the pot, and ran cold water on low. From time to time I'd use a drill connected to a sanitized bar spoon to aerate and whirlpool the wort and it seemed to chill much faster than simply putting it in ice water. Unfortunately I didn't do it until after chilling the wort to under 100F, so I can't say how fast it really was, but it got down to 80 within about 10 minutes from there.

I plan to do something very similar next brew. I have a square igloo cooler that my brew pot sits in with about 6 inches of room from the pot to each corner. I think If I stick the garden hose in one of the corners I can get a steady flow of cold water overflowing the cooler while it sits on my deck. I plan to do a full 5 gallon boil. If this works I won't need an immersion chiller.

 

[Horseshoot]

I might be wrong (as I am fairly new) but I thought one wasn't supposed to introduce air into the wort until it was about 80F or below. Seems like strirring with a drill would introduce air. Mike

 

[schmaltzy]

Great idea man!

If I may kind of piggy back on your topic....I have been looking for a wort chiller but don't want to make the $50 plunge. Search out some DIY wort chillers and you'll be suprised how easily you could make your own. For around $20 you can pick up some light copper tubing, plastic hoses, and hose clamps and make one heck of a wort chiller while saving yourself enough money to buy another kit!

Just one of many links.... http://three-colours.blogspot.com/2009/01/diy-immersion-wort-chiller.html

 

[h22lude]

I might be wrong (as I am fairly new) but I thought one wasn't supposed to introduce air into the wort until it was about 80F or below. Seems like strirring with a drill would introduce air. Mike

I don't think I have heard this before. Most of what I have read will tell you to stir the wort to lower the temp quicker for a better cold break.

 

[juslod]

I don't think I have heard this before. Most of what I have read will tell you to stir the wort to lower the temp quicker for a better cold break.

Stir, yes but beating it with a drill can aerate the wort and at hot temperatures it can cause hot-side oxidation. But, many people believe on such a small scale (ie, not a big brewery) that we don't need to worry about that too much. Still, I stir my wort while chilling very slowly to not cause any splashing, then I just aerate it once it is all chilled! That way I have nothing to worry about.

 

[Erroneous]

Stir, yes but beating it with a drill can aerate the wort and at hot temperatures it can cause hot-side oxidation. But, many people believe on such a small scale (ie, not a big brewery) that we don't need to worry about that too much. Still, I stir my wort while chilling very slowly to not cause any splashing, then I just aerate it once it is all chilled! That way I have nothing to worry about.

Thanks for the info. Part of the reason I posted was to see what might be wrong with the idea. I'm planning on getting an air stone and hepa filter before my next batch.

 

[juslod]

Thanks for the info. Part of the reason I posted was to see what might be wrong with the idea. I'm planning on getting an air stone and hepa filter before my next batch.

That sounds like a good idea. I'm not overly concerned with it as I have read many posts saying that it isn't feasible that we can introduce it into our small batches but I still stir slowly while the beer is chilling.

I usually just shake my carboys and use a sanitized spoon to stir the heck out of my ale pales when I want to add oxygen and have always had really nice fermentations! Always worked well for me