Like alot of other guys here, I always had this distaste for cleaning my gear post-fermentation. Even when I used carboys, sometimes I would just cap and line them up in the garage until the weekend came around so I could clean them. What’s worse is all the cleaning gadgets, brushes, etc I had to use to keep everything sanitary. Even then, it was a huge PITA…
So when I moved to using Chronicals, it was much easier since I could actually remove the lid to clean. However, I'm pretty crazy about sanitation, so when Ss Brewtech introduced their CIP spray ball, I went ahead and jumped on it. I started with a more entry level setup using a sump pump and bucket instead of a closed loop system. It worked great, but required alot more PBW/Sanitizer volume to work effectively. Since pressure would have to build in the vessel to force the collection at the bottom out of the lower dump valve. So sometimes the pump would starve if you didn’t have enough volume.
So I got to thinking, and decided to go ahead and build a pump cart using the lower shelf from a Ss Chronical 14, and a piece of 12" x 12" 16-gauge stainless sheet I found on Amazon. To stiffen everything up, I picked up some Chronical leg extensions.
I opted go with the Chugger Nano pump, because of how powerful it was in relation to their smaller pumps that I use for normal brewing and wort transfer. I found that CIP is only as good as the amount of pressure and volume that you can feed the spray ball. Without a significant amount of pressure, it’s really all for none. Plus, it would allow me to operate a fully closed loop system.
Although I didn’t need to, opted to go TC fittings for everything to keep life simple, and they mate up directly with the butterfly valves on the Brewmaster Edition Chronicals. Since the pump requires at least a ¾” ID return feed, or the warranty will void, I went with a full 1” MPT TC fitting. Then for the supply feed, I stuck with ½” fittings.
Ss also just recently introduced 1” silicone tubing, so I snagged 3 feet of that in addition to a few of their 1” barbs. The key part of my design/setup to clean BOTH valves is using the offset TC tee-fitting to act as a manifold. That way the pump draws caustics and sanitizers through both valves, instead of just the lower valve. I used brewer’s hardware for the offset tee-fitting, the 90 degree ½” barb at the top, and few other specialized fittings that Ss did not carry.
After using the system roughly 5-6 times, I can honestly say this was the second best upgrade I ever made to my home brewery. The first being my glycol chiller build!
My cleaning regimen now goes as follows. Once, I empty the fermenter after fermentation. I add 2 gallons of hot water from the sink, so roughly 120-130 degrees, then add 1.5 oz of PBW. I fire up the loop and let it run for roughly 15-20 minutes. Just have a beer and relax…
Then, I dump that out, and give it a quick spray down with the hose. At this stage there is no stuck on krausen deposits, and the stainless looks sparkling clean. Then I go ahead and put another 2 gallons of regular room temperature water in, and then add 2 oz of 5 Star Acid #5.
Keep in mind this is a commercial grade acid, so use all necessary precautions! That means gloves, goggles, the whole nine yards! If it touches you it will burn you…. So bottom line, take all the manufacturers safety precautions to heart, just like you should with all cleaners.
I let the Acid #5 run for about another 15-20 minutes, and have beer #2.
Then dump that, and let the Chronical air-dry to repassivate. Acid #5 is amazing stuff, it takes off beer stone, kills everything it touches, and leaves your stainless with a crystal like shiny luster… Your done for now, so put your Chronical away until your next brew day…
Then most importantly, I run another 15-20 minute cycle of Saniclean before I put my next batch in on my brew day. Just another 2 gallons of room temp water, with 1 oz of SaniClean. It acts as both a sanitizer and final rinse to remove any residual Acid #5. This is a low foaming sanitizer similar to Star San…. JUST DO NOT use Star San with CIP, it foams way too much. It’s like putting laundry detergent in your dish washer… Just trust me!
