The Hydra

[Beer-lord]

As a small business owner, I have a company credit card. During our busy seasons, it gets used a lot. I get points which means $$$$. I use this money for beer supplies and hardware and usually once a year I like to buy me something that might help my brew day and I've been thinking about the Hydra chiller.
OK, I don't need it and if my tap water is 83, it's not really going to chill my beer that much faster, right? Well, yes it will. This baby kicks arse. It ain't cheap though.

One slight problem I have is that in my pot, I use a false bottom and it raises my chiller high enough that not all the coils are immersed. I thought about forcing the coils closer together but that defeats the chilling power. The Hydra would fit much better in my pot and I still think, save me a good amount of time even when I use my pump to recirculate ice water once I get the water down to 110 or so. I might even be able to forego the tap water entirely with this chiller and use the pump and ice exclusively to chill my beer uber fast.

Take a look at this piece of genius equipment and try to talk me out of spending my credit card bonus points money.
http://jadedbrewing.com/products/the-hydra

[BlackDuck]

Hell, I don't even have credit card points and I'm considering getting one. This could cut 30 minutes off my brew day. That's 30 minutes quicker my rear end can be sitting in the recliner!!

[Beer-lord]

Take a look at the comparison charts.... http://jadedbrewing.com/pages/chiller-comparisons
And then there's this!

[BlackDuck]

I wonder if you have to constantly move it around like the guy in the video did. If you do, how long would you have to let it sit after chilling to let the break material separate out before transferring? Also, my chiller is 50 foot. but just one coil, not two. So I have to wonder how much improvement it will really be. The tests on that chart is with 58 degree tap water. My tap water MIGHT get that low once or twice in the middle of winter.

[Beer-lord]

Or you could just wait until I get one and let me tell you what I really think. I'll think about this another day or two while I OCD on it and decide if I want it. I've already got over $300 coming back in points the first of September so I can rationalize a bit about spending this much.
I've thought about plate chillers but I just don't want to fuss with them.

[Whamolagan]

A filter before a plate chiller, and boom no crap in the chiller, just my two cents. I will never go back to copper chiller. Although when I was using one, I found that the larger the diameter of tubing worked way better than the smal stuff

[Kealia]

If you are going to use points to buy something (meaning, it's essentially free) I say don't even think about it - just do it.

You work hard, enjoy the small treat once in a while.

[Inkleg]

It's been on my radar too. Had my Barley Crusher not bit the dust, I'd have gotten it for my bday. I know Steve has their counterflow chiller and loves it. You can also contact them and they will custom size one for you to fit your pot.

[Dawg LB Steve]

I have their Cyclone Counterflow Chiller like it 20 minutes to pitch in the heat of summer. I use it with a pump and whirlpool while it is chilling and transfer less trub than before the pump and CFC.

[Inkleg]

I have their Cyclone Counterflow Chiller like it 20 minutes to pitch in the heat of summer. I use it with a pump and whirlpool while it is chilling and transfer less trub than before the pump and CFC.

5 or 10 gallons?

[Dawg LB Steve]

I have their Cyclone Counterflow Chiller like it 20 minutes to pitch in the heat of summer. I use it with a pump and whirlpool while it is chilling and transfer less trub than before the pump and CFC.

5 or 10 gallons?

10 gallon batch.

[MrBandGuy]

I've been eyeing it for about a year. I just can't pull the trigger on the price. I don't really want to get into pumps and such, so this looks a much better option to me.

Nothing to add here. Do it and let me know how it works!

[Beer-lord]

I ordered this today and will get to try it with 80+ ground water in the coming weeks. But, when the water cools to 60 in the winter (yea, I know, not so great) I expect to save lots of time.

[BlackDuck]

Looking forward to your comments.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Beer-lord]

It has arrived! It's heavy too!
Gonna soak it in PBW this weekend and let it sit overnight then plan a brewday. With ground water temps at their highest now, it'll be given the worst I can give it to see just how efficient this thing really is.