Sooner or later, every homebrewer gets to a point with his craft when he needs to think seriously about adding some new equipment to his bag of tricks if he wants to keep upping his game. However, it can be difficult to decide what to invest in first.

If your beer has gotten to a place where it’s honestly pretty good, but not quite where you’d like it to be yet as far as flavor and quality, then you might want to consider looking a wort chiller sooner rather than later. They can improve the quality of your beer by leaps and bounds more quickly than you realize.

Wort chillers work to quickly chill your hot wort mixture to yeast pitching temperature, helping to reduce oxidation and resulting in a better-tasting beer overall. This process also cuts down on the likelihood of bacterial growth that can spoil even the most carefully brewed beers.

However, deciding you like the idea of getting a wort chiller and actually finding the right one for you are two different beasts entirely. Here’s what you should consider when shopping for one of your own.

What type of wort chiller best suits your needs?

Wort chillers come in two basic types – immersion and counter-flow. Both types get the job down and get it done well, but you may find that one fits more easily into your personal routine than the other does. Immersion chillers are simple, cheaper, and easier to clean and sanitize. Counter-flow chillers work better at minimizing the amount of time the wort spends in the temperature "danger zone" when it’s most susceptible to infection. They also get the job done more quickly than the immersion type.

Some homebrewers like to start with an immersion style wort chiller because of budgetary concerns and because of the ease of use and then upgrade to counter-flow chillers later on down the line. However, you may decide that counter-flow is the better option for you right off the bat.

Only consider wort chillers from top brands you know you can trust.

When it comes to items like wort chillers, it really pays off to go with trusted brands that have built solid reputations for providing quality at affordable prices that won’t break the bank. For instance, companies like Blichmann have been producing the very best homebrewing equipment money can buy for years and years, so you really can’t go wrong with them.

Don’t forget to pay attention to consumer reviews as well, especially in regards to individual models! Researching what other homebrewers did and didn’t like about a particular item will help you determine what’s right for you better than any sales pitch or advertisement ever could.

Be sure to compare prices on wort chillers online before you buy.

While it’s possible to locate used wort chillers for excellent prices, you can just as easily buy new ones if you check out what’s available online. Online equipment suppliers don’t have to pay for expensive overhead costs the way brick and mortar shops do, so they’re free to pass the savings on to the consumer.

When you know what to look for in advance, even shopping for complicated items like wort chillers becomes a simple process, so don’t let the newness of the concept intimidate you! They represent the perfect opportunity to send the quality of your homebrew into the stratosphere and your only complaint will be that you didn’t have yours a lot sooner!