hello everyone

[mr jolly lives next door]

I've been reading this forum for since i secured my ticket for last years festival mainly for tips,rumours ect so i decided to finally join - i've found it's probably one of the most informative yet friendly forums around and everyone seems very nice

This will be my 6th glasto this year and i can't wait - it's the best 5 days of the year by far!

ps any tips on keeping beer cool would be well appreciated,last year i was completely sick of warm cans

[carllucey]

I've been reading this forum for since i secured my ticket for last years festival mainly for tips,rumours ect so i decided to finally join - i've found it's probably one of the most informative yet friendly forums around and everyone seems very nice

This will be my 6th glasto this year and i can't wait - it's the best 5 days of the year by far!

ps any tips on keeping beer cool would be well appreciated,last year i was completely sick of warm cans

whilst there still cold drink them ALL.

[glastomad]

whilst there still cold drink them ALL.

Hahahaha that is the best policy by far!! What i found last year was keeping em on the outside of sleeping compartment in between the outer layer. Mine were obviously not cold as I would like but they were drinkable compared to my mates who left em outside his tent for a day and couldn't pick em up for long enough to drink cos they were that hot! Very surprised they stayed there all day tho

[Nelly]

Has anyone tried keeping drinks cool in a bucket of water? Not sure how effective it would be if its scorchio like last year. Could be worth a try.

I always take a bucket to pee in at night, obviously make sure you wash it out before filling it with water and beer cans.

[TMD]

Welcome fellow newbee!

[tort]

Cans tend to stay cooler if you keep them under your groundsheet.

[stardustjunkie]

I'd think the bucket of water idea would be best.

Just don't dig holes to keep them cool

[akicif]

If it's like last year, the water will warm up and only delay the beer warming.

It's a bit of a faff, but you can make a 4-can beer cooler from an empty plastic cider container - a gallon one is about right.

First, cut a large window in one of the four sides, but make sure there'll be room for about an inch or two of water.

Put your four cans in through the side so that they're standing vertically, and drape a large facecloth or small towel over the cans so that it touches the base of the container on all four sides.

Finally, unscrew the top (if you've lost the lid, it's no bother) and pour about a pint of water onto the cloth to soak it.

As the water evaporates, the beer cools surprisingly well - just don't let the cloth dry out!

[Lou's other half]

If it's like last year, the water will warm up and only delay the beer warming.

It's a bit of a faff, but you can make a 4-can beer cooler from an empty plastic cider container - a gallon one is about right.

First, cut a large window in one of the four sides, but make sure there'll be room for about an inch or two of water.

Put your four cans in through the side so that they're standing vertically, and drape a large facecloth or small towel over the cans so that it touches the base of the container on all four sides.

Finally, unscrew the top (if you've lost the lid, it's no bother) and pour about a pint of water onto the cloth to soak it.

As the water evaporates, the beer cools surprisingly well - just don't let the cloth dry out!

That's genius! Remember kids, you read it here first!

GlastoWatch: Blue Peter for grown ups who don't know how to grow up!

[mr jolly lives next door]

Some very handy tips there

Me and my friend went to the west holts end on the thursday evening last year around the jerk chicken stand where they were playing some great reggae,there seemed to be a great vibe just wondering if that's where the twisto gang were?

[akicif]

grown ups who don't know how to grow up!

That's me, to a tee!

[guidarufino]

If it's like last year, the water will warm up and only delay the beer warming.

It's a bit of a faff, but you can make a 4-can beer cooler from an empty plastic cider container - a gallon one is about right.

First, cut a large window in one of the four sides, but make sure there'll be room for about an inch or two of water.

Put your four cans in through the side so that they're standing vertically, and drape a large facecloth or small towel over the cans so that it touches the base of the container on all four sides.

Finally, unscrew the top (if you've lost the lid, it's no bother) and pour about a pint of water onto the cloth to soak it.

As the water evaporates, the beer cools surprisingly well - just don't let the cloth dry out!

Can we have a picture please?!

My dad already told me that a great way of cooling wine is to wrap the bottle in a wet cloth. Apparently it's an ancient roman trick and uses the process of evaporation to cool the contents of the bottle. Or something. BUT it works much better on stuff in glass bottles which obviously isn't helpful.

