No wort chiller, can I still brew all grain?

[thisgoestoeleven]

I'm converting my bottling bucket into a mash tun with a large grain bag and reflective foil insulation. I have a pot big enough to do a full boil in, but my problem is chilling the wort. I don't have the time or money to make a wort chiller. Are there any workarounds that would help me go all grain without making a wort chiller?

 

[bad67z]

It is a possibility, try reading up on "no chill brewing".

 

[jrobidoux]

I assume you are familiar with the good old ice bath?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Sure it can be done....water bath followed by ice bath in a large tub or sink. I have also done no chill right in the kettle and pitched yeast the following day.

 

[rhamilton]

I've done two no-chill overnight coolings in the BK -- not from a lack of chiller -- just got too busy. No noticeable issues so far. Just take the kettle off the burner at flame out and put it somewhere safe with the top on.

 

[stratslinger]

Absolutely - I chilled full boils in my utility sink for quite a while before I got my immersion chiller (and keggles!). What seemed to work best for me was this:

- Place kettle in sink, fill sink with cold water just above the level of the wort
- If you can, gently stir the wort in one direction, the water in the sink in the opposite direction, for a few minutes
- Drain the sink, refill with cold water, and repeat the stirring motion
- Drain the sink, refill with cold water and ice, repeat stirring motion

This usually got me down to pitching temps in about 20-ish minutes.

 

[H-ost]

Not getting a chiller is the reason I could afford to move to all-grain + 10 gallon batches!

 

[BrewinHooligan]

I have yet to buy a chiller and find the water/ice bath method works just fine on my AG batches.

 

[seanybubbles]

Yes I think it can be done. At the same time a wort chiller to me is in the top 3 pieces of equipment to improve your beer. I found the ice bath method to be a pain in the aXX!

 

[duboman]

In the quest to make better beer you are going AG. Getting a good quick chill is yet another step in the right direction. An IC or CFC helps getting a good quick cold break, takes time off your brew day and helps prevent chill haze in your beer. It also minimizes the risk of infection my minimizing the time the cooled wort is exposed to elements.

While cost is always an issue I was able to build my first IC for $25 and went from 45 minutes with an ice bath to 20, I then built my current CFC for $50 and further reduced my chill time to 10 minutes from boiling to 60f

In the whole realm of expense in equipment for AG brewing I consider my CFC to be some of the best money spent in terms of both time and quality of product.

 

[PistolsAtDawn]

While cost is always an issue I was able to build my first IC for $25 and went from 45 minutes with an ice bath to 20, I then built my current CFC for $50 and further reduced my chill time to 10 minutes from boiling to 60f

In the whole realm of expense in equipment for AG brewing I consider my CFC to be some of the best money spent in terms of both time and quality of product.

I agree that it can be done without a chiller, but I would more strongly agree that you should invest in some sort of chiller as soon as you can. It does make a big difference in the process time requirements and the quality of the beer. If you've gone AG, then I'm sure that's what you're after.

duboman, can I ask your opinion on the CFC in terms of your hop flavor and aroma? Do you get less than you did with your IC? Jamil said people often find their flavor and aroma decreases when they go from an IC to either a plate chiller or CFC.

 

[duboman]

I agree that it can be done without a chiller, but I would more strongly agree that you should invest in some sort of chiller as soon as you can. It does make a big difference in the process time requirements and the quality of the beer. If you've gone AG, then I'm sure that's what you're after.

duboman, can I ask your opinion on the CFC in terms of your hop flavor and aroma? Do you get less than you did with your IC? Jamil said people often find their flavor and aroma decreases when they go from an IC to either a plate chiller or CFC.

I've read and heard the same thing but I have not experienced this with my CFC. I do try to only use whole leaf hops for my flavor/aroma additions so I am not sure if that has any effect.

 

[ak-71]

25ft of copper tubing and clamps are ~1/4 of a cost of built chiller in nearest store here...

 

[thisgoestoeleven]

I'm a graduate student (read: indentured servant), and I live in a small apartment. Both money and space are at a premium at the moment.

 

[ak-71]

OK, sorry, been there done that

 

[duboman]

I'm a graduate student (read: indentured servant), and I live in a small apartment. Both money and space are at a premium at the moment.

Been there, done that as well......good luck with the studies!

 

[cyclogenesis]

Another been there and done that! But ditto the above and keep an eye on craig's list and ask around at your local brew club.. I scored a counterflow when some one was stepping up to a plate chiller..