Ice Packs - Alternative to frozen milk jugs?

[MrBJones]

I'm into my second batch using a Cool Brewing cooler and like it quite a bit. An issue that I'm running into with it is that milk jugs tend to spring leaks after repeated freezing and thawing. With my first batch I thought the water that collected at the bottom of the cooler was condensation etc...but I realize now - after a couple full gallon leaks - that small pin holes develop in the seams of the jugs. In terms of cost it's not a big deal at all. But as an empty nester with no kids at home, we don't go through milk very quickly...so it's takes time to have new jugs.

Does anyone know of alternatives to frozen milk jugs? I'm thinking some sort of large, store bought ice packs, but am open to anything that will work.

Thanks

 

[BargainFittings]

Detergent bottles are thicker and would hold up to more freezes.

 

[IslandLizard]

I use frozen 16-20 oz water bottles for my (water filled) fermentation cooler. 2-6 per day is plenty.
Don't fill em up all the way, leave some headspace (about 3/4 oz) for expansion, cap and squeeze the air out. Then freeze.

Like you, I've had many milk jugs develop pinhole leaks too, usually on one of the bottom corner seams, even without freezing. Not using them anymore for storage of liquids.

 

[jmos]

I also had bad luck with milk jugs. My go-to's were 64oz Juicy Juice bottles; but they use the same bottles with most types of juice in that size. They held up very well.

 

[helibrewer]

I think my next move will be glycol chiller, either DIY or purchased and use them with the Cool Brewing jackets

 

[Pratzie]

2 liter bottles of soda. or even the 16-20oz's as mentioned above should hold up just fine.

 

[Jonakr]

I had the same leak problems with 1 gallon jugs of water. Since I make ciders too, I switched to the 1 gallon TreeTop apple juice jugs from Costco.

They have the added benefit of being rectangular, so they fit better in the freezer than the round ones.

 

[ame]

I use PET bottles (for fruit juice). They hold 2 litres and have a square cross-section. I leave about 10cm free at the top for ice expansion.

I have also used "picnic cooler" gel packs, but they don't have as much thermal mass. I used them because they happened to be in the freezer at the time.

I started a new brew last weekend, but it's still a little hot here, so I have to change the bottles more often than I'd like.

 

[MyQuL]

I use 2L pop/fizzy water bottles and like others leave some head space to allow for the expansion of the ice

 

[TonyKZ1]

yeah, as others have already said. I use 20oz, 1L, 2L & 3L frozen soda/water bottles, depends on the ambient temperature and size of batch, in a cool brewing cooler. Then I change them out every morning. Looking forward to fall so I don't have to use the ice bottles & cooler.

 

[Brownalemikie]

I've been using the same milk jugs for 16 batches now with no leaks. I think the trick is when filling them with water, only fill about 2/3 full and THEN squeeze the jug a little before putting on the cap. By squeezing, the jug won't expand enough to split open. JMO

 

[JohnSand]

I use ice packs. They fit in smaller spaces in the freezer, and allow me to choose one, two, or three for cooling or maintaining temp.