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7/27/2010 -- I want to buy a kit that would enable me to do both beer and wine. A friend argues I should go with the wine kit and add the beer brewing stuff. Please let me know exactly what I need to purchase.
Also, I intend to use ceramic top beer bottles for my beer. What's the best way to clean them? Do you sell the rubber piece (gaskets) they . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: In general, I would say your friend is on the right track, assuming you have a lot of flip-top bottles around. Those bottles are pretty handy.
If you are thinking of making wine from your own juice, fresh fruit etc, then the 5 gallon wine making kit is a good choice. If you want to make wine from our varietal wine kits (an excellent way . . .
6/14/2010 -- I recieved a wort chiller (C44) as a gift. I noticed that the exit side of the chiller tube is not even with the water inlet and it is also has a 90 degree bend in it. I have set it in the pot and the wort is going to cover the flexible tubing. Do I need to strech out the coils to have the flex tubes over the top of the pot?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, that is the idea. Wort needs to get between the coils to do it's job. JUst gently expand the coils so that the flexible tubing goes over the top of your brewpot.
5/17/2010 -- what is your phone number?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can be reached at (425) 355-8865
Our toll free order is (800) 850-2739
11/2/2008 -- what's the difference between an indoor and out door chiller.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The indoor chiller is has flexible tubing on each end that allows easy connection to a kitchen faucet, and to drain down the sink. Good for when you are using the kitchen stove for boiling your beer.
The outdoor model is rigid, that allows connection of two garden hoses for the water in and out. Good if you have an outdoor (propane) cooker . . .
1/26/2008 -- I live about an hour (if traffic is good) from the address on your website. Do you have an actual store or is everything here based solely online?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we have an actual brick-and-mortar store in Everett, WA. People actually walk in and buy stuff!
Our address is:
Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
Here is a video of our shop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI
Heck, you can actually call us on the phone, too! It's 425-355-8865. A person will . . .
1/13/2008 -- I just used my new wort chiller for the first time. I love the fact that 10 minutes later, it was cool enough to put in the fermenter. However, I have always used the method of boiling 3 gals and chilling 2 gals and then mixing in the fermenter after the 3 gals of wort was done. Now with the wort not being boiling and being exposed to air . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I would say you are obsessing. Provided you get your yeast in there promptly there is little danger of contamination.
Since you now have a wort chiller however, why not IMPROVE your brewing process? By this, I mean boil more wort! Yes, it will take a larger brewpot, but doing a full boil (not a concentrated one) will improve your beer. . . .
4/29/2007 -- In answering another question, you said that the indoor wort chiller is about 10-11" in diamter. Can you be more specific? My brew pot's inside diameter is 10 7/8" so I am not sure your chiller will fit.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: They are 10" in diameter.
4/12/2007 -- I just moved into an apartment complex that does not have any outdoor water spigots that I can use. My setup is too large to be in the kitchen and I have plenty of room right outside of my apartment to brew. I was wondering if I could modify an indoor wort chiller so that there is about 80'-90' of tubing coming off the faucet adapter so . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I don't see why not. Just come off the faucet adapter with a regular garden hose, all the way to the chiller.
3/19/2007 -- I'm looking for a good SS brewpot, preferrably 7.5 gallons. I have a question about the best way to transfer the hot wort through a plate&frame wort chiller into a stainless fermenter. Should I:
A) Pour the hot wort into the fermenter, gravity drain from fermenter through the chiller and back into the brewpot, then pour the chilled wort . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I would definately go with B). Why transfer twice, when it's unnecessary to do so?
Just a bit of advice...if you are using a plate and frame type wort chiller, sometimes it takes a fair amount of pressure (or in your case, elevation) in order to get the wort thru the chiller. I would try to determine how much, and get sufficient hose to . . .
12/10/2006 -- Excellent site, very informative
I am looking to buy a 7.5 gal brewpot and a wort chiller from you, but I'm concerned about the wort chiller connections. My kitchen faucet does not have threads, and I don't have an outdoor faucet available. Can I still use the wort chiller? the faucet is about 3/4 in diamater, is there way to stretch . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Most kitchen faucets have SOME kind of threads. If there is an aerator, try unscrewing it. I'll be our faucet adapter will fit it. If not, you can probably find SOME way of getting water through it.
