Chilling

1. Transferring near-boiling wort into cube

   18 Replies 14159 Views

   First post by Surfboy66, 2 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Hi,
   
   I'm looking at shortening my brew-day and have been following some of the threads on the no-chill method. Not only should this save me some time but I've always been uncomfortable using so much water for cooling wort (house is on rain water tanks). I use a large 50L pot for boiling that doesn't have a spigot/valve. Is there a safe method in transferring near-boiling wort from the pot into a cube? Possibly a SS racking cane with silicon tubing?
   
   looking forward to hearing what other people...

   Last post

   ---

   

   This isn’t meant to be a rant... There can never be enough rants on this subject Jon :thumbs:
   Thanks for writing that. So nice to hear this from someone with access to real instruments as there is a diabolical amount of misinformation out there. I'll add two links...
   Readings from Eleven Thermometers at Seven Temperature Points
   Hydrometer and Refractometer Test Using Sugar, Coffee and Urine
   :P
   18 Replies
   14159 Views
   Last post by PistolPatch
   2 years ago
2. chilling in a freezer

   2 Replies 5613 Views

   First post by mickspangle, 4 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   no...not climbing inside a refrigeration unit for the purposes of relaxation, but I'm about to build/assemble a fermentation fridge using a chest freezer and it got me wondering. Has anyone tried using them for cooling wort prior to fermentation?
   
   on the one hand if I put 20L of cooling wort into a -20C freezer it should cool it a lot quicker (I don't chill at the moment) but I wondered if there's any gotchas with condensation or the freezer struggling to cool it down?
   
   edited to add: i'm...

   Last post

   ---

   

   yep, fair enough - it wasn't worded terribly well.
   
   current scenario is that post boil I tend to let the wort cool down a bit (say to 70-80C) and then transfer to a FV and put the lid, then leave it overnight to cool before pitching yeast the next day.
   
   I've just been given a larder fridge (although I did try and originally use an existing chest freezer but it was too narrow for my FV, hence the original question) and have converted this to a fermentation fridge with a controller and a heater...
   2 Replies
   5613 Views
   Last post by mickspangle
   3 years ago
3. Feedback on No-Chill

   67 Replies 56592 Views

   • 1
   • 2
   • 3

   First post by BobBrews, 11 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I use No Chill and have not had any trouble. Has anyone had trouble that was not Self induced with poor sanitation?

   Last post

   ---

   

   I'll continue to push my luck and see how many cycles I can get from each cube.
   I did end up with an infection in one which was holding what I thought might be a beautiful chocolate stout. It swelled right up and out like a balloon and just seeped out. I carefully took it outside and eased off the lid slightly, the pressure must have been immense because it hissed for almost a full minute.
   I'll keep looking for replacement seals, but I suspect that the wear of the plastic thread over time may...
   67 Replies
   56592 Views
   Last post by Muggy Dawson
   4 years ago
4. Headspace in no-chill cube

   13 Replies 14583 Views

   First post by SubjectB, 5 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   It turns out the 5 gallon HDPE cube I bought from US Plastics actually holds 6 gallons topped off. I'd rather not brew 6 gal. batches because I keg and a corny keg only holds 5 gal. So that means my no-chill cube will have a gallon of headspace. How bad is that much headspace?

   Last post

   ---

   

   SubjectB, I must get a no-chill cube in spite of added equipment and storage factors. Until then, I move my still hot kettle from the burner to a safe place and cover it with a sanitized cloth (overnight) until pitching temperature is reached, then transfer to a fermenter/aerate and pitch. I see headspace concern in your cube as different only if you plan to keep it there for some time longer than a day before pitching. Remember that more transfers come with costs. Will the trapped hot air be...
   13 Replies
   14583 Views
   Last post by Streamer
   4 years ago
5. Alternatives to Copper

   4 Replies 8361 Views

   First post by Streamer, 5 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I'm curious as to whether others have explored alternatives to copper tubing to use as a wort chiller. Just wondering if something like this would work or if there are reasons not to use it, or better alternatives?

   Last post

   ---

   

   You definitely want to avoid plastic tubing as a chiller, not only because it is a poor conductor but also because it will impart off-flavours to your wort.
   
   I can't think of a single plastic that won't taint your wort at boiling point although there are probably some. Most will taint your wort even at mash temperatures. (Use only silicone or metal hoses for hot transfers).
   
