Wort Chiller

[brian_c]

I currently brew in the kitchen, I use two stockpots and brew 2X10litre batches on my cooker, and combine in the fermenter. To chill I put them in the sink and use an ice bath. System has worked for me for the last four years but time to upgrade.

First things first things, I want a kettle and to boil the full batch out on the balcony (I live in an apartment). The one thing that is holding me back, is I don't know how I will chill a 20 litre batch. I don't have a garden hose tap on the balcony, and I have one of those awkward square headed taps in the kitchen so not sure if I could attach a hose to that and run it out. Any advice on how to chill my wort would be appreciated.

My thoughts, which I also throw open to the floor for critique. I was thinking about filling an old 32 plastic fermenter with water from the tap, putting it on a stool outside, and running the water through the chiller using gravity. Would this work for a copper coil immersion chiller? Would it work for a plate chiller? Maybe if I bought a cheap pump?

Any other apartment brewers figured out a handy way to chill a 20l boil?

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Atlantic Homecare/Woodies stock hose pipe connectors for kitchen mixer type taps, they have a cheap own brand green one at around a tenner and a branded (Hoselok) one priced a bit higher. I have used the cheap one many times without any issues.
http://www.woodiesdiy.com/Product/Garden-Plus-MultiTap-Connector/18318/4.7.0
http://www.woodiesdiy.com/Product/Hozelock-Connector-Multi-Tap/6695/4.7.0

[sub82]

I use the second one there, it's a great wee invention!

[brian_c]

Perfect, forgot Atlantic homecare existed! Thank you.

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[John_C]

I currently brew in the kitchen, I use two stockpots and brew 2X10litre batches on my cooker, and combine in the fermenter. To chill I put them in the sink and use an ice bath. System has worked for me for the last four years but time to upgrade.

First things first things, I want a kettle and to boil the full batch out on the balcony (I live in an apartment). The one thing that is holding me back, is I don't know how I will chill a 20 litre batch. I don't have a garden hose tap on the balcony, and I have one of those awkward square headed taps in the kitchen so not sure if I could attach a hose to that and run it out. Any advice on how to chill my wort would be appreciated.

My thoughts, which I also throw open to the floor for critique. I was thinking about filling an old 32 plastic fermenter with water from the tap, putting it on a stool outside, and running the water through the chiller using gravity. Would this work for a copper coil immersion chiller? Would it work for a plate chiller? Maybe if I bought a cheap pump?

Any other apartment brewers figured out a handy way to chill a 20l boil?

I pop my hot wort into a corny and let it chill overnight. You could transfer it to your fermenter and add the yeast the following day.

[ferg]

I fill a fermenting bucket with water and use a drill pump to circulate it. Start with tap temp water until I get down to about 50C, then add ice to the bucket to help speed up the process during those hard to chill lower temps. Once I'm at that stage I can stick the inlet and outlet hoses in the fermenter and just recirculate, minimising the waste water. I catch the hot water to fill the mop bucket and kitchen sink for clean up after. I guess you have to have a power drill first or this would be way dearer to set up than the faucet connector! I guess it'll help the pocket though when the water metering comes in!

[Damien M]

+1 on the Re circulation.

The Chiller on its own helps but with out recirc the cooling stalls in the 50 to 30degC  range. If your getting/making a Cooling Coil get or develop a recirc system.... Remembering, that when adding the cooling coil to the boiler for the last 15 mins, the recirc loop needs to be on for the last 15 mins to sterilize too!

[brian_c]

One advantage of living in an apartment us that there will be no water meter!

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[johnrm]

One advantage of living in an apartment us that there will be no water meter!

Tut tut.
Just because it doesn't cost you personally does not mean that it does not cost someone.
This is drinking quality water going down the drain.

[johnrm]

And tut tut to them too.
Still no reason to be irresponsible with water IF there is an option to conserve.

[ferg]

Yeah I do have to remind myself that more than 50% of our treated drinking water leaks into the ground before it even gets to anyone's taps.. personnally I can't abide waste and I think conservation is a good habit to get into.

That said I can't wait to be charged for the upkeep of a public utility that the state couldn't be bothered managing properly. I got an idea for them that could save a few bob too... Ditch the flouride!

[nigel_c]

I brew in a apt as well and what i do is unscrew the head off my shower and the garden hose fitting goes on perfect.

[mrtickel]

I do the same as John_C transfer to fermentor and leave over night and pitch the yeast the next day this way also cuts down brewing time

[RichC]

The only thing putting me off no chill is the timing of late hop additions. The aussies seem to have great success with it

[nigel_c]

The only thing putting me off no chill is the timing of late hop additions. The aussies seem to have great success with it

You could use hop bags and pull them before chilling.