11/5/2006 -- I live in Seattle, can I come and pick up the bottles in Everett? Do you have a "brick and mortar" store?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You sure can. It is literally made of bricks and mortar, in South Everett. Our address is:
Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204
425-355-8865
Hours are 10-6:30 M-F
and 9:30-5 on Saturdays
Here is a video of the place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI
Take a look around!
10/19/2006 -- When I use a wort chiller is it best to stir wort slowly while the water runs through it, or, just leave the lid on and let it do it's thing? Best web site out there (and I've seen a few).
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It might cool a little quicker by stirring, but not much...Frankly, I just leave it alone. This is a good time to clean up, sanitizer your fermenter, airlock etc.
6/20/2006 -- Great site -
I recently ordered a 5 gallon pot and an indor wort chiller. Since I want to make a full 5 gallon batch, will placing the chiller in this pot displace the wort so much as to cause a spill? Yeah . . . should have asked before placing the order . . .
Thanks~
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I hate to tell you, but if you put 5 gallons into a 5 gallon brewpot...and then boil it, you will have a boil-over even withOUT a wort chiller. You will have to use less water, say 4 gallons to be safe. The additional water can be added after the boil (to the primary fermenter) if you need to.
3/15/2006 -- Hi, I'm planning to buy the 7.5 gallon brewpot and a wort chiller from you. I just wanted to confirm the indoor chiller can be used both on the sink and with outdoor hose type connections, as I'd like to use it both ways.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, it "goes both ways"...so to speak. You will probably also want to order a faucet adapter for use in a kitchen sink. The threads that come with it are common garden hose threads.
2/23/2006 -- How many feet of tubing are there in Model #c44 (coil) & exit stems.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: There is 25 feet of copper used altogether in the wort chiller (coil and stems).
2/7/2006 -- RE: Indoor Chiller, plastic line attachment.
How is the 3/8 plastic tubing attached to the copper Inlet & Outlet of your chiller ?
I have read of some that use a compression fitting that if permanently Braised or Soldered to the copper. Is it 'standard' Hose Clamps? Or.....?
Also I noticed that you offer customer pick which would eliminate . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is attached with a stainless steel hose clamp.
No, sorry, we only have a store in Washington state. A bit of a drive, yes.
1/15/2006 -- I am preparing to buy my first brew kit and step into the wonderful world of brewing. With that being said, is there a specific size kettle i need to fit into the wort chiller? I assume you put the chiller around the kettle and run cold water through it. If you could run me through the process of using the chiller that would be great. thanks . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Welcome to our world!
Actually, the wort chiller goes inside the brewpot (kettle) in the last few minutes of the boil. This sterilizes the wort chiller. After you turn the heat off, you begin running cold water thru the wort chiller. This cools down your wort (beer) so that it can be put into the fermenter, and the yeast can then be added. . . .
1/13/2006 -- I am going to purchase a counterflow wort chiller, and have a question. After the wort is transfered from the brewpot, (I have a 12 gallon brewpotw/ball valve) do you flow the wort directly back into the pot, or do you put it into one of the buckets to pitch it? I am a first time brewer and am not very clear on this portion of the process. . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: With a counterflow chiller, you flow the wort thru the chiller into your bucket (fermenter)...It is cool at that point, and ready to ferment.
11/24/2005 -- Great, informative site by the way. I have been brewing for about 1 year with success, a wort chiller would be very benificial at this time, however I am confused. Why do you want to put the wort chiller in the boil 15 minutes prior? As you state, It would go in to sterilize, wouldn't you need it sterile before you put in anyway.
Thanks.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Good question.
Actually, the boiling wort does the sterizing for you. No need to do it twice, is all. As long as your immersion wort chiller isn't disgustingly dirty, the boiling wort will save you from having to sterilize the chiller. That isn't so with the counterflow type chillers, but it is with the immersion type (where you run cold . . .
10/24/2005 -- Hi -
It looks like there is tubing connecting the hose faucet to the chiller. Can you tell me how long that line is and the diameter of it, as well as how long the outlet hose is? Thanks for a great and informative site.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is about 3 feet long, on both the input and outlet sides. It is 3/8" ID hose.
8/19/2005 -- What size tubing is on the indoor chiller? I want to make the water in line longer.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is 3/8" ID tubing
7/27/2005 -- I'm planning on buying a kit for this winter but I cant decide which wort cooler to get.I will be brewing in my basement so I dont mind the mess and it looks like it would cool faster with a hose.Are there any drawbacks from using an outdoor one indoors?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Not at all. They both cool at the same rate, however.
