bleach in homebrewing

[RichBrewer]

That's how it TASTES, but I am actually in awe of the precision with which AB and the other megaswill companies brew their products. Something that light in color and taste takes squeaky-clean and heavily-controlled care to produce. Any off taste at all would stick WAY out.

millions and millions of gallons of the stuff, and not a single noticable difference across batches.... amazing. Terrible beer, but amazing production process.

-walker

I've never thought of it that way. Any off flavors would stick out like a sore thumb. Also the slightest variance in hop utilization or malt profile would change the taste. They must have some monster laboratories! (Not like the one that Frankensteins monster was made in)

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

If it works for you, and it ain't broke don't fix it. This is just my subjective opinion on this matter.

I'm not saying it works just for me, but works for hundreds if not thousands of homebrewers. Not really a subjective opinion, just a fact. Bleach is a perfectly adequate sanitizer when used at the proper concentration and rinsed well. I've never had a problem with it, but like many people, I do prefer Star-san just for ease of use though it is significantly more expensive than bleach.

 

[brewhead]

wow 7 pages dedicated to the old bleach controversy. well - switch to starsan. yes it's more expensive initially - but think of the savings in time and no rinse

i've never ruined a batch due to bleach but i have rotted out a few t shirts and jeans with bleach spills.

i say if it's important enough to brew beer you like - then it should be important enough to use the right cleaner/sanatizer. use starsan!

 

[Lost]

Any bleach is too much. Again, I'll have to interject. Rinsing with hot water defeats the purpose of sanitizing with bleach, I mean whats the point in rinsing the bucket out with hot water? Sounds like a potential recipe for disaster.

IMHO Idophor & Star San are much more user friendly to your eauipment.

You know.. this topic has seriously been beaten to death. BUT in the interest of answering harmless question that has been asked quite a bit around here the above post pretty much sums it up. Star san is cheap, effective, hassle free, does not impart off flavors at higher than suggested concentrations, does not stain, does not spoil, do I need to continue?

bleach: why bother?

 

[RichBrewer]

You know.. this topic has seriously been beaten to death. BUT in the interest of answering harmless question that has been asked quite a bit around here the above post pretty much sums it up. Star san is cheap, effective, hassle free, does not impart off flavors at higher than suggested concentrations, does not stain, does not spoil, do I need to continue?

bleach: why bother?

I've got a better idea. Do what ever helps you enjoy the hobby more. Who cares what anyone else thinks? If you are making good beer and you are enjoying the process you are right on track. Don't be afraid to try new things like Star San. If they work better the hobby will be more fun to you. If for any reason, like price or difficulty of use, it doesn't increase your enjoyment then do what works for you.

 

[Regicider]

I've never thought of it that way. Any off flavors would stick out like a sore thumb. Also the slightest variance in hop utilization or malt profile would change the taste. They must have some monster laboratories! (Not like the one that Frankensteins monster was made in)

Tee hee. If they had, they could do the Monster Mash.

 

[Walker]

boooooooooooooo!

 

[bigben]

WTF....everywhere I read says you can use household bleach to sanitize everything you need to brew beer.

Now I read that you can't sanitize stainless steel with bleach. EFFFF. So how am I supposed to sanitize my brew pot?????????????

 

[Walker]

Now I read that you can't sanitize stainless steel with bleach. EFFFF. So how am I supposed to sanitize my brew pot?????????????

you don't need to sanitize the brew pot (or ANYTHING related to cooking the wort). You are going to boil liquid in it, and that will sanitize it.

-walker

 

[Ivan Lendl]

Isnt star-san just bleach thats been conditioned in oak barrels?

 

[cweston]

Isnt star-san just bleach thats been conditioned in oak barrels?

LOL--took me a minute

 

[bigben]

you don't need to sanitize the brew pot (or ANYTHING related to cooking the wort). You are going to boil liquid in it, and that will sanitize it.

-walker

Thank you! I'll tell you what...I don't think I've ever been this nervous before. In about 2 hours I will be brewing my first batch.....wooo hooooooo.

 

[Glibbidy]

Isnt star-san just bleach thats been conditioned in oak barrels?

ROTFL

easy ice man, i almost spit my beverage up all over my laptop

 

[Walker]

Thank you! I'll tell you what...I don't think I've ever been this nervous before. In about 2 hours I will be brewing my first batch.....wooo hooooooo.

good luck. I'm sure all will go fine. Relax and have a beer.

When you are done tonight, you'll be convinced that you ruined the batch. You'll come here and post your concerns, and we will all tell you to relax and have a beer.

After 10 hours, you won't see bubbling in the airlock, and you'll think something is wrong. You'll come here and post your concerns, and we will all tell you to relax and have a beer.

Then, when you sample it at racking/bottling time, you will be convinced that it doesn't smell or taste right. You'll come here and post your concerns, and we will all tell you to relax and have a beer.