   For chilling, copper or stainless is the go and I'm thinking stainless would be better as it might be easier to keep...
   4 Replies
   8361 Views
   Last post by PistolPatch
   5 years ago
6. no chill

   11 Replies 10161 Views

   First post by Two_dogs, 5 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Hi everyone,
   With the drought here in California, I'm looking to try the no chill method, but I have a question. How do you handle the air that will want in as the wort cools? I'm thinking leaving the cap loose (I'm going to get a fermenter like this: ) would be best rather than cap it tightly then having air rush in when uncapped. Would like to know what others do
   
   Thanks
   Mark

   Last post

   ---

   

   Thanks for the thoughts guys. I might rethink the Winpacks because of the cleaning issue. I just saw somewhere where someone used them because they are heat resistant. Might just chill in the kettle
   
   Mark
   11 Replies
   10161 Views
   Last post by Two_dogs
   5 years ago
7. Copper pipe for chiller

   8 Replies 9030 Views

   First post by Braailus, 5 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   Hi guys, just a simple question.
   Is there a specific type of copper pipe to ask for when building a chiller? I hear that air conditioning piping is often used. Surely these pipes are not made for the food industry and some may contain harmfull substances used in the manufacturing process?
   
   Thx
   Braailus
   
   Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

   Last post

   ---

   

   Heat exchanger complete and used in our 2nd brew today. Rolling boil to 21 deg in 15 mins using tap water. Very happy with the end result.
   
   Thanks for your advice guys.
   
   Braailus
   
   Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk
   8 Replies
   9030 Views
   Last post by Braailus
   5 years ago
8. Ever "No Chill" a German / Czech Pilsner?

   6 Replies 6845 Views

   First post by Scott, 5 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   No Chill Guys - has anyone made a good German / Czech Pilsner with this method? I'm concerned hops will stay hot too long and flavor/ aroma hops will provide bitterness but much less flavor and aroma. So with some brew styles, maybe not too big a deal, but a nice Pilsner - not so good... Anyway that is my concern. Figured I'd reach out and see what experience folks had with this.

   Last post

   ---

   

   thanks for the link. looks like a good read
   6 Replies
   6845 Views
   Last post by Bellybuster
   5 years ago
9. 15 min hop additions and no-chill?

   4 Replies 6612 Views

   First post by rsandilands, 5 years ago

   First post

   ---

   

   I know this topic gets discussed widely on all brewing forums but I just wanted to get a second opinion on hop additions for a no-chill clone I'm doing of Fullers 1845 Ale.
   
   The recipe aims for 50IBU roughly, of which 40 IBU come from the 60 minute addition and 10 from a 15 minute addition.
   
   In translating this to a no-chill scenario, I'm thinking of leaving the 60 minute addition as it is, but changing the 15 minute addition to flame-out and leaving to stand for 20 minutes before pulling the...

   Last post

   ---

   

   Does this sound a reasonable approach to dealing with a 15 minute addition? The short answer is, No.
   
   We know the well-known chart and unfortunately this is one of those things that lead people away from being educated into asking the right questions. When copying a recipe, one of the most critical things is knowing the chilling methods and timings used by the original brewer. No software, apart from the BIABacus, allows fields for the management of later hop additions and it is the management...
   4 Replies
   6612 Views
   Last post by PistolPatch
   5 years ago
10. Chilling in the fermenter

    11 Replies 9018 Views

    First post by jube, 5 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Just brewed a biab Schwartz beer 2 days ago and I was talking with my friend who also homebrews.
    
    After flameout he leaves it for a bit then swirls to get the trub in the centre then siphons the still hot wort into the fermenter and only then uses a spiral cooler to get the temperature down to pitching temperature.
    
    Sounds like a good idea to me as the near boiling wort should sterilise the syphon tube and the fermenter reducing the risk of infection.
    
    I'd be pleased to hear your opinions....

    Last post

    ---

    

    Despite my positive expierience with filling the wort into the fermenter after boil is finished, i´m going to try this cube no-chill method. The storage factor seems very interesting to me.
    
    When the wort is coold in the cube, is it an accuarte aerating to let it splash into the fermenterbucket?
    
    Until now i was stirring the wort with a whisker for some minutes. My old (aquarium-) pump with a sterilfilter is pretty much cleaning work, so this thing is getting dusty.
    11 Replies
    9018 Views
    Last post by Aries
    5 years ago
11. Small batch no chill recommendations..

    9 Replies 9168 Views

    First post by ford, 5 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hola everyone.
    
    I brew 2-2.5 gallon batches on my stove. BIAB of course.
    
    I'm looking to get into no chill. I love the idea of the US Plastics WInpak cubes.... but would there be a problem using a five gallon to chill such a small amount?
    
