No Chill and Top Up Water

[derekp83]

I plan on doing my next batch, which will be my first partial mash, with the no-chill technique for cooling the wort. I'm doing a 2.5 gallon batch, so I won't have much top up water to cool it down with (so no-chill will save me time). My question is: is there are any reason to be concerned by topping up my no-chill container since I'm not doing a full boil? Mash water and sparge water will be about 1.5 gallons, which will then be boiled with hops and extract, leaving about a gallon for top-up.

 

[RPh_Guy]

My question is: is there are any reason to be concerned by topping up my no-chill container since I'm not doing a full boil?

Concern about what?

 

[derekp83]

Concern about what?

Contamination mostly. I guess it would be no more of a risk than top up water normally.

 

[wilserbrewer]

There is some confusion regarding no chill imo.

Some do a near sterile hot pack container of wort that will last months prior to adding yeast and fermenting.

Some do a less strict no chill and pitch when cool.

The former requires very strict sanitation, the latter not nearly as much....

I no chill in my lidded kettle and pitch when cool.

This is not the original no chill method of hot packing in an hdpe container, but if pitching asap seems to work well.

 

[Bubbles2]

I do 5 gal, use my kitchen sink to cool with two blocks of ice prepared the night before. I use a flour sack towel soaked in Star San to cover Kettle while cooling. First quench for 10 minutes, agitating water then drain, refill sink add ice blocks. 2 liter soda bottles work great and refreeze well. Stir the water every 15 min to move warmer water from kettle area.
I am cool in 45 min about 80ºf with a couple gallons chilled in the Freezer while steeping and boiling, I am at 65-68º ish at Pitch.