Chilling and cold break

[sictransit701]

I'm an extract brewer moving towards all grain. I have a question about chilling techniques. I have been doing 2.5 gallon boils and ice bath for chilling. I have been looking at immersion chillers and plate chillers. The immersion chiller idea scares me because of the open cooling and exposure to the environment. The plate chillers seem great. Seems like you would have less chance of infection or wild yeast with a plate chiller. But, I have a question about the cold break. I guess the cold break gets into the fermenter with a plate chiller if you have it connected from the boil pot to the plate chiller to the fermenter? I thought you didn't want the cold break in the fermenter.

 

[Homercidal]

First, there is no reason you couldn't cover the pot during the chill, especially at 140 and less.

Secondly, it's not a problem anyway, so...

Thirdly, cold break isn't a big deal at all either. Some people try to keep as much stuff from the fermenter as possible, but I've seen several tests which show that adding everything isn't detrimental to the average batch of beer (there may be issues for extended primaries, or for beers with a lot of hop debris...)

In fact, a Brulosopher ExBeeriment seemed to indicate that more people preferred the beer which was fermented with all the trub.

I would recommend choosing a chiller based on your system and your preference for the process. An IC is great because it doesn't get clogged up and can be cleaned a LOT easier than a CFC or Plate Chiller. If you buy or build a dual stage IC it can chill just about as fast as the others.

A CFC is nice because it's less likely to get clogged then a PC and is more efficient than an IC (generally) and you can *probably* chill with gravity.

A PC is really efficient, usually more expensive, and can clog if you aren't careful about hops and other things getting sucked into it. And cleaning can be a chore.

I'm actually thinking about going to an IC from my CFC.

 

[GreenGoatee]

I like using an immersion chiller while the kettle sits in an ice bath. The combination chills quite effectively.

 

[Psylocide]

I do no chill and transfer it all to the fermenter... it makes good beer.

I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[mswebb]

Any chill option you are comfortable with is fine. I prefer a plate chiller and it's not hard to keep from clogging or get it clean (with the right cleaners and a pump).

Keep in mind, commercial breweries use plate chillers. If you are emulating their beers or styles, use a plate chiller.