Remember that redneck guy you used to hang out with that would sit on the tailgate and spin a beer in the ice? Or maybe you are that guy? He’d do it while he drank another beer because he said it made his Steel Reserve, the one he just pulled out of the toolbox of his truck, colder faster. Turns out that tobacco chewing, beer spinning redneck was on to something. Thermo-dynamic heat exchange to be specific. I just made that up but it sounds awesome. He actually was using convection.
By spinning the beer he was allowing the liquid from the center of the beer to circulate and come in contact with the cold aluminum can. Thus, cooling the beer 20 times faster than if it were just sitting in the cooler of ice.
Now we all know unless you have a lot of time on your hands, sitting on the tailgate of a Ford the repo man is probably looking for and spinning hot beer in a cooler full of ice by hand is about as efficient as peeling potatoes with a crayon.
The Spin Chill Drink Chiller
Enter the Spin Chill and its little brother the Chill Bit by ApexTek Labs.
I’m fortunate to actually have met the guys who invented the Spin Chill when it was still a drawing on a napkin. And then when they were manufacturing Chill Bit one-by-one on a 3D printer. I actually bought the very first Chill Bit to roll off the assembly line.
It was a simple enough idea. One part clamps onto the can and the other fits into the drill. Put the beer in some ice and spin at medium speed for about 60 seconds. Needless to say, I was skeptical.
After I got my ChillBit home, I found a few warm Natty Lights in the garage, filled a bowl with ice, slapped a fresh battery into my Dewalt drill and commenced with the science.
Sixty seconds. My beer went from garage temperature to ice cold in less than SIXTYDAMNEDSECONDS! I was amazed and bewildered at the same time. This was a great idea, but who the hell carries a drill around with them all the time?
After a few conversations with Ty and Trevor (the inventors), I found they already had a prototype of the Chill Bit they called the Spin Chill. It took them 6 months, but they finally put together a pretty respectable looking and working piece of drinking wonderment.
The Spin Chill works even better than the Chill Bit in that you can hook it up to a beer and drop it in the ice on its own. This negates the need to stand and hold it like a drill. Don’t get me wrong. Pulling out a drill at a party and chilling beer is pretty badass. But I’m lazy. I prefer to let automation run its course.
These things work so well Nathan and I decided the Spin Chill and Chill Bit will become permanent fixtures in our online store.
You can Not get a spin-chill from anywhere! They’re website dose Not even sell them? Why. What the hell happened? I still want one
Were you ever in the Navy? Only us professionals know about this shit. Great stuff.
This was cool for the one time it worked. When I went to use it again it didn’t work. I tried putting in 4 brand new batteries and still nothing. Unfortunately it isn’t a daily use item and by the time I tried again it was past the return period. Don’t waste your money!
Follow up: I sent a message to the company and they promptly responded that if I sent a video showing the problem, they would gladly replace the product. I responded on Aug 8th with a video and I have heard nothing from this company. I’ve followed up on Aug 18, 31, Sep 5 and Sep 16, and Oct 1 and have yet to receive a response. Clearly this company does not stand behind its products and you should not buy!!! If by chance they ever respond I’ll be sure to update this review!
That looks cool I wonder how it would compare to my chill sticks , in my beer tower made by these guys here, I men for how uch longer the beer stays longer with the spin chill
Thanks for sharing James! This is a really cool product. How did you come across the Spin Chill?
Hi from another beer nut. I just discovered your blog, can’t believe I haven’t run across it before. We seem to share the same interest in beer. Are you on untappd? I love connecting with other beer geeks.
I am so glad In found this website. I had a boiling hot 211 that I tossed in a bowl of ice water and spun for about 2 minutes. Cracked it open and it was the coldest 211 I’ve ever had. Never knew about this trick and I’m thoroughly impressed. Keep it up guy, you rock.