Wort chiller...is it worth the expense?

[Brewcrew86]

I just bought one and used it for the first time this weekend. I looked into making and buying one. I ended up buying one because the materials were just as pricey and then the headache of the labor. It was a lifesaver, timesaver, and I cannot imagine brewing without one ever again.

I have a gift card to northern brewer. I got the 69.99 one and it works fine. I read a lot of wort chillers leak and squirt water everywhere. I just tightened the connectors before I used it.

 

[brewmax25]

100% worth it. I cant believe I brewed without one!!

I found someone selling one on HBT for.a good deal.

 

[swackattack]

As a veteran ice bather.....YES

 

[CPFITNESS]

Um... I WAS considering getting a wort chiller, but based on the reports in this thread and others, Im chilling my partial boil (2.75gals) under 80* in approx 15mins in an ice bath in my sink (the trick is adding SALT!!!) and topping off another 2 gals of 58* water brings me to about 68* so unless a wort chiller is gonna get me there in like 5 mins, its seriously not worth the $50 I could use for other supplies, just my opinion

you will never cool 5 gallons that fast. I would agree with your statement, for smaller boils, not necessary but it's a lifesaver for 5 gallon batches. I actually timed mine yesterday a shade over 11 minutes to get down to 70*. Mine is 50'of tubing, homemade. I probably should have wrapped the coils wider but i didn't have anything cylindrical to mold it around.

 

[CPFITNESS]

I just bought one and used it for the first time this weekend. I looked into making and buying one. I ended up buying one because the materials were just as pricey and then the headache of the labor. It was a lifesaver, timesaver, and I cannot imagine brewing without one ever again.

I have a gift card to northern brewer. I got the 69.99 one and it works fine. I read a lot of wort chillers leak and squirt water everywhere. I just tightened the connectors before I used it.

to minimize any potential leaks, I bought a 10' long laundry connection hose and cut it in half. That way i only had to clamp the on the chiller, I didn't have to also deal with a potential leak at the faucet from a clamped on connector there. works great, no leaks.

 

[natefrog255]

Just tried to make one tonight. I haven't decided on what kind of adapter I want yet but I think it will turn out okay. My only issue is its too big for my 3 gallon pot I currently use. It should be fine whenever I step up to a larger pot. I ended up getting 50' of copper coil, wanted to go big right away, but it was alot of coil to deal with.

The good is I could have a 50' coil wort chiller for less then the 25' coil ones sold in the catalogs.

 

[lumpher]

you couldn't get me to brew without a chiller. i got a 50' 1/2" chiller off craigslist for $20 early on. best brewing investment i ever made

 

[techbiker]

I just stick the kettle in the right side of the sink and run cool water around it and down the drain of the other half of the sink. This can cool 5 gallons of wort down to around room temperatures in about half an hour without much fuss. The key is to keep the cooling water from warming up so continual replenishment is key. I would purchase a wort chiller, however I don't have access to a garden spigot.

 

[scottedk]

I bought one right before my second batch and am really glad I did.

 

[Beardedterror]

It's the best investment I've made in equipment (except maybe my auto-siphon).

 

[natefrog255]

I kind of wish I would did a smaller one to start. I got 50' coil and it as overwhelming to coil and came wider than I wanted. I kinked one area, but won't be an issue once I get a cutter. My biggest issue will be a spigot. I will need a faucet adapter for a bathroom, will have to use washer hook-up but would drain in washer, or outside garden which isn't an option in the winter.

The good is I am going to end up with about a 50' wort chiller for $65 about half off a catalog for that size.