4/26/2005 -- Does the indoor wort chiller fit in the 15 gallon brew pot that you sell on this site ($110.00). It is listed for 5 gallons so I assume it is narrower than the 15 gallon pot. Also, does the ball valve option come with that pot? Can i get a price for the whole ball of wax?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, it fits; altho if you are making 10 gallons at a time (or more), I would suggest the Super Wort Chiller. It has a longer coil, and will cool your wort in much less time.
Here is your pricing for the regular wort chiller:
Shopping Cart
1 15 Gallon Stainless Steel Brewpot w/Lid $110.95
1 Brewpot Spigot Kit (Installed) $21.85 . . .
3/12/2005 -- I'm from Canada and I want to know if you ship to Canada and what are the shipping costs for a wort chiller. I live in Quebec city, province of Quebec. Also how long will I have to wait?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we ship to Canada quite often. For a standard wort chiller, shipping to Quebec City runs about $17 USD, and arrives in 5-7 business days, using UPS Standard (ground) shipping.
2/20/2005 -- Why is the inlet so much higher than the outlet. It would seem to make the coil sit sideways in the pot. I've seen others with the in and out at the same heigth and on the same side.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is a few inches higher, but when you set it in the pot, both ends end up being at the height of the top of your brewpot. This causes the coils to expand somewhat within your hot wort, allowing better cooling.
1/25/2005 -- What is the proper way to use a basic wort chiller? Place it in the boiling wort and run cold water though it OR place it in a sink of ice water and run the wort though it into the primary fermenter? I've seen it done both ways.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: With a common (immmersion) wort chiller, you place it in the boiling wort, and run cold water thru it. Very easy.
There is another type, called a counterflow wort chiller where the wort runs thru the copper tubing, and an outside water jacket carriers water in the opposite direction. Perhaps that is what you have seen.
12/27/2004 -- I use a wort chiller to cool my wort, but was wondering if you have ever heard of anyone using co2 through the chiller instead of water. Would it cool too fast or do you think it would do ok? Love your site, it's the best one I have found for home brew information.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: That's a new one on me. I can't imagine it cooling TOO fast, however. I guess if it was properly designed, it should work just fine.
Thanks, we work hard on our site, and it's nice to hear it's appreciated!
11/17/2004 -- What is a wort chiller also why is it
needed for home brewing?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: A wort chiller is a device for quickly cooling your wort (beer) from boiling, down to room temperature. It is handy because 5 gallons of wort takes a long time to cool off, and while it is warm it is suseptible to bacterial infection. A quick cooling also benefits the beer by giving it a better, longer lasting head.
11/8/2004 -- I read in the reviews that the cost of the wort chiller is 24.95 plus about 7 bucks shipping. I can't find this price on the site and the shipping was about 10. Any help on this would be great.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, the price has gone up to $30.95 since those reviews.
The shipping price depends on where we are shipping it to.
10/25/2004 -- I've brewed on a 10 barrel system and using a heat exchanger seems to be the quickest way to cool your wort and pitch your yeast during the transfer (approx. 5 min after starting transfer). This way you get a better mix with your yeast and wort as well. I was thinking of converting a draft box (jockey box) into a wort chiller/heat exchanger. . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It seems like a lot of work and expense, especially when you can get a wort chiller very inexpensively. It does the same thing. If you want a "heat exchanger" type chiller, we have counterflow wort chillers that cool your wort in about 5 minutes.
10/25/2004 -- I'm considering buying a nice big brewpot. I boil my wort outside, and would like to start using a wort chiller to improve my beer. My problem is that I have no good "dumping area" for the wort chiller water outflow. My question; Have you ever heard of anyone draining their wort through a regular copper wort chiller which sits in a bucket . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: I suppose this could be done, but I see at least one problem...sanitizing the chiller after use. By running the wort thru the inside, it would difficult to sanitize it well afterwards. Also, with no pressure on the wort, it would drain very very slowly. The fittings issue could be worked out by getting a 1/2"NPT to garden hose adapter.
Are . . .
9/20/2004 -- I am ready for the next piece of equipment, a wort chiller. However, my kitchen faucet is anything but standard, i.e. no threads at all. What do you recommend?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Use it outdoors! Both the indoor and the outdoor models have standard (garden hose) connections, so take your pot outside, connect it to your hose, and turn on the water.