What I like most about this setup is that I never remove a valve, my FTSs chiller coil(s), or any other fittings any longer, everything is completely CIP just as it would be in a commercial brewery setting. I have gotten amazing results thus far, and my equipment hasn’t looked this good since the day I got it! If you’re a serious home brewer, this is a must-have setup… you won’t be disappointed! :rockin:
So when I moved to using Chronicals, it was much easier since I could actually remove the lid to clean. However, I'm pretty crazy about sanitation, so when Ss Brewtech introduced their CIP spray ball, I went ahead and jumped on it. I started with a more entry level setup using a sump pump and bucket instead of a closed loop system. It worked great, but required alot more PBW/Sanitizer volume to work effectively. Since pressure would have to build in the vessel to force the collection at the bottom out of the lower dump valve. So sometimes the pump would starve if you didn’t have enough volume.
So I got to thinking, and decided to go ahead and build a pump cart using the lower shelf from a Ss Chronical 14, and a piece of 12" x 12" 16-gauge stainless sheet I found on Amazon. To stiffen everything up, I picked up some Chronical leg extensions.
I opted go with the Chugger Nano pump, because of how powerful it was in relation to their smaller pumps that I use for normal brewing and wort transfer. I found that CIP is only as good as the amount of pressure and volume that you can feed the spray ball. Without a significant amount of pressure, it’s really all for none. Plus, it would allow me to operate a fully closed loop system.
Although I didn’t need to, opted to go TC fittings for everything to keep life simple, and they mate up directly with the butterfly valves on the Brewmaster Edition Chronicals. Since the pump requires at least a ¾” ID return feed, or the warranty will void, I went with a full 1” MPT TC fitting. Then for the supply feed, I stuck with ½” fittings.
Ss also just recently introduced 1” silicone tubing, so I snagged 3 feet of that in addition to a few of their 1” barbs. The key part of my design/setup to clean BOTH valves is using the offset TC tee-fitting to act as a manifold. That way the pump draws caustics and sanitizers through both valves, instead of just the lower valve. I used brewer’s hardware for the offset tee-fitting, the 90 degree ½” barb at the top, and few other specialized fittings that Ss did not carry.
After using the system roughly 5-6 times, I can honestly say this was the second best upgrade I ever made to my home brewery. The first being my glycol chiller build!
My cleaning regimen now goes as follows. Once, I empty the fermenter after fermentation. I add 2 gallons of hot water from the sink, so roughly 120-130 degrees, then add 1.5 oz of PBW. I fire up the loop and let it run for roughly 15-20 minutes. Just have a beer and relax…
Then, I dump that out, and give it a quick spray down with the hose. At this stage there is no stuck on krausen deposits, and the stainless looks sparkling clean. Then I go ahead and put another 2 gallons of regular room temperature water in, and then add 2 oz of 5 Star Acid #5.
Keep in mind this is a commercial grade acid, so use all necessary precautions! That means gloves, goggles, the whole nine yards! If it touches you it will burn you…. So bottom line, take all the manufacturers safety precautions to heart, just like you should with all cleaners.
I let the Acid #5 run for about another 15-20 minutes, and have beer #2.
Then dump that, and let the Chronical air-dry to repassivate. Acid #5 is amazing stuff, it takes off beer stone, kills everything it touches, and leaves your stainless with a crystal like shiny luster… Your done for now, so put your Chronical away until your next brew day…
Then most importantly, I run another 15-20 minute cycle of Saniclean before I put my next batch in on my brew day. Just another 2 gallons of room temp water, with 1 oz of SaniClean. It acts as both a sanitizer and final rinse to remove any residual Acid #5. This is a low foaming sanitizer similar to Star San…. JUST DO NOT use Star San with CIP, it foams way too much. It’s like putting laundry detergent in your dish washer… Just trust me!
What I like most about this setup is that I never remove a valve, my FTSs chiller coil(s), or any other fittings any longer, everything is completely CIP just as it would be in a commercial brewery setting. I have gotten amazing results thus far, and my equipment hasn’t looked this good since the day I got it! If you’re a serious home brewer, this is a must-have setup… you won’t be disappointed! :rockin:
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