    I looked and couldn't find something around the 3 gallon mark that was the same type of product.
    
    Just looking for any suggestions. I use the 12L Speidel containers to ferment in. Would they be ok to no chill overnight?
    
    Bryan

    Last post

    ---

    

    I own 5 of the Reliance containers (7 gallons), which are pretty awesome. Just don't let them sit dirty for very long, they are a bitch to clean.
    
    Well, they aren't too bad for no-chill ... but if you ever use it as a fermenter the krausen ring is hard to reach. I just had to throw one away this week, because I failed to clean one of them properly the last time I brewed.
    9 Replies
    9168 Views
    Last post by Rick
    5 years ago
12. Transfering wort to cube...How?

    23 Replies 23504 Views

    First post by bionut, 7 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hello world!
    
    I am a begginer BIABer, with a kettle made out of a 50 litres beer keg, with no ball valve installed. Regularly, i chill the wort with a 15 meters ribcage chiller, but i want to save some time and try no-chill-ing. I already found some HDPE containers to use, but the problem is that i don't have a valve on the keggle, nor a silicon tube, or any other high temp tubing. The silicon tubing that i found is either too expensive, either sold in a minimum lenght (>15m), so i need to...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Hello guys, came here just for a short update. I was able to find a cheap brass tee from ebay and i used it for a couple of no chill brews. It went good, but the beer seemed a bit astringent, on the grassy side. I transfer 20 liter of wort in about 7-8 minutes.
    I also have bought a weldless ball valve with all the fittings needed, stainless steel, and waiting for the time to install it.
    23 Replies
    23504 Views
    Last post by bionut
    6 years ago
13. I'm loving No-Chill.

    15 Replies 12189 Views

    First post by hathro, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    MODNOTE: The post below and several after were copied/moved from this thread as they have lead to a separate discussion. I trust my new topic title is okay but feel free to change it hathro.
    
    No-chilling has saved me a ton of time as it decouples the brewing and fermenting. You'll save time not having to chill the wort, clean the chiller, sanitise your fermentation vessel, pitch yeast etc. You can also store your wort for months and ferment when you have a spare 30 mins.
    
    Also, you can...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Yes, because So Many can't wait for the Chiller to cool the wort, Either.
    15 Replies
    12189 Views
    Last post by joshua
    6 years ago
14. new to no chill

    24 Replies 17260 Views

    First post by baikinman, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I'm yet to try biab but am just trying to get everything sorted in my head first. No-chilling is something i will be doing just to save me waiting around for wort to cool.
    
    I wandered why i cant just leave my finished hopped wort in the kettle wrapped in cling film (to stop any thing getting inside) overnight ? Everything inside will be clean as its just been boiling hops for an hour, or does something develop inside in the time being ? it'll only ever be left for 15-24 hours. Then just syphon...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Thanks guys,
    
    I no chill without the tap attached, using a bung instead as the tap gets in the way. On the day I need to transfer from the cube to bottles/keg, I sanitise the bung area and the tap and install it.
    
    Afterwards I hose out the cube then clean with a sodium precarbonate solution before storing dry (read that on AHB and it seems to work well), then on brew day I wash and sanitise then transfer very hot wort to the cube and pitch yeast as soon as it's cool enough, I'm not storing...
    24 Replies
    17260 Views
    Last post by nicko
    6 years ago
15. Chilling, hops and hot break

    6 Replies 7765 Views

    First post by blancasterb, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I currently use a converted keg as my boil kettle. I have a dip tube set to pull off the side.
    I only use pellet hops and use a paint strainer bag for them. I squeeze the heck out of it at the end.
    I never whirlpool and chill through a plate chiller.
    
    I want to buy this kettle
    It has a nifty pickup type and attached trub dam. (This is very similar to a local brewing companies professional setup.)
    
    I want to get away from using a hop bag as I feel the more free floating they are, the more I...

    Last post

    ---

    

    I will pass that hat tip on to Bundy who posted the link originally! :salute:
    
    Also, If you are concerned with the hops not having enough contact with the wort, its been suggested here to use your BIAB bag, as this should allow full contact. I always plan on doing it but never seem to get the grist cleaned out of it in time for the boil... :sneak:
    6 Replies
    7765 Views
    Last post by goulaigan
    6 years ago
16. Unfermented wort storage. Basic Brewing Radio NHC 2014

    13 Replies 11233 Views

    First post by BobBrews, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Here it is a show to download and listen to on the way to work!
    
