wort chilling

[WaltG]

ok, so I keep reading about using frozen 2-liter bottles to chill wort. You use that in a water bath or just drop in the wort? If you drop it in the wort is there an issue with the high heat causing melting or another contamination from the bottle, I mean high heat vs plastic, would sanitize of course.

 

[WaltG]

I have access to something like this from work. It's 1 gallon and food safe.

 

[brew_ny]

are you asking about cooling wort after the boil ?

 

[WaltG]

yes, after boil.

Also did you know if you put an aluminum pot in a steel sink of ice water and add salt to the ice to make it colder, when the ice is gone and you have just water (and salt) it creates a charge and you get a shock when you touch the water. Found that out last time...lol

 

[brew_ny]

I would be careful putting anything in boiling hot wort even frozen made from that kind of plastic

hate to see it melt on you, you could boil water and do a test to be sure you are good with how it works

are you doing a full boil or a partial boil ?

S_M

 

[danhercules]

stupid question, if you put dry ice in the wart to cool it down the last few degrees, will that have an effect on the beer?

 

[brew_ny]

stupid question, if you put dry ice in the wart to cool it down the last few degrees, will that have an effect on the beer?

not sure but it would make great fog

 

[glugglug]

I have only heard of the frozen bottles being used during fermentation to cool fermenting beer, not for cooling wort. In any case, don't add it to your wort.

 

[Homercidal]

I would find a container of suitable type, boil some water and freeze it in said container. Then when it's time to chill, you can just add the block of ice. Just make sure to cover the water in the freezer so it doesn't get contaminated.

And start looking for a real chiller of some sort.

 

[ShootersBrewCrew]

ok, so I keep reading about using frozen 2-liter bottles to chill wort. You use that in a water bath or just drop in the wort? If you drop it in the wort is there an issue with the high heat causing melting or another contamination from the bottle, I mean high heat vs plastic, would sanitize of course.

I simply bought a Rubbermaid tote and fill it with water from the hose and ice from my freezer. Out the wort (in the stainless steel pot of course) and keep a close eye in the temp of the wort. Usually cools to where I need it to in about 7-9 minutes.

 

[CooperBrew]

Personally I don't like putting things in the wort as it's cooling but if you do make sure that it is sanitized well or you're just inviting bad things to happen. The first few batches I brewed I cooled using ice around the pot in the sink, it took a while to cool. I investing in a cooper tubing wort chiller shortly after and can cool my wort from boiling in 10-15 mins now. Check out the DIY section here for some ideas.

 

[dranderson]

I use my sink, one side drains to the other so continuous cold water works well.

Would the Ice and salt work better? Would the salt mess with my aluminum pot?

 

[ShootersBrewCrew]

I use my sink, one side drains to the other so continuous cold water works well. Would the Ice and salt work better? Would the salt mess with my aluminum pot?

I am very skeptical about using salt here. I'm not an expert but wouldn't want it causing any corrosive effects on the steel. Is it stainless steel?

 

[JohnSand]

Salt water in a stainless sink might pit your pot over time. The current mentioned above was caused by dis-similar metals in an electrolyte. He built a wet cell battery. The aluminum will give up electrons to the steel. If left in for months, the aluminum would look like oatmeal.

 

[danhercules]

The problem I have is that my tap/hose water is warm. 80 deg after running for 15 min. LOL. Next time I will cool the wort with the copper coil untill it reaches 90 deg. Then I will put a second copper coil in a ice water bath so the tap/hose water gets cold then goes thru the wart coil to cool it down even further.

That should work.

 

[ShootersBrewCrew]

The problem I have is that my tap/hose water is warm. 80 deg after running for 15 min. LOL. Next time I will cool the wort with the copper coil untill it reaches 90 deg. Then I will put a second copper coil in a ice water bath so the tap/hose water gets cold then goes thru the wart coil to cool it down even further. That should work.

Just make sure it is all sanitized before you start putting things in the wort is my only precaution.

 

[hellawaits77]

This is just my opinion, but I don't like the idea of putting anything in the wort as it's cooling. I suppose if everything is sanitized properly it wouldn't be an issue, it's just not something I'd do personally.

I'd personally buy a wort chiller, or do an ice bath. An ice bath will take longer, but is probably safer.