Glycol Dangerous - Use Cheap vodka instead for chilling?

[Mark Nohr]

After reading how incredibly toxic Glycol is I'm not thinking it's worth the risk of an accidental squirt into my beer. Why not just use vodka?

 

[GerritT]

For what use? I might use vodka for sanitised second ferment additions, I might use glycol for cooling.
I do neither, so use neither, but the application is key here.

 

[BeerCat]

Food safe glycol

 

[peebee]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycol_Chillers

Moral: Don't get your "glycol" from a car spare shop!

 

[kelper]

Not to be confused with Glycerol / Glycerine which is non-toxic. Propylene glycol is also OK to consume.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

For what use? I

I was going to the same question.

.

 

[Dutto]

Not to be confused with Glycerol / Glycerine which is non-toxic. Propylene glycol is also OK to consume.

As far as I am aware (and I may be wrong with a capital "R") glycerol and/or glycerine is used for clarifying beer and wine; and also used in the manufacture of suppositories! (Check out https://www.boots.com/boots-constipation-relief-12-suppositories-10006837 )

I'm sure that their use in Schlitz Beer is a reason it was so named and getting mortally drunk on it:

1. Is easy to do in a hot climate.
2. Delivers a magnificent hangover.
3. Provides it's own built-in laxative.

Enjoy!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

glycerine is used for clarifying beer and wine

In the supermarket juice wine recipe thread its used to give mouth feel.

.

 

[Richie_asg1]

Bought mine in the cake area of Morrisons.

 

[Mark Nohr]

Still wondering why not use cheap vodka. @ $15/gallon it wins on price. I'm thinking of a closed system with SS tubing in the fermenter, a water bottle in a freezer with a pump in it, and some valves, fittings, tubing... Servicing several carboys.

 

[Honk]

can't think why not, I like the idea, what sort of size bottle are you thinking of? And material? I believe some plastics will leach into the alcohol, even food safe ones, probably same consideration for glycol

 

[johncrobinson]

Given that there are thousands of threads about gas and beer leaks on here, I would go for vodka at least if there is some problem and leak, You wont kill yourself !!

 

[GerritT]

Still wondering why not use cheap vodka. @ $15/gallon it wins on price. I'm thinking of a closed system with SS tubing in the fermenter, a water bottle in a freezer with a pump in it, and some valves, fittings, tubing... Servicing several carboys.

$15/gallon for vodka?! Where??

asking for a friend

 

[simon12]

Surely the point in using glycol is it doesn't freeze if you use vodka the water in it can freeze and if your not going below 0C use even cheaper non toxic water.

 

[Druncan]

$15/gallon for vodka?! Where??

asking for a friend

Sexygurl71?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

$15/gallon for vodka?! Where??

asking for a friend

 

[An Ankoù]

Can't think of any reason to use glycol in any process related with brewing. We (some of us) use glycerol (glycerine) to allow non-dried yeast to be frozen. Some of us, me included, use cheap vodka as air-lock fluid. I recall there was some scandal a decade or so ago about cheap white wine being watered down with glycol and killing people.
Nausea and vomiting may occur as a result of gastrointestinal irritation. Severe toxicity may result in coma, loss of reflexes, seizures (uncommon), and irritation of the tissues lining the brain. The toxic metabolic by-products of ethylene glycol metabolism cause a build-up of acid in the blood (metabolic acidosis).
I imagine it tastes very similar to ethanol, though.