C-brite went into beer

[paulberb]

First time brewing here, and as we were trying to siphon the beer some cbrite sanitizer flowed back into the carboy and into all of the beer. I didn't see exactly how much, it may have been around 1/4 cup or so. I figure I'm out of luck here, I know that stuff is pretty nasty. Any speculation as to whether or not the beer will be OK or drinkable at all? I've sort of given up hope for it but I'm still intending to try it in 2 weeks time. That is, unless someone advises me against even that, for fear of ingesting even a small amount of Cbrite. Thanks for the advice.

 

[paulberb]

It was a gallon batch BTW.

 

[Calichusetts]

Cbrite used to be known as a no-rinse sanitizer, but it lost that label. I am not sure what would do if its around 1/4 cup...was this a brooklyn kit?

 

[paulberb]

It was, yes.

 

[badbrew]

You had one end in the carboy and the other in a bucket of sanitizer???

 

[paulberb]

No, but the tube had sanitizer in it, per the instructions that were included. You were supposed to use the sanitizer to start the vacuum to begin pulling the beer into a seperate pot, prior to bottling. I had the racking cane down in the carboy and moved it in such a way to cause some sanitizer to go down into the beer.

 

[badbrew]

No, but the tube had sanitizer in it, per the instructions that were included. You were supposed to use the sanitizer to start the vacuum to begin pulling the beer into a seperate pot, prior to bottling. I had the racking cane down in the carboy and moved it in such a way to cause some sanitizer to go down into the beer.

Gotcha.:fro:

You need to get the auto siphon to avoid this next time. It's about $12.

 

[badbrew]

BTW, I'd drink it anyway.

 

[Calichusetts]

This is a common thing, most people need to practice siphoning before their first time. If it makes you feel better, I got about 1/3 out of the siphon then my dog started drinking it...had to stop, got air in the siphon...literally ended up pouring from the carboy into bottles...still came out great.

Brooklyn is a fanastic product. They switched a lot of their recipies around when they released their book. They use torrified wheat in some now and that can really lead to some stuck sparges...I would recommend going through a few of their recipies (I did about 6-8 over the past year) and then getting their book with the ingredients listed ($12 on Amazon to a kindle or reader app.) I guessed all their ingredients correct in their Everyday IPA and really owe it to MANY experiments with Smashs, this forum and a few books

Once you have some idea what ingredients do and what you like, start creating your own recipe or find one on here that is similar. Either way, 1 gallon AG batches are a fantastic way to start and experiment with...good luck and let us know if it makes it

 

[houndsbreath]

I agree with Badbrew; get an autosiphon. I struggled every time I tried to start a transfer. Autosiphons are simple to use and easy to clean.

 

[pyth]

I rather dislike my auto siphon, I don't have a good clip for attaching it to my bucket like I do with my racking cane. Bothers me cause I like to keep the cane cliped a half inch above any sediment or trub, and I can't do that with the auto siphon.

My advice, is just learn to siphon without it, it's not at all hard if you have a good clamp to pinch the hose with, and you can clip a racking cane to your carboy, or bucket or whatever, cuts down on stiring up trub and what not.

 

[paulberb]

Thanks for the input, I'll be getting an auto siphon for next time, that should help a lot. I'll give it a taste in a couple weeks as well, it looks like it might not be as dire as I assumed.

 

[Brewologist]

C-Brite is chlorine based. I would advise against drinking it, dilute or not. In my opinion, chlorine in your beer is not an "oh well, let's see how it turns out" kind of thing. It won't taste as it should, and it could make you sick. Not worth the risk.

 

[Ultra-Medic]

If the solution was 1/4c/5gal I'd probably be less hesitant but in a gallon... ehhh... read the link below, maybe even shoot an eMail to an expert.

It's already in most our drinking water but very diluted as it does not require much to have a great effect. If nothing else... chalk this up as a learning experience. It won't be your last.


http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/chlorine/basics/pdf/chlorine-facts.pdf

 

[CPFITNESS]

similar thing happened to me with the brooklyn kit (seems like a good kit, this is my first time brewing!) I got the siphon working and it pushed the sanitizer out of the tube and beer started flowing. then i had an issue bottling (thats another story) but accidentally poured about 20 oz of beer into the same bowl that the sanitizer beer mixture went into and then I bottled it . after the fact i realized that I did it. Well I just drank that bottle as an experiment since my bottling issue probably screwed up the carbonating of that one and I'm still living to tell about it so you may be okay but I do kinda agree 1/4 cup may be a lot for a 1 gallon batch

 

[scottland]

I rather dislike my auto siphon, I don't have a good clip for attaching it to my bucket like I do with my racking cane. Bothers me cause I like to keep the cane cliped a half inch above any sediment or trub, and I can't do that with the auto siphon.
.

Why not just hold it in place? That's what I do. It only takes about 5 minutes.

 

[Calichusetts]

I rather dislike my auto siphon, I don't have a good clip for attaching it to my bucket like I do with my racking cane. Bothers me cause I like to keep the cane cliped a half inch above any sediment or trub, and I can't do that with the auto siphon.

I actually flip the auto-siphon clip upside down and attach it at the very top of the siphon tube, not only is it exactly above the trub but it tilts the siphon to a corner and I literally only have to tilt the carboy at the end of the siphon to get a majority of the beer...try it, the clip should simply rest on the lip of the carboy, might be different with various sizes though

 

[GASoline71]

My first brew kit I bought last year from my LHBS has an autosiphon in the kit. I am sooooooooooo happy it came in the kit.

Get it, use it, love it...

Gary

 

[Ultra-Medic]

Another alternative is to just convert your feementors into bottling buckets with spigots and dip tubes. You can ferment in them, then siphon from the bottom directly into your bottling bucket or secondary. Just make sure your seals are tight