Intetested to see what everyone does for heat exchange post-boil. I use CFC and recirculate back I to boil kettle through whirlpool port. Once I hit 70F, I’ll turn pump off, let solids settle and then send to FV. What do you all do?
I've always used an immersion chiller (except for my very first beer, when I used an ice bath). I recently invested in a pump, though, so it's feasible to try something new. But I don't think I will unless I hear some really compelling reasons. Immersion chillers work well and are easy to clean.
If I’m doing a hop stand, once I get down to 150° it goes right into the fermenter which has a chiller coil built in. Set the target temp on the pump controller, fill the cooler with ice and water, and in 15-20 mins I’m at pitching temp. 95% of the trub gets left behind the dam in the kettle and I’m already starting cleanup while the wort chills.
Immersion chiller with mountain well water 45° +/- in the winter. I help it along with recirculated ice water in the summertime, when the well water gets above ~ 55°.
Have a plate chiller that i recirculate back to the kettle until about 100F, then into the fermenter. During winter, I'll usually just place the kettle in a snow mound so I don't need to run water to the garage.
On my 15 gallon set up I run through a CFC. I have to restrict the flow a lot to get to temps and it takes a damn long time. On my new Mash & Boil I went back to my IC. Takes temps down fairly quick, gonna build a small stand with my pump in it so I can recirc and whirlpool for a more effective chill.
Home-made 1/2” SS coil immersion chiller that’s about 12” diameter, 18” tall. I made it for a project at work many moons ago. Bought it for $1 when it was going to be be thrown out. Tap water. Gets from 190-ish to 70-ish in about 25 minutes for a 10 gallon batch. I also got a pump fairly recently, so I can consider a recirc set-up of some sort. Going to build a pulper and cider press for the wife first, though.
CFC. In the winter, I have to really restrict water flow cuz it works so fast that it will drop below pitching temps. In the summer it's gets to just above pitching temps and then I use fermentation chamber to get down the last bit. I'm happy with it, but I wouldn't want one in hot temps.
CFC and Immersion chiller (poll will not allow both) for 10 gal batches (just an IC for 5 gal batches)
I did an ice bath until recently, when I inherited an immersion chiller. I feel like such a schmuck. An ice bath can take an hour whereas an immersion chiller takes two minutes.
Makes me remember a brew day, before my immersion chiller...two 5-gallon batches in one day. I finished up at about 3:30 in the morning. Yuck.