    July 31, 2014 - No Chill Aging Experiment
    
    Home brewer Bob Stempski shares his experiment comparing beers brewed with no-chill wort's aged for eight and four months with a fresh batch.
    
    Bot-ul-ism.jpg
    ]

    Last post

    ---

    

    mally,
    
    I do have a pH problem at home. I have to play it it a lot. I have found that I can semi-control it with various methods. I use a 2.5 gallon (store bought) container of spring water. The rest of the water comes from my water softened home supply. I use a pH stabilizer that is suppose to hold your water to 5.4. With all of that I still play with adding calcium chloride or gypsum?
    
    For the podcast recorded at the NHC and the subsequent broadcast in July;
    
    July 31, 2014 - No Chill Aging...
    13 Replies
    11233 Views
    Last post by BobBrews
    6 years ago
17. Chilling and whirlpooling

    8 Replies 9076 Views

    First post by onkeltuka, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    I've now brewed three times, and one thing's that has started to puzzle me is how to combine a whirlpool and a coil chiller? Using a coil chiller in an unmoving liquid results in the cold part settling down, the hot part rising up, and the whole process of chilling getting quite slow and inefficient. Mostly due to us brewing outside I've been hesitant to keep the kettle without the lid to stir the wort while chilling. So a whirlpool of some kind would sound very good, maybe with a pump? But how...

    Last post

    ---

    

    A plumber friend promised to source me some copper tubing, so I hope I'll have a new one soon,so I'll just keep this small one in case I end up doing some stove-top mini-biabs or the like in the future.
    8 Replies
    9076 Views
    Last post by onkeltuka
    6 years ago
18. Chilling Myths - Asking the right questions

    23 Replies 23318 Views

    First post by PistolPatch, 8 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    A few months ago, in various other threads here, we were exploring chilling and no-chilling. I want to try and bring those scattered threads and thoughts together.
    
    History
    
    The main questions being asked were...
    
    1. If I want a quality beer, is no-chill or chilling better?
    A. Both methods seem to produce beers of equal quality.
    
    2. If I no-chill, what time adjustments should I make to the recipe?
    A. See below.
    
    Adjusting Hop Addition Times
    
    After today, I am now more sure than ever, that...

    Last post

    ---

    

    For a Bump, I have Miss-read 2 oz of Millennium hops....
    Alpha Acids 14.5 - 16.5%
    Beta Acids 4.3 - 5.3%
    
    And programmed the Beta hops for bitterness in 3 Gallon Batch(2 oz)....
    
    It grabbed My Friend and I around Our Throats, and Choked Us.
    
    Great Flavor though.
    23 Replies
    23318 Views
    Last post by joshua
    6 years ago
19. storing no-chill cubes

    23 Replies 19084 Views

    First post by shibolet, 9 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    question to all you no-chillers:
    how do you store your fermented wort?
    I mean, what temperature is acceptable for storing wort in a no chill cube?
    as summer is approaching the temps around here are moving toward the 30's and even in my celler i'm expecting at least 28-29C in July.

    Last post

    ---

    

    I couldn't find the thread where we were discussing the colour difference in the pic above but I just pitched a Kolsch that I brewed exactly a year ago and it is dark as well. In fact, the colour difference would be about the same as in Bob's pic. I've never noticed it before even with lagers but this kolsch colour really stood out. I'll see if it is as noticeable after fermenting. A few guys here had the other half of this kolsch which was pitched straight away and they will remember that the...
    23 Replies
    19084 Views
    Last post by PistolPatch
    6 years ago
20. What type of cubes for no-chill?

    6 Replies 8519 Views

    First post by Tsar, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi guys,
    
    I'm trying to find some cubes for no-chill in Portugal. Are all HDPE food grade cubes usable? Some say that only support 80ºC.
    
    Thanks :)

    Last post

    ---

    

    That is a pretty definitive answer :)
    6 Replies
    8519 Views
    Last post by Aaron1.0
    6 years ago
21. My wort chiller design - Jockey box chiller

    5 Replies 7690 Views

    First post by tenfingers, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hey there, I brew in an apartment and an immersion chiller seemed a bit difficult. The no chill method was a bit time consuming for me so I've built (maybe fairly naively) a jockey box style chiller that I fill with ice and connect to my urn to spit out chilled wort straight into my fermenter (the funnel in the picture is just for pouring sanitiser through it). It chills wort great, I can get a 20-22C wort in about 10-15 minutes using 3 bags of ice for 19 litres into the fermenter. I adjust the...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Cheers PistolPatch...your a champ :)
    
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    5 Replies
    7690 Views
    Last post by tenfingers
    6 years ago
22. When to use IC

    2 Replies 5267 Views

    First post by timfuller, 6 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Have been doing some poking around trying to answer the following without much luck..
    
    Using the copper coil immersion chiller at the end of the boil in the pot or draining the pot to the FV and chilling in the FV.
    
    Using the IC in the pot no only disturbs the trub cone after whirlpool but I have also read that cooling the wort in the boil kettle allows the proteins in the hot break to dissolve back into the wort... Should I drain into the FV and chill there ?
    
    Cheers
    
    :think:

    Last post

    ---

    

    timfuller,
    
    I have also read that cooling the wort in the boil kettle allows the proteins in the hot break to dissolve back into the wort..
    
    I have never read that. I bet it's just a I wonder if supposition? I have IC'ed in the past and now only no-chill. My beer (if in style) is as clear or clearer and anyone's. So, since my beer slowly cools than the proteins should be back into my wort? Not a chance! Cold break forms at about 140F. The Irish moss (or whatever) and the 140F cold break...
    2 Replies
    5267 Views
    Last post by BobBrews
    6 years ago
23. Some more No Chill Questions..

    29 Replies 23319 Views

    • 1
    • 2

    First post by ford, 7 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hello fellow brewers!
    
    I'm new here. Searching for No Chill answers is what led me to this site and I'm glad I found it. Let me quickly explain my setup and why I have a few questions about how the No Chill method might work for me, or mayhap need to be modified.
    
    I use the BIAB method on my stovetop. I make 2-2.5 gallon batches. My kettle is 16 quarts. No valve. My main fermenter is this
    Speidel. I also have an HDPE three gallon bucket on the way as an extra fermenter. It is the 5 rating and...

    Last post

    ---

    

    Lylo sez: ... I have hopped into my cube many times.... ???? How in the world do you fit into it? Does it get easier each time? :lol: :lol: Sorry, couldn't resist..
    
    Re tightening the cap.. US Plastics strongly suggests tightening and sell a wrench for the purpose. YMMV. I'd assume using an incorrect wrench would be a problem.
    
    My question is.. after buying two 5g/19L cubes.. do I have to be concerned if I only put 2.5-3 gallons into that large a cube? I searched the USPlastics site and they...
    29 Replies
    23319 Views
    Last post by HbgBill
    7 years ago
24. Another Cube Question

    16 Replies 12235 Views

    First post by HbgBill, 7 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    After chatting on line with BigBobby..and watching viewing some of the links he sent.. I started thinking (yah, I know :) ) When hot wort is transferred into the cube/pail and squeezed to remove air and securing the lid.. the question comes up..
    
    Is there a way to keep the pail from collapsing as it cools and possibly resulting in a permanent 'dent' in the pail??? The pail Bob recommended, the US Plastics Winpac, has a cap that has a pipe thread under a plug.
    
    So, I was wondering if there was a...

    Last post

    ---

    

    This is why I really think it is safest practice to keep vegetative matter and/or trub out of the cube and fermentor.
    
    PP, I'll keep this in mind. I've always thought that the wort coming out of the cube tasted a little weird. I could describe it as vegetal. But I wasn't tasting it in my final beer. Maybe the flavor was getting scrubbed out by the fermentation?
    
    Most of my no-chill beers are german beers hopped with hallertau at 60 minutes. I've given up on doing no chill beers that have any...
    16 Replies
    12235 Views
    Last post by dexter.rose
    7 years ago
25. No Chill - And Hop Schedule

    8 Replies 8894 Views

    First post by IowaCarver, 7 years ago

    First post

    ---

    

    Hi all, I have been brewing just a short time. My last 3 brews have been BIAB brews and have been my best to date. I still plan to do some simple extact brews when time is a factor but for the most part, I will be doing all grain. I am also going to be trying No-Chill as I have just received my US Plastics container and a length of silicone hose for transfering wort. My main intention really is to pitch the yeast the following day, certainly no longer than 2 days, I just don't have any need to...

    Last post

    ---

    

    NO such thing as too much hops or too bitter of a beer! You have to kill that malty taste somehow don't you??? :think: I regularly chew hop pellets (like chewing tobacco) :o while smoking crushed rolled hop pellets (like a joint) :smoke: while drinking a double IPA! :drink: That normally kills the malt taste in the beer! :lol:
    8 Replies
    8894 Views
    Last post by BobBrews
    7 years ago