50' 1/2" SS Immersion Chiller $40 - would you do it?

[IslandLizard]

For me whirlpooling has done a good job, knocking on wood. I usually get clear wort going into the fermentor. Thanks for the thoughts, appreciate them.

Are you using a 25' copper IC currently?

part of the thought was in case I decide to go bigger....but in truth, that's not going to happen,

Same here, I've only gone to smaller batches, haven't brewed a 10 gallon batch in years.

The past 2-3 years I've often been splitting 6 gallon batches into two 3-gallon ones. Either after the mash, or after the boil, using different whirlpool hops at reduced temps (Pales, IPAs, NEIPAS).

Now, that 7.5% ABV cereal mashed Wheat beer was a 5 gallon batch. Due to the time and effort involved I wanted a decent beer pay-off. It still kicked rather quickly, but there were a couple late-Summer club events.

 

[user 246304]

Are you using a 25' copper IC currently?


Same here, I've only gone to smaller batches, haven't brewed a 10 gallon batch in years.

The past 2-3 years I've often been splitting 6 gallon batches into two 3-gallon ones. Either after the mash, or after the boil, using different whirlpool hops at reduced temps (Pales, IPAs, NEIPAS).

Now, that 7.5% ABV cereal mashed Wheat beer was a 5 gallon batch. Due to the time and effort involved I wanted a decent beer pay-off. It still kicked rather quickly, but there were a couple late-Summer club events.

Yep, just the store's 25'. It's OK, but to be truthful the little rubber faucet adaptor is a PITA. I'd rather have hose fittings but hey, it's free.

Yeah, to be honest, I'd probably brew in 2 gallon brewlengths, if that was probably too little for this system. As it is I'm finding even a 5 gallon batch with a pretty shallow mash volume.

 

[IslandLizard]

Yep, just the store's 25'. It's OK, but to be truthful the little rubber faucet adaptor is a PITA. I'd rather have hose fittings but hey, it's free.

One of those rubber connectors that slides over the aerator?
They're quite sound actually, as long as they stay put.
If there's a "kink in the hose" they may pop off due to pressure build-up.

But yeah, a secure screwed-on fitting would be preferable.

As it is I'm finding even a 5 gallon batch with a pretty shallow mash volume.

On a system designed for 10-15 gallon batches? Yup!

I'd probably brew in 2 gallon brewlengths [...]

I wouldn't roll "the big rig" out for those.
Induction burner and a properly sized kettle is all you'd need.

Most of brew time is spent on waiting for the mash to finish, followed by an hour boil time. With some planning, splitting larger batches, finishing each to your liking, becomes very lucrative.

 

[mac_1103]

becomes very lucrative

Sadly, I have yet to succeed in turning my beer into lucre.

 

[balrog]

I have to second @IslandLizard .
Tapwater through chiller for 2-3 buckets saved for cleaning then switch to cooler filled with ice recirculated with pond pump through chiller and my 5 gallons can be to 60F in 17 minutes.

The main help is to CONSTANTLY agitate the cooler coil in the wort.

CONSTANTLY.

 

[user 246304]

One of those rubber connectors that slides over the aerator?
They're quite sound actually, as long as they stay put.
If there's a "kink in the hose" they may pop off due to pressure build-up.

But yeah, a secure screwed-on fitting would be preferable.


On a system designed for 10-15 gallon batches? Yup!


I wouldn't roll "the big rig" out for those.
Induction burner and a properly sized kettle is all you'd need.

Most of brew time is spent on waiting for the mash to finish, followed by an hour boil time. With some planning, splitting larger batches, finishing each to your liking, becomes very lucrative.

Yeah - the popping off thing can be a bit irksome, but dealable. Just a very first-world gripe.

I guess the Igloo can handle a lot more than I thought, lol. I had wondered about going smaller but didn't want to be limited in higher-gravity ranges. It works fine, just have to be careful as I hand-ladle sparge and additionally I'm used to cutting furrows in the grain bed occasionally.

 

[user 246304]

I have to second @IslandLizard .
Tapwater through chiller for 2-3 buckets saved for cleaning then switch to cooler filled with ice recirculated with pond pump through chiller and my 5 gallons can be to 60F in 17 minutes.

The main help is to CONSTANTLY agitate the cooler coil in the wort.

CONSTANTLY.

Among my regrets when I sold everything off was exactly that - the pond pump.

