My first Q! Ice as top off water...

[CircusHooker]

So I just took delivery of my kit and I have tomorrow evening blocked off to do my first extract kit.

I've read so much information that I feel pretty good about diving in. However, I've read that the top off water should be sanitized but in my instructions it says that I can use Ice as top off water to help bring the wort temp down quicker.

Is ice really okay to use?

Thanks!

Kate

 

[HerbieHowells]

In theory, you are risking contamination, because you don't know what has made it in the bag of ice.

In practice, lots of people do this without a problem.

I will sometimes boil water and then put it in a sanitized plastic container overnight in the freezer, and use that to cool the wort. Usually if I do that, it only takes one bag of ice in an ice bath to get it down to pitching temperature.

 

[CircusHooker]

In theory, you are risking contamination, because you don't know what has made it in the bag of ice.

In practice, lots of people do this without a problem.

I will sometimes boil water and then put it in a sanitized plastic container overnight in the freezer, and use that to cool the wort. Usually if I do that, it only takes one bag of ice in an ice bath to get it down to pitching temperature.

Ooh...I like your idea. I really want to play it safe my first time around but I also think this may be one of the more efficient ways I can cool my wort.

 

[SIXFOOTER]

Ice is the only method I have ever used, 50 odd batches and no problems. I turn off the fire and dump in about 8 to 10 lbs of ice. Temp comes down and water level comes up inside of 5 minutes, transfer to carboy, toss in the yeast and get it under an airlock.

 

[Balue]

I freeze my top off water and do a whirlpool when adding it. Gets down to temp quick

 

[SmoothSmoke]

You can add ice into the wort as top off? I thought you weren't suppose to do that. Not sure where I read that though.

 

[mewithstewpid]

You can add ice into the wort as top off? I thought you weren't suppose to do that. Not sure where I read that though.

i do it all the time.
i add 16# of ice to the fermenting bucket and pour my 3.5gal of wort right in.

 

[amh61]

I've done this for my first three batches and will continue to do so. Gets the temperature down nice and quick.

 

[pedimac]

I only currently have space to do two gallon batches. I freeze my 3 gallons of top off water (jugs from the store) when I start my brew process, dump in the icy goodness into my hot wort, temp is in 70s within minutes. Then I pitch the yeast and drink beer a few weeks later.

 

[SmoothSmoke]

I may not use ice on my next one, but will use almost frozen store bought water.

 

[jmprdood]

For what it's worth, this is a very common question. I've been using ice to cool my wort for 20+ years and never had a problem...

Cheers!

 

[shattstar03]

How do you know how much water you're putting in when your tossing in a bag of ice? Wouldn't you been afraid to dilute your beer if there was too much water?

 

[jmprdood]

I use ice frozen in 1L sanitized containers, add a couple and good to go....