BarberSurgeon
Well-Known Member
I just started AG brewing a few months ago and had good results in the two batches I made, but I can't seem to keep it up because of the tediousness of cleaning. It's such an important step that it can't be skipped, but in a small apartment kitchen, I find it's just impossible to get a satisfying clean without an overwhelming effort.
My normal method is to just soak things in PBW, but I have an unpredictable life-style that doesn't always allow for immediate cleaning the next day. So of course, after one soaking, my new tubing is cloudy (which I hear is a bad thing). I'm never sure I'm getting it all out of there anyway because of the vain attempt to flush out four feet of narrow coiled tubing with a sink faucet. It just doesn't get enough pressure.
That brings me to the racking cane and tube: how the hell do you clean this thing? It's too big for any bucket. It will melt in the dishwasher. The thing is completely unwieldy. I can't take it anymore!
I also hate scrubbing bottles and can't afford a kegging system. I'm attempting to rectify this by getting a bottle washer for the sink. I think that will help. Hopefully I'll be able to apply it to my other complaints, but I just don't know.
Ever get in this rut? How did you get out of it? The acceptable quality of my beer alone doesn't seem to justify the effort anymore.
My normal method is to just soak things in PBW, but I have an unpredictable life-style that doesn't always allow for immediate cleaning the next day. So of course, after one soaking, my new tubing is cloudy (which I hear is a bad thing). I'm never sure I'm getting it all out of there anyway because of the vain attempt to flush out four feet of narrow coiled tubing with a sink faucet. It just doesn't get enough pressure.
That brings me to the racking cane and tube: how the hell do you clean this thing? It's too big for any bucket. It will melt in the dishwasher. The thing is completely unwieldy. I can't take it anymore!
I also hate scrubbing bottles and can't afford a kegging system. I'm attempting to rectify this by getting a bottle washer for the sink. I think that will help. Hopefully I'll be able to apply it to my other complaints, but I just don't know.
Ever get in this rut? How did you get out of it? The acceptable quality of my beer alone doesn't seem to justify the effort anymore.