I thought I might take a couple of buckets and fill them with cold water and keep my tinnies in there overnight. Apparently the van I'm borrowing has a cooler box which runs off the battery but I'm not going to hedge all my bets on that in case it's tiny, doesn't work etc etc. Also, I think keeping stuff under the van is quite a good place.

Basically I'm going to chill and freeze as much stuff as possible in advance then hopefully we'll have cold drinks and edible food for the first 2 or 3 days at least.

[TAFKASair]

A wet cloth over your tinnes / plastic bottles / barrel? will do a great job of cooling your beverage of choice. All domestic fridges work by evaporation cooling.
Putting tins in a bucket of water is just a good way of slowly poaching them, as you don't get the vital evaporation (anyone else got Altern-8 in their head now?)

Alternatively, get a cardboard carton of orange juice, pour a wee bit out for expansion and freeze it. The OJ acts as a cold block for about a day and you have nice chilled OJ next morning. We also do this with food - frozen block of chilli keeps other food cool and is tea on the second day in camp.

[guidarufino]

A wet cloth over your tinnes / plastic bottles / barrel? will do a great job of cooling your beverage of choice. All domestic fridges work by evaporation cooling.
Putting tins in a bucket of water is just a good way of slowly poaching them, as you don't get the vital evaporation (anyone else got Altern-8 in their head now?)

Alternatively, get a cardboard carton of orange juice, pour a wee bit out for expansion and freeze it. The OJ acts as a cold block for about a day and you have nice chilled OJ next morning. We also do this with food - frozen block of chilli keeps other food cool and is tea on the second day in camp.

Good point on the bucket, thanks for that. So need to add "lots of tea towels and towels" to my ever growing spreadsheet list of "shit to pack" !!

Re the frozen OJ and chilli, wouldn't it just be easier to buy freezer blocks? They're pretty cheap from Wilkos, Poundland etc. Or is the point that you can drink the OJ and eat the chilli once it's defrosted? If so happy days because I've just filled my freezer with individual portions of home made chilli and bolognese!

Ok I've got a question. So if you freeze wine and/or Pimms (going to try that this weekend), if it's partially defrosted and you pour some out to drink, is the stuff that you pour out just normal or does the liquid separate so that you'd get all the alcohol at the beginning or the end?

[m1keanderson]

Ok I've got a question. So if you freeze wine and/or Pimms (going to try that this weekend), if it's partially defrosted and you pour some out to drink, is the stuff that you pour out just normal or does the liquid separate so that you'd get all the alcohol at the beginning or the end?

I believe the alcohol and sugar parts don't freeze so well and so you'd get very pissed very quickly.

[Nelly]

I believe the alcohol and sugar parts don't freeze so well and so you'd get very pissed very quickly.

Oh dear, really? I was planning on taking my frozen wine to work and leaving it in the fridge until I leave the same day and having a glass or three on the train. I don't want to end up in Plymouth.

[m1keanderson]

Perhaps a couple of miniature bottles in the coat pocket will have to do for the train. That, or arrange a car share from Plymouth

[TAFKASair]

Guida, if you use blue freeze-blocks then you're adding to the weight and bulk you carry, and you've got to carry them home again. Using frozen food and drink means the most you have to cart back is a plastic box and it takes up less space.

If you're freezing liquids though, do make sure there's a bit of spare space (water expands when it freezes) so that your container doesn't split.

[Nelly]

Perhaps a couple of miniature bottles in the coat pocket will have to do for the train. That, or arrange a car share from Plymouth

That's also a very good idea (the miniture wine not the car share, although it could come in handy if I do crack open the box). I'm supposed to be taking it for the 'group' and I don't think they'll be too impressed if I rock up with an empty box of what should have been chilled white wine, completed hammered. Although to be fair, I doubt they will be sober.

[TAFKASair]

"I believe the alcohol and sugar parts don't freeze so well"
True - This is in fact key to an interesting method of turning cider into "brandy".

I am so full of the top tips today, just call me Viz!

[guidarufino]

I'm campervanning though so weight is less of an issue than if I were camping.