 

[AdamPag]

If im not at pitching temps in 20 mins im starting to sweat honestly. without a wort chiller there are plenty of other ways to chill your wort. Freezing bottles and sanitizing and tossing them in the wort is very common. The main problem with ice bathing is that you arent cooling the wort your cooling the pot. If you can bring the external temp down below freezing (salt) you can do well, but you need to whirlpool the wort to exchange heat. Lately, my gf is able to get large amounts of dry ice because she works at a hospital and I can chill down worts even faster, im even playing with the idea of tossing dry ice IN the wort to chill it. Dry ice should be mostly sterile and doesnt contain water or O2 so it might work

 

[swackattack]

If im not at pitching temps in 20 mins im starting to sweat honestly. without a wort chiller there are plenty of other ways to chill your wort. Freezing bottles and sanitizing and tossing them in the wort is very common. The main problem with ice bathing is that you arent cooling the wort your cooling the pot. If you can bring the external temp down below freezing (salt) you can do well, but you need to whirlpool the wort to exchange heat. Lately, my gf is able to get large amounts of dry ice because she works at a hospital and I can chill down worts even faster, im even playing with the idea of tossing dry ice IN the wort to chill it. Dry ice should be mostly sterile and doesnt contain water or O2 so it might work[/QUI

 

[homebrewertodd]

I use an ice bath with a five gallon boil. I put water and ice in the sink with the wort, keep adding ice as it melts, and circulate the water. Also, I stir every few minutes. Get my temps down in about half an hour and I'm good with that time frame.

 

[davis119]

, im even playing with the idea of tossing dry ice IN the wort to chill it. Dry ice should be mostly sterile and doesnt contain water or O2 so it might work

Idk about this. I would just play with it. A bit of water and a bit of dry ice. In a bottle shake, cap, throw. Boom. Its fun

 

[AdamPag]

totally fun, I havent done it yet, Im concerned the super cold temperature could seriously alter the wort

 

[natefrog255]

I really hope I can find a faucet adapter to fit my garden hose setting otherwise I may be f'd on this. Spraying kitchen faucets are the devil for homebrewers...

 

[Ramitt]

I love my IC, as a 5 gallon AG brewer it is the best purchase I have made. Getting fancy with dry ice, lots of ice and water ever else only saves money short term and adds a truckload of work. A DIY IC can be done for less than the cost of an average AG brew, once you have the funds do it.

 

[vlucchetti]

Best investment I made.

 

[redsoxfan1974]

If your brewing 2.5 gallon batches you could do as I do. I freeze two 1 gallon jugs of spring water (unopened) and cut them open. Them just pour your hot wort on top of the ice. It will bring the temp down to 80 very quickly. I've never had a problem with clarity using this method. If your doing full boils then the wort chiller is ideal.

 

[IanPC]

Without ice I took a brew down to 90 deg in 17 mins. Tap water is still about 39-40.

 

[CPFITNESS]

I just stick the kettle in the right side of the sink and run cool water around it and down the drain of the other half of the sink. This can cool 5 gallons of wort down to around room temperatures in about half an hour without much fuss. The key is to keep the cooling water from warming up so continual replenishment is key. I would purchase a wort chiller, however I don't have access to a garden spigot.

you realize you don't need a garden spigot right? the bottom piece of your normal faucet screws off and you buy a $2 adapter that goes in its place that has the appropriate threads on the outside of it.

 

[Bones99839]

I made a Ribcage Chiller and it is one of the best things I ever did for my brewing. It really cools the wort fast. Go to You Tube and search user immolateus, he has a vid called "how to make a wort chiller" that is nifty. Its the vid i used to make mine.

 

[natefrog255]

The garden spigot leaks a little but into the sink, otherwise mine seems to work well on the test run. Made a 45' IC for $55...normally would be like $125 for that size. Its not as pretty as the ones in the magazine but should be effective.

On first use should I put in a water boil first? Just don't know if any copper will tarnish or effect my beer.

 

[Bones99839]

@nate I drop mine in the boil for the last 10 to 15 mins to sanitize and have not had a problem yet. maybe one of the more expert brewers will address it further for you.

 

[jgerard]

My buddy and I built a 20' one for about 24 dollars yesterday. We haven't tried it yet because we got the wrong attachment for his sink but that will be a cheap part exchange.

 

[SwivelHips]

Absolutely worth it. And +1 for auto siphon.