9/13/2004 -- Would it be possible to receive longer flexible tubing on the chiller so that I can leave the boiling kettle on the stove for chilling? That would save me the trouble of hauling the kettle to the sink, but would require about 10 feet of the flexible tubing on both ends.
Thanks,
Mark
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Just order about 20 feet of 3/8" tubing, and you've got it. The wort chiller itself comes with about 3 1/2 feet on each end.
Here is a link to the tubing:
http://www.nexternal.com/hombre/?Target=products.asp&ProductID=77
8/24/2004 -- I ordered the deluxe brewing kit from you last month.
Now that my first batch is in the bottles, I'm looking back on how I can improve my setup and my process for the next one...which will likely be the IPA you sell.
The one thing I know I need to fix is my Wort Chiller situation. I have an 8 gallon stainless steel brewpot, and with . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Our wort chillers can be bent to fit your brewpot. Go ahead and stretch the coils out as needed to conform to your brewpot. Be gentle, trying not to "kink" the copper tubing, and it will work much better for you. The regular chiller should be all you need for a 5 gallon batch.
8/21/2004 -- Has any one ever tried a closed loop wort chiller using alcohol (i would use a hi-proof vodka to prevent blindness in case of a leak) in the tubing and pumping it through a large bucket of ice water?
any practicallity here? Besides saving water?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: It should work, alright, but I question the practicality. Most wort chillers don't use that much water anyway. I doubt if using alcohol would make it much more efficient.
Some brewers (particularly in hot climates) do use an ice water bath as a pre-cooler, i.e. the tap water goes thru the ice water before going into the wort chiller. This . . .
8/6/2004 -- i made my own wort chiler. it cost more than buying it, until i added shipping. My question is, will it turn green between uses, and if so, how should i clean it?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: If left for a long time, it may. Just give it a quick scrub with a brush and it will be just fine.
So it had to cost you at least an hour, maybe two to gather the supplies, and to build it.
Was it worth the few dollars difference to ship it to you complete?
7/28/2004 -- I have never used a wort chiller, I always add my apprx. 2 gallons of wort to 3 gallons of cold water in my carboy and take a temperature reading making sure that we are between 100 and 90 degrees before adding yeast. I don't think I have ever had a problem doing it this way. Why should I buy a wort chiller?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You are doing a "concentrated boil" (less than 5 gallons). This concentrated, sugary mixture will easily carmelize with heat, causing a darkening of the beer, as well as a poor breakdown of the malt sugars. Without a good breakdown, the yeast will have difficulty fermenting them. The result then is a high ending gravity, sweetness to the beer . . .
5/8/2004 -- What is the advantage of buying a wort chiller? What about buying 3/8th copper pipe from a hardware store and just coiling it up, then putting some tubing on the ends?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Well first of all, the cost of 25 ft of the copper tubing and the fittings (from the local hardware store) usually exceeds the cost of our wort chillers. Price it out; you will see. We buy the tubing by the MILE, and get good (wholesale) pricing as a result. Same with the fittings. We have the tooling to build them and the know how to get . . .
3/20/2004 -- Recently I read about cleaning/sanitizing the inside coils of the wort chiller. This seems no sense to me, as it never contacts the wort, only the outside of the chiller. Or am I reading these articles wrong?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: There are two different types of wort chillers, immersion chillers and counterflow chillers.
With immersion chillers, you are correct. The wort only contacts the outside of the coils, and there is no need to sanitize them. Only water goes thru the coil itself.
With counterflow type chillers, there are actually two coils. The wort actually . . .
2/23/2004 -- Will the indoor wort chiller fit in a 11 inch diameter pot?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, it will. The coils are just under 10" in diameter.
2/13/2004 -- From the picture, it looks like the wort chiller has 90 degree bends at the top of the copper tubing. So, it looks like it will sit on top of the brewpot, rather than going all the way to the bootom. I have a large brew pot, and I am concerned that when I boil up a relatively small amount, your wort-chiller won't be fully immersed in liquid. . . .
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The coils are quite flexible, and can be expanded to reach the bottom of most any brewpot.
2/8/2004 -- I boil in Sankey keg (15.5 gallons). Will the wort chiller extend into the keg sufficiently to reach and cool a five gallon batch?
Your ad in Brew You Own puts the price of the outdoor chiller at 24.95. Will you honor that price?
