Righlander
Well-Known Member
This is probably a dumb question and I don't know the first thing about lagering but... Is it possible to lager a beer with a swamp chiller?
Lagering question...
- Thread starter Righlander
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Yes! It's not the easiest way, that's for sure, but it is possible. That's how I do it.
First, I use my Yooper Lagerator. It's an Igloo Ice Cube cooler. I removed the hollow plastic lid, and made a new lid out of three layers of styrofoam insulation. There's a hole for the airlock to poke through. Secondly, it's nice to have a basement or somewhere that is already pretty cold. My basement is right around 49 degrees, so I do the primary fermentation there. If I need a diacetyl rest (and I usually don't, since I pitch a huge starter cold) then I bring the fermenter to the upstairs where it's around 62. After the d-rest, I rack to secondary and put it back in the basement in the swamp cooler. I add the water, and cover it up. After a day or two, I add one frozen water bottle. The next day, I add another, etc. until I've gone down about 5 degrees per day until I'm at 34 degrees. I then change out the water bottles every couple of days, and keep it at 34 degrees for 8-12 weeks.
There are pictures of this set up in my gallery. I'll look for them and post them.
First, I use my Yooper Lagerator. It's an Igloo Ice Cube cooler. I removed the hollow plastic lid, and made a new lid out of three layers of styrofoam insulation. There's a hole for the airlock to poke through. Secondly, it's nice to have a basement or somewhere that is already pretty cold. My basement is right around 49 degrees, so I do the primary fermentation there. If I need a diacetyl rest (and I usually don't, since I pitch a huge starter cold) then I bring the fermenter to the upstairs where it's around 62. After the d-rest, I rack to secondary and put it back in the basement in the swamp cooler. I add the water, and cover it up. After a day or two, I add one frozen water bottle. The next day, I add another, etc. until I've gone down about 5 degrees per day until I'm at 34 degrees. I then change out the water bottles every couple of days, and keep it at 34 degrees for 8-12 weeks.
There are pictures of this set up in my gallery. I'll look for them and post them.
A picture:
Cpt_Kirks
Well-Known Member
A picture:
It works.
I copied Yoop's design and have used it several times. One frozen 2 liter bottle will hold it at about 48*, two bottles will hold it at about 40*.
OP
OP
Righlander
Well-Known Member
Very ingenious. I'm going to have to make something similar to this. Thanks! 