So for those of you who have frozen boxes of wine in the past, how has that worked out? I really MUST try freezing, defrosting and drinking some Pimms this weekend and see what happens. It's a tough job but someone has to do it!

[m1keanderson]

So for those of you who have frozen boxes of wine in the past, how has that worked out? I really MUST try freezing, defrosting and drinking some Pimms this weekend and see what happens. It's a tough job but someone has to do it!

There shouldn't be any real negative effect on taste. You may get some of the tartrates crystallize out, although these are harmless.

[guidarufino]

There shouldn't be any real negative effect on taste. You may get some of the tartrates crystallize out, although these are harmless.

I meant more from the whole all the alcohol coming out first point of view. If what you said earlier is true, assuming the box hasn't fully defrosted by the time I have my first drink, then the first bit will be really high in alcohol and sugar and the last bit will be just water. Or did I read what you said wrong? of course that it won't be fully defrosted before I even get there is probably a pretty big assumption !

[m1keanderson]

I meant more from the whole all the alcohol coming out first point of view.

Ah, apologies, I thought you meant once it had defrosted completely. And, yes, high alcoholic drink first, watery foul tasting grape juice later.

[Holesey]

Has anyone tried keeping drinks cool in a bucket of water? Not sure how effective it would be if its scorchio like last year. Could be worth a try.

I always take a bucket to pee in at night, obviously make sure you wash it out before filling it with water and beer cans.

We did that last year, works nicely - although not as cold as you'd like them to be, worked well, especially leaving them through the night as the temp dropped

[akicif]

Can we have a picture please?!

Looking to see if I can source a container - but to be quite honest, any shape will do, it's just that one I described cuts down the chance of spillage and losing too much water.

My dad already told me that a great way of cooling wine is to wrap the bottle in a wet cloth. Apparently it's an ancient roman trick and uses the process of evaporation to cool the contents of the bottle. Or something.

Yup - apparently the Romans even managed to make ice in the Sahara that way, by using evaporation and insulation during the day, and exposure to the cloudles skies at night (how this ties in with what they told us at school about the Sahara not being a desert until Roman farming ruined it is another matter)

Basically I'm going to chill and freeze as much stuff as possible in advance then hopefully we'll have cold drinks and edible food for the first 2 or 3 days at least.

Sounds like a plan....

[KarenEH]

Looking at the met office forcast for Glasto week I don't think last year's high temps will be an issue!

[guidarufino]

The great Pimms freezing experiment has begun. But I forgot to check it this morning so you'll have to wait for the results... My dad reckons that since alcohol is 100% soluble in water (at least I think that's what he said) that it will defrost at a uniform rate.

[TAFKASair]

Selfless research in the name of science.

[RickySSmith]

This was my method of cooling the wine last year -



Just kept smooshing the bag about and topping up the bowl with fresh water and it got it suprisingly chilled, I also wrapped it in one of the free cotton bags they give out as you come through the gates which I soaked in water first. Bear in mind the wine was probably the temperature of a cup of tea that's been on the side for 10 mins before starting this process... it made it drinkable... perhaps too drinkable, 3 litres of wine in an afternoon probably isn't the best idea, but it was bloody fun!

This years booze allocation - 3 wine boxes (two frozen before leaving) and a crate of cans! Plus whatever treats I decide to buy from the Brother's bar and Cider Bus! And whatever goodies I find up at the stone(d) circle

[Hash4Cash]

on the freezing Orange Juce cartons, you dont have to open them the carton allows space for the liquid to expand.

Ive been doing this for years to get great big ice lollies.

[Mandypants]

Whatever you do, never, ever, freeze anything pressurised, eg fizzy drinks in bottles or cans. They WILL explode

[guidarufino]

Right, I can finally confirm that Pimms (well ok Lidl's cheap version - Austins) does NOT freeze. At least not entirely. Having been in the freezer for a couple of days, I'd say it was frozen about 80%. And it defrosted ok again.

So in conclusion, I am going to freeze a box of wine and chill as much as possible the Pimms. And take the freezer blocks, cool bags and lots of tea towels. And a bucket.