 

[IslandLizard]

[...] then switch to cooler filled with ice recirculated with pond pump through chiller

I found running the ice water slowly through the (plate) chiller in a single pass works better than recirculating it. Returning it to the reservoir will cause the chilling water to warm up, which is counterproductive, as colder water is needed to nibble off the last 10-20 degrees.

I monitor the temps on both the wort and chilling water outputs, and regulate the flow of each for an optimal balance.

Although I haven't measured the exact volume used, around 6 gallons of ice water (32F) chills 6 gallons of wort from 110F to 70F when its used in a single pass.

 

[passedpawn]

Among my regrets when I sold everything off was exactly that - the pond pump.

If I ever write a book, it'll be called Among My Regrets. Sums up all my quiet thoughts succinctly.

 

[user 246304]

If I ever write a book, it'll be called Among My Regrets. Sums up all my quiet thoughts succinctly.

Oh, man. Maybe we should all put together a book for the ages. We each get a chapter. "Brewers' Lament....".

 

[passedpawn]

I'd like to self-report myself for being off topic here. If there is any justice at all, all of my posts above will be deleted.

That out of the way, yea I think we should write a book. I have been a writer in the past (recreational). Each author gets 10 pages or less. Chat about brewing and life etc. We have some interesting people on this forum, I wonder where that would go.

I'll be I could get Charlie Papazian to write the forward (I have his number haha).

 

[user 246304]

I'd like to self-report myself for being off topic here. If there is any justice at all, all of my posts above will be deleted.

That out of the way, yea I think we should write a book. I have been a writer in the past (recreational). Each author gets 10 pages or less. Chat about brewing and life etc. We have some interesting people on this forum, I wonder where that would go.

I'll be I could get Charlie Papazian to write the forward (I have his number haha).

Hell man, I love the comments!

My laments wouldn't amount to much, I'm afraid. Not exactly a page-burning saga.

 

[Bassman2003]

I found running the ice water slowly through the (plate) chiller in a single pass works better than recirculating it. Returning it to the reservoir will cause the chilling water to warm up, which is counterproductive, as colder water is needed to nibble off the last 10-20 degrees.

I monitor the temps on both the wort and chilling water outputs, and regulate the flow of each for an optimal balance.

Although I haven't measured the exact volume used, around 6 gallons of ice water (32F) chills 6 gallons of wort from 110F to 70F when its used in a single pass.

It's the run down to 46F that is the killer!

 

[passedpawn]

Hell man, I love the comments!

My laments wouldn't amount to much, I'm afraid. Not exactly a page-burning saga.

Ever read hemmingway? It's the small details of everyday life that can be interesting.

 

[user 246304]

Ever read hemmingway? It's the small details of everyday life that can be interesting.

Yep. I was kidding, for the most part. We've all got stories to tell. Outside of his need to prove his masculinity, the man had the courage to strip away as much as possible to get at the thing itself. That's trust. For years I was a huge fan of John Fowles, read literally every word he wrote, including his journals starting in late adolescence. Can't for the life of me recall the exact line, but his writing about his reverence for the white on the page - the holes we fill in the reading. Afraid I don't have that gift. At least not without a very, very strict editor.

 

[mashdar]

If you have spare freezer space, I have a 20qt rubbermade that I keep frozen. Lots of wort chilling, and doubles as a refrigerator cooler during power outages.

 

[user 246304]

If you have spare freezer space, I have a 20qt rubbermade that I keep frozen. Lots of wort chilling, and doibles as a refeigerator cooler during power outages.

You mean you keep something like an IC pre-chiller frozen in the block of ice?

 

[mashdar]

You mean you keep something like an IC pre-chiller frozen in the block of ice?

No, I top it off with water and drop a submersible pump in, with IC in the kettle. I just keep the water frozen in a giant block.

I considered trying to freeze an IC in it but the ice might crush it (?), and I suspect it wouldn't work that well with no currents once the ice around it melts.

 

[mac_1103]

When I get down on the pages all I missed
It will shoot to the top of the best-sellers list

 

[day_trippr]

 

[mac_1103]

When I write the book (about my love beer).

edit - I didn't really expect too many people would get it

 

[day_trippr]

Maybe give the audience more time?

 

[mac_1103]

Maybe give the audience more time?

It's late. Didn't want to leave you tossing and turning over it all night.