You Q&A is a good feature. I'll be browsing here in the future.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The wort chiller is quite flexible, and will reach ok...BUT, if it was me, I would get the Super Wort Chiller (50 foot coil). That would allow you to chill larger batches as well, and will easily fit into a sanke keg.
Yes, we will honor advertised prices. Of course.
12/21/2003 -- Are there any advantages/disadvantages of using a wort chiller vs. pouring a thicker wort (prepared with only a portion of the water) into the remaining chilled water?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: Absolutely.
1) The thicker, concentrated wort does not break down the malt and hops as well as a thinner wort. You will notice better hop utilization and lower ending gravity the first time you use a wort chiller.
2) Additionally, the head retention on your beer will be better
3) It will be less suseptable to contamination from ice . . .
12/21/2003 -- Hey, What's the difference between indoor & outdoor wort chillers? Why would I want one as opposed to the other?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The indoor chiller is has flexible tubing on each end that allows easy connection to a kitchen faucet, and to drain down the sink. Good for when you are using the kitchen stove for boiling your beer.
The outdoor model is rigid, that allows connection of two garden hoses for the water in and out. Good if you have an outdoor (propane) cooker . . .
11/17/2003 -- I have a couple of questions about your indoor wort chiller. I am new to brewing and have not used one yet only ice baths so far. Does it go on the inside of the boil pot or the out side. If the insides does the heat kill all the germs. How much to ship to Tennessee zip code 37069
Response From Homebrew Heaven: An immersion wort chiller goes on the inside of the brewpot. Most people put it in about 10-15 minutes prior to the end of the boil, in order to sterilize the copper coils. After turning off the heat, you run cold water thru the chiller.
Shipping runs $7.78 to Tennessee.
10/21/2003 -- I AM A NOVICE BREWER. I MADE ABOUT 5 BATCHES LAST YEAR AND I AM READY TO START AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME I WANT TO DO IT FASTER AND EASIER.
SO MY QUESTION IS "DO YOU RUN THE WORT THREW THE COPPER TUBING WHICH IS IN ICE OR DO YOU SUBMERG THE TUBING IN THE WORT AND RUN WATER THREW IT?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: There are two (very different) types of wort chillers, the immersion type and the counterflow type.
With the immersion type, the copper coil is immersed into the hot wort, and cold water is run thru the copper tubing.
With the counterflow type, hot wort flows thru an inner copper tube, while at the same time cold water flows (in the . . .
10/18/2003 -- Is it possible to convert an indoor wort chiller to an outdoor one? What about an outdoor to an indoor? I would like to be able to use the chiller both indoors and out.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: If you intend to use both indoors and outdoors, I would get the indoor model. It has a hose fitting on one end, and the discharge end is vinyl tubing. No need to convert, as long as you don't mind spraying the water nearby.
8/12/2003 -- What diameter of tubing is used in these wort chillers, and what is the length of tubing used. How low should the wort be in a 7.5 gallon pot to allow for the water displacement.
Response From Homebrew Heaven: We use 3/8" diameter copper tubing, 25 feet long. You will find that it displaces very little water...maybe an inch or two in a 7.5 gallon pot. No problem with a 5 gallon batch. I like to start off with about 6 gallons total to allow for evaporation in the boil, and still have plenty of room for the wort chiller.
6/23/2003 -- Is it worthwhile to spend the extra money for a wort chiller, given that I am a total amateur to beer brewing?
I get the sense that it cuts down on the amount of time needed to brew a batch, and reduces the chances that it will spoil. Is this accurate or am I on the wrong track?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: You are correct... it reduces the brewing time, reduces chances of infection, and also helps to give your beer a nice head.
In short, to me, it's worth it. A wort chiller isn't essential, but it IS a nice item to use. Sooner or later, you will probably want one. If budget is an issue, get it later.
6/14/2003 -- How important is a wort chiller? Is it just for lagers or is it for both?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: A wort chiller is used for both ales and lagers. It is used to cool your boiled beer (wort) down to about room temperature prior to adding the yeast, (the beginning of fermentation). Wort chillers are handy tools because they allow you to begin the process sooner. It also minimizes the chance of bacteria getting into, and ruining your beer. . . .
6/8/2003 -- I am completely new to beer brewing. What is the difference between an indoor and outdoor wort chiller?
Response From Homebrew Heaven: The indoor chiller is designed to screw into your kitchen faucet, and to drain down the sink. The outdoor model is designed to work with two garden hoses.
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