After it's bottled, you'll open one too soon and it won't be carbonated. You'll come here and post your concerns, and we will all tell you to relax and have a beer.

Finally, you'll wait long enough, open one, and swear by god that you are the best brewer on the planet. You'll come here and post your elation, and we will all tell you to relax and have a beer.

-walker

 

[Alembic]

Walker -

Very cool summation of describing each stage of panic that the homebrew process incurrs on the inexperienced. I hope I speak for a few people when I say I have felt that anxiety for each stage you mentioned.

Thank you for writing it. I think you have about summed up about 70% of the "worried brewers" posts on this forum.

Cheers!

 

[bigben]

Haha, that's a great post. I will have to save it and just read the sections that apply to my current situation.

 

[rcbrew]

IW...
So much for any future posts!!! Nice summary....
You have pretty much said it all in that short post!
This newbe has (and sometimes still) feel everyone of those concerns. Thanks

 

[Alchemist]

Anybody thought of pasturizing the fill-up water right in the carboy? That should pretty much sterilize the bottle and the water at the same time. I'm just kinda hanging that one out there, see if anybody's got any thoughts on it. Gonna start my first brew in a week or two, depending on shipping, and I've been rolling that one around in my head for a while.

 

[Walker]

Anybody thought of pasturizing the fill-up water right in the carboy?

how would you do this? carboys can't handle a lot of heat, so....

edit: let me clarify, you can't put a carboy on a heat source without risking the glass cracking. If you could gently and evenly heat it up to the point where the water in it boiled, you might be able to pull it off, but I don't see any practical way of doing this.

Or.. are you talking about some method other than heat to do this?

-walker

 

[Alchemist]

... Well, not so much pasturizing, but boiling the fill-up water in a sealed carboy.

 

[Walker]

... Well, not so much pasturizing, but boiling the fill-up water in a sealed carboy.

I think that is probably a disaster waiting to happen.

If the heat source doesn't break the glass directly, the increased pressure in the sealed carboy probably would.

If you try this, let us know how it goes.

 

[Ivan Lendl]

... Well, not so much pasturizing, but boiling the fill-up water in a sealed carboy.

ive done this in the past: i boiled about 3 G. h20 the night before b-day, then cooled it in an ice bath and put it into a sanitized carboy.

It works but its a PITA!!!

(ive since stopped worrying about fill-up water, it comes outta my tap nice and very microbe-less, and you cant boil off chloramine like you can chlorine so i stopped)

 

[Walker]

ive done this in the past: i boiled about 3 G. h20 the night before b-day, then cooled it in an ice bath and put it into a sanitized carboy.

It works but its a PITA!!!

(ive since stopped worrying about fill-up water, it comes outta my tap nice and very microbe-less, and you cant boil off chloramine like you can chlorine so i stopped)

I think you missed the DANGER sign, Bjorn. He wants to boil water IN the carboy directly.

-walker

 

[Ivan Lendl]

I think you missed the DANGER sign, Bjorn. He wants to boil water IN the carboy directly.

-walker

oh..well thats just silly then aint it?

 

[Walker]

I don't know. Is it silly, or am I just being overly cautious?

I don't mean to dog the Alchemist, please don't take it that way.

The whole thing sounds very dangerous to me, and I'd hate to see you seriously hurt yourself trying something like that.

If it were possible to put a carboy directly onto a heat source and achieve boiling temps, I'm sure there would be people out there that didn't even use a kettle and did everything in the carboy directly.


-walker

 

[El Pistolero]

He wants to boil water IN the carboy directly.

Isn't a carboy pretty much just a big pyrex flask? I don't see any problem with boiling water in it...in fact, why not just do it in your microwave...24 minutes on high ought to do it just fine.

 

[Ivan Lendl]

Yeah like a GIANT flask? If Pyrex made carboys that would be sweet!

I doubt your everyday-run-of-the-mill-carboy can withstand that kind of treatment though...(with all due respect)

 

[Walker]

Isn't a carboy pretty much just a big pyrex flask? I don't see any problem with boiling water in it...in fact, why not just do it in your microwave...24 minutes on high ought to do it just fine.

someone's going to lose an eye if they don't catch your sarcasm, EP.

 

[user 574]

I hesitate to respond to allow this thread to grow more but what the heck. Someone on page 329 of this thread asked about a discussion with Dr Iodophor . Some micro-biologist dude. It is a good read for those inclined to rinse your iodophor sanitized stuff. Also, the correct amt to use.

http://www.bayareamashers.org/content/maindocs/iodophor.htm

Oh yea, both Iodophor & O'Doyle rule! :rockin:

 

[Alchemist]

I was thinking more double boiler style - big metal tub w/ some kind of stand off so the carboy isn't sitting directly on the heat source. I might just be crazy though, contamination paranoia comes quickly and surprises you at the place where I make my beer money.