Well, I use a rubber trash can, taller than my fermenting bucket - I put a bunch of ice in there and then put the pot of cooling wort in, surrounding it with ice on the sides. I think my mistake this time was being preoccupied with other stuff - I didn't put enough water into the trash can along...
I'm on my 4th batch of beer now - currently have a honey hef in primary fermentation. After the boil was over, I put the pot in an ice bath, but it took FOREVER to cool down. It took so long to cool down that my girlfriend and I decided to just go get something to eat while it was still in the...