sourmash
Well-Known Member
I now have 3 brew sessions through my brutus and the biggest question in the back of my mind (especially when I'm getting ready to brew again) is "Is my system clean and sanitized and ready to brew?"
I have read several posts here on the topic and of course many methods, and many theories are present. I have also listened to the pod casts with 5 star about cleaning/sanitizing. My profession is maintenance/reliability engineering and thought it would be really nice to have a maintenance schedule put together for cleaning/sanitizing of a brutus system much like a maintenance schedule for a vehicle or even a checklist that one can go through after brewing and before brewing. I figured since there are several brutus owners here, why not get a collaborative effort at developing a detailed regimen that one could keep a log book on.
Things that I am doing after every brew session includes:
1. - Scrubbing down all three kettles with a sanitized scotch brite pad and hot tap water and rinsing thoroughly.
2. - Fill up the HLT with about 3 or more gallons of hot tap water and run it through one of my 2 pumps to the mash tun. Then from the mash tun I pump that water through the second pump to the boil kettle. I then pump that water from the boil kettle through my plate chiller in the reverse direction that I used it during the brew session.
3. I run hot tap water through all my hoses and then store them away.
4. I clean my hop bag (I use a the 5 gallon paint stainer bags)
5. Rinse all my kettle lids with hot tap water.
6. Rinse my mash paddle with hot tap water.
Things I do before brewing:
1. Go through the same rinse schedule detailed above with using both pumps and all the kettles, only I use 5 gallons of hot tap water with the appropriate amount of Star San. I also wipe the sides of each barrel with a clean rag and the SS solution since 5 gallons will not get all the way up the sides.
2. I fill up one of my utility tubs up with about 8 gallons of hot tap water and add the appropriate amount of Star San. I use this to soak all of my hoses, hop bag, kettle lids, thermowells, and couplings.
3. I use a spray bottle with SS solution and spray down all of my quick disconnect fittings.
I am a complete novice at this point and am looking for some pointers/suggestions in effort to develop a complete list of a cleaning/sanitizing regimen. So by no means is this the "right way" of cleaning your system. Thankfully I have not had a batch go bad on me yet and hope to keep it that way!
Questions I have regarding time based cleaning intervals, meaning things that can be done maybe every 6 brew session etc..are:
1. What are the methods of cleaning plate chillers ( I have read a few here on the board) and how often do you do it?
2. Threaded fittings which most of the systems have, how often do you take all of the fitting out of all the kettles, chillers, hoses, etc.. and clean them thoroughly? I listened to the brew strong session with John from 5 Star and Jamil seemed to be committed to doing this but did not mention how often.
Once I have what seems to be a conclusive list I will put it in a word document of sorts and post it for those who find it helpful.
Cheers,
Joe
I have read several posts here on the topic and of course many methods, and many theories are present. I have also listened to the pod casts with 5 star about cleaning/sanitizing. My profession is maintenance/reliability engineering and thought it would be really nice to have a maintenance schedule put together for cleaning/sanitizing of a brutus system much like a maintenance schedule for a vehicle or even a checklist that one can go through after brewing and before brewing. I figured since there are several brutus owners here, why not get a collaborative effort at developing a detailed regimen that one could keep a log book on.
Things that I am doing after every brew session includes:
1. - Scrubbing down all three kettles with a sanitized scotch brite pad and hot tap water and rinsing thoroughly.
2. - Fill up the HLT with about 3 or more gallons of hot tap water and run it through one of my 2 pumps to the mash tun. Then from the mash tun I pump that water through the second pump to the boil kettle. I then pump that water from the boil kettle through my plate chiller in the reverse direction that I used it during the brew session.
3. I run hot tap water through all my hoses and then store them away.
4. I clean my hop bag (I use a the 5 gallon paint stainer bags)
5. Rinse all my kettle lids with hot tap water.
6. Rinse my mash paddle with hot tap water.
Things I do before brewing:
1. Go through the same rinse schedule detailed above with using both pumps and all the kettles, only I use 5 gallons of hot tap water with the appropriate amount of Star San. I also wipe the sides of each barrel with a clean rag and the SS solution since 5 gallons will not get all the way up the sides.
2. I fill up one of my utility tubs up with about 8 gallons of hot tap water and add the appropriate amount of Star San. I use this to soak all of my hoses, hop bag, kettle lids, thermowells, and couplings.
3. I use a spray bottle with SS solution and spray down all of my quick disconnect fittings.
I am a complete novice at this point and am looking for some pointers/suggestions in effort to develop a complete list of a cleaning/sanitizing regimen. So by no means is this the "right way" of cleaning your system. Thankfully I have not had a batch go bad on me yet and hope to keep it that way!
Questions I have regarding time based cleaning intervals, meaning things that can be done maybe every 6 brew session etc..are:
1. What are the methods of cleaning plate chillers ( I have read a few here on the board) and how often do you do it?
2. Threaded fittings which most of the systems have, how often do you take all of the fitting out of all the kettles, chillers, hoses, etc.. and clean them thoroughly? I listened to the brew strong session with John from 5 Star and Jamil seemed to be committed to doing this but did not mention how often.
Once I have what seems to be a conclusive list I will put it in a word document of sorts and post it for those who find it helpful.
Cheers,
Joe