Chillzilla™ Counterflow Wort Chiller

The copper tube-in-a-tube design optimizes heat transfer in the time it takes the wort to flow from the brew kettle to the fermenter. The inside tube, through which the wort flows, is “convoluted” into an elongated spiral – this increases turbulence in the water flowing through the outside tube and increases the surface area of the wort exposed to the cold water. This design makes the Chillzilla™ extremely efficient.

Initial assembly

The smooth outlet at the bottom of the chiller (near the mounting bracket) is the wort outlet; the threaded fitting at the top is the wort inlet. The two male garden hose threads are for the water tube – cold water will flow from the bottom of the chiller to the 90° water outlet at the top.

Before using your Chillzilla™ to cool wort, you will need the following materials:

• two garden hose fittings, several feet of tubing, and a faucet adapter (if necessary) to connect the chiller to a water source
• 4 to 6 of 1/2” high-temp tubing, cut in two sections – one to carry wort into the chiller, and one to carry wort out
• a 1/2” FPT to 1/2” barbed fitting for the wort inlet
• four hose clamps to secure the sections of tubing to the chiller

Note: The bracket built into the bottom allows the Chillzilla™ to be permanently mounted.

Prior to use and sanitizing

Prior to using your Chillzilla™ for the first time, you may wish to recirculate PBW through the chiller.

Sanitizing the chiller (including tubing that will contact with the wort) should be done before and after each use with at least three gallons of boiling water or with a non-caustic sanitizer, following the sanitizer's instructions for dilution and contact time.

Chilling wort

At the end of the boil, connect the chiller to the water source and to the kettle. Place the sanitized wort outlet hose in the fermenter, and the water outlet hose in a sink or drain – the water exiting the chiller will be hot.

Start the flow of cold water before the flow of wort. Wort can be delivered to the chiller via gravity, a siphon, or a pump.

Monitor the temperature of wort exiting the chiller and increase or decrease the flow of water as necessary.

After use

Repeat the sanitizing procedure after every use. Drain the chiller completely before storing.

Leaf hops

Leaf hops can easily clog a counterflow chiller – strain them from the wort before it enters the Chillzilla™.