noob questions

joe6pack · 10-06-2008, 05:06 PM

I've been lurking for a couple weeks and finally joined the forums. I have a couple dumb questions for you home brew vets.

Someone gave me a pretty decent home brew setup secondhand but never used. Its the kind with two plastic buckets. I haven't tried to brew anything yet. So far I have been reading a lot and collecting bottles. Which brings me to my first question. Is there a particular type of soap that works best for washing the bottles? (I realize that I will have to sanitize them later.) I washed a few out with Dawn w/ bleach alternative, and I swear I could smell a little bit of soap odor even after flushing with clean water three or four times after I saw no more soap bubbles. I also washed some out with a biodegradable soap made with coconut oil I think. I couldn't smell any residue on those. Any thoughts?

My next question is... how long would a homebrewed beer keep at room temp in the dark? I know barleywine keeps for a long time, but other than that, how long would a pale ale or brown ale or wheat beer keep in general?

Thanks, and cheers!

Parker36 · 10-06-2008, 05:12 PM

For cleaning bottles I first soak in a TSP solution that cleans and strips the labels. Rinse. Dunk in Starsan solution for 30sec. Empty. Let Dry

**BigKahuna** · 10-06-2008, 05:13 PM

Lots of guys use non perfume Oxyclean to clean bottles....I just rinse as I drink. Then there is no crud in them to be dealt with.

Depending on style of beer, and temp regualrity...homebrew lasts forever in bottles at room temp.

Parker36 · 10-06-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigKahuna

Lots of guys use non perfume Oxyclean to clean bottles....I just rinse as I drink. Then there is no crud in them to be dealt with.

Depending on style of beer, and temp regualrity...homebrew lasts forever in bottles at room temp.

+1 on the rinse as you drink, or at least rinse when you are done drinking. Putting away bottles that still have some gunk in the bottom for a few weeks until you are ready to bottle can lead to some nasty stuff growing which isn't worth the time to get out.

DutchK9 · 10-06-2008, 05:28 PM

If your bottles have crud in them, soak in oxyclean and hot water for a couple hours. The stuff will wash right out. Don't use soap.

Get some Star San or Idophor for sanitizing. You put the recommended amount in the sink or bucket and just dip and rinse out. No rinsing with water is needed.

I too make it a habit to rinse my bottles out after drinking them. I store them upside down in a box and then only have to sanitize when I need them again.

joe6pack · 10-06-2008, 05:30 PM

I have been rinsing out as I go, or at least the following morning. I thought that TSP was fairly toxic. Would TSP substitute work just as well? Thats sounds a lot easier than the way I have been getting the labels off.
I'm glad to hear that beer will keep for a good long time. I have been on a purchase and consume regimen since I started imbibing. I was worried about the longevity of the bottled beers because I don't think I would want to drink 48 of the same brew in a row.
Thanks.

Loup · 10-06-2008, 05:33 PM

I use oxiclean cause I'm too lazy to rinse as I drink, plus the oxiclean generally strips off the labels pretty well.

After I soak the bottles in oxiclean, I fill the bottle about half full with clean water, use a bottle brush and then rinse twice, which is probably overkill.

I generally do about 12 bottles an evening for 4 days leading up to the day I plan on bottling. Doing it this way keeps it from getting too boring for me.

joe6pack · 10-06-2008, 05:34 PM

So as long as I rinse as I go, I don't need any soap? If I got that right that sounds a lot easier. Will the sanitizer remove any small amount of soap residue in the bottles?

joe6pack · 10-06-2008, 05:38 PM

I just checked on my sanitizer, its "LD Carlson Co. Easy Clean (No Rinse Cleaner)". There is no ingredient list or anything.

**Yooper** · 10-06-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe6pack

I just checked on my sanitizer, its "LD Carlson Co. Easy Clean (No Rinse Cleaner)". There is no ingredient list or anything.

That's more like oxiclean than a sanitizer. I'd use that for cleaning, and then buy some Iodophor or star-san for sanitizing.

Remember, cleaning and sanitizing are two steps. Anything clean can be sanitized- so a nice rinse of clean equipment may be enough. Anything not clean should be cleaned first, rinsed, then sanitized. I keep my equipment clean, so on brew or bottling day, I just rinse off any specks of dust, and then sanitize with a no-rinse sanitizer. I use star-san the most, but I've used Iodophor and one-step, too.