Before we begin I need to make it clear that I am still very much a beginner. I don’t know much so please let me know all you can, I am eager to learn.
I’ve made 2 1 gal batches but the one I am currently working on (and inquiring about) is my second 5 gal batch. It is a recipe that I got from my local homebrew place and it is a milk stout. I pitched the yeast at about 76 degrees or so because it was getting late and I don’t have a wort chiller yet. Also like a big stupid ass I didn’t take a specific gravity reading (because it was getting late and I don’t have a wort chiller yet).
Anyway, everything looked honky dory except for the fact that mother nature wanted to f with me and decided to start a heat wave that same night! It was sooo hot for the next 3 days that I kept the fermentor in my AC’d room. The Krauzen started right up and it looked so perfect, continued for about 3 and a half days and then fell with the quickness. I figured that was pretty darn fast so I am being patient and just letting it sit. After 2 weeks (or so) I moved it to a secondary, still no action. It’s been about 4 days now in the secondary and I’m getting anxious to bottle it.
Questions:
Is it done? Should I just go ahead and bottle this batch?
Have any of you done a milk stout? Is this typical behavior for that type?
and
here’s the biggie…
Wort chilling… What’s the best way?
I’m kinda a buy it once kinda guy, not afraid of the price if it’s gonna work, and work well for a long time.
Take a hydrometer reading. Take another one a day or 2 later. If there’s no change, it’s done.
If you’re doing partial boils, putting the kettle in a sink full of ice water is very effective. If you’re doing full boils, an immersion chiller is probably the best bang for the buck.
Now answer me this… How did I read that answer 4 times on different threads and not realize that it was the correct solution. Am I really that thick headed?
I surprise myself sometimes.
So the immersion chiller is the way to go? Forget all those counterflow and plate chiller dilly bobs?
Immersion chillers are easy. If you get a decent one that is big enough it can be effective for full five gallon boils.
I do love my plate chiller but there are others that hate them. It is a bit more of a setup though. You need more tubing, maybe a pump if you don’t want to lift kettles of boiling wort, a ball valve on the kettle, terrific attention to detail in cleaning it…
Now answer me this… How did I read that answer 4 times on different threads and not realize that it was the correct solution. Am I really that thick headed?
I surprise myself sometimes.
So the immersion chiller is the way to go? Forget all those counterflow and plate chiller dilly bobs?[/quote]
I used to have a counterflow, but the time I spent cleaning and sanitizing it made it not time effective for me. Plus, a counterflow or plate chiller really work best when used with a pump and I didn’t have one at that time. Plate chillers can be very finicky about cleaning. I found that an immersion the best balance of effectiveness, ease of use and price. I bought a 50’ roll of 3/8" copper tubing, some vinyl tubing and hose fittings and made my own.
