hi, I'm currently using a counterflow chiller to cool my wort to about 86F and I want to cool it to pitching temperature of 68F.
I thought maybe using the counterflow chiller to cool it to 86F and then to let it cool in the fermentor for few hours while sitting in the refrigerator.
the problem is that I ferment 2.5 gallons in a 5.5 gallons fermenter and I'm afraid that the few hours at low temperature without yeast and with lots of air space might contaminate the wort.
what do you think? is it possible to do it that way or is it too risky?
I thought maybe using the counterflow chiller to cool it to 86F and then to let it cool in the fermentor for few hours while sitting in the refrigerator.
the problem is that I ferment 2.5 gallons in a 5.5 gallons fermenter and I'm afraid that the few hours at low temperature without yeast and with lots of air space might contaminate the wort.
what do you think? is it possible to do it that way or is it too risky?