Counterflow/Plate chillers

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by TooHopTooHandle, May 12, 2018.

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  1. TooHopTooHandle

    TooHopTooHandle Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2016 New York

    For those of you that use a counterflow/Plate chiller do you guys one pass chill directly into the fermenter ? I just used mine for the first time and was able to do a one pass chill directly to fermenter, but I wasn't even thinking till after that all the cold break that forms goes right into the fermenter. I think next time I'll chill back into my kettle and whirlpool the stuff to the center like I do when I used my immersion chiller.
    [​IMG]
    15 gallons of chocolate coffee stout that will go in that barrel :slight_smile:
     
    #1 TooHopTooHandle, May 12, 2018
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  2. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    I do not, for two reasons: 1. My tap water is too hot (above target temp for wort), so I can not do a one-pass cooling . . . always involves pre-cooling with tap water then finish with ice slurry. This takes 20+ minutes. 2. Many of my brews have whirlpool'ed hops, once set up to recirculate I just let it rip for the remainder of the cooling. Without these concerns I still would recirculate back to kettle for the reason you described.
     
    #2 PortLargo, May 13, 2018
  3. Scope4Beer

    Scope4Beer Zealot (677) Sep 28, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I have cold groundwater from my well at home here in PA. I do only a one pass directly into the fermenter and have never noticed an issue with flavor or aroma, but likely some chill haze from the cold break.
     
    #3 Scope4Beer, May 14, 2018
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  4. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    I have spring water, so when I used a plate chiller, one pass and done.
     
    #4 GormBrewhouse, May 14, 2018
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  5. TooHopTooHandle

    TooHopTooHandle Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2016 New York

    Not to worried about chill haze since its a coffee stout, but next time I'm going to send it back to my kettle and whirlpool the stuff out. Problem is it takes up room where beer could be lol
     
    #5 TooHopTooHandle, May 14, 2018
  6. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    One pass. Chill haze doesn't bother me except in a beer that I want to be crystal clear -- Cream Ale or a Pilsner, for example. But I'll likely fine those anyway, so it's a non-issue.
     
    #6 mikehartigan, May 14, 2018
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  7. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    I whirlpool hops on nearly every beer I brew so I bring it down to 185 on a recirc, then one pass it from 185 to 65
     
    #7 jbakajust1, May 14, 2018
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