Chugger setup

[imark]

Looks like it doesn't introduce much resistance to the flow. That kind of answers the other worry I had about sanitation of the chiller.
Time to pull the trigger on aliexpress

[molc]

I need to not looks at posts like these. Was going to bud a counterflow chilled later in the year, but now I'm tempted by a inline plate chiller!

[Hop Bomb]

Y'all got bad GAS! (gear acquisition syndrome)

Yeah by recircing all my hot liquor it pasteurises the chiller & gives an even temp in the hlt. After the brew I just back flush it with a hose & turn it on its side to drain. I do a full CIP every now & then but mainly just do the above method.

When wort is chilled to pitching temp I kill the flow, disconnect the chiller from the line up & recirc from BK to chugger back to whirlpool arm. Gets a really good vortex going. I do that for 20 mins & then turn it off & clean up. Let it all settle out & I get a really great cone in the middle. Using a hop spider for all my hops though as they'd just clog my chiller & pump otherwise.

[armedcor]

I need to not looks at posts like these. Was going to bud a counterflow chilled later in the year, but now I'm tempted by a inline plate chiller!

Molc I can absolutely recommend this plate chiller...It's a monster, definitely overkill for my 5 gallon batches. Basically chills my wort as fast as I can pump it through with my solar pump.

https://www.brewbuilder.co.uk/125kw-30-plate-chiller.html

[molc]

I need to not looks at posts like these. Was going to bud a counterflow chilled later in the year, but now I'm tempted by a inline plate chiller!

Molc I can absolutely recommend this plate chiller...It's a monster, definitely overkill for my 5 gallon batches. Basically chills my wort as fast as I can pump it through with my solar pump.

https://www.brewbuilder.co.uk/125kw-30-plate-chiller.html

Shhhhhh

[armedcor]

 

[Will_D]

Just remember that Chuggers cannot/will not suck carbonated beer out of a cornie keg!

How do I know this?

Just ask the NCB cask fillers!

[Leann ull]

Where does all the cold break go to in plate chillers i suppose that and stories of fellas in US cleaning is why I've resisted convince me?...please

[Hop Bomb]

That cone in the pic above is all the cold break. It forms into little pearls & drops out during the whirlpool recirc chill.

If you dont recirc chill but chill straight to your FV then it all goes into there. You will lose 5 litres of beer to it.

[imark]

Wasn't thinking of using a hop spider. Is there an issue using pellet hops directly through the plate chiller?

[armedcor]

There's a chance it could clog. And been unable to take apart the plate chiller it's just not something I would risk.

[Will_D]

One other thing about starsan:

Starsan is no good for long term storage. If you rinse the pump through with starsan at the end of the day there will be some left in the pump body. This will not stop future molds and things growing. Rinse through with some Campden water (say 1 ct in 500 ml of water.

That way you will have a sweet pump next time you use it.

I know this because I have left fermenters with SS in them and after a few weeks there are molds developing. I have never had anything growing in SO2 water.

[DEMPSEY]

Looking at this set up I would suggest that if you don't want to use a hop spider then a counter flow chiller would be the best option for recirculating and chilling as the larger bore pipe in the counterflow will allow hop pellet debris to flow with the wort. When you have finished cooling then continue to whirlpool to have both the hop debris and cold break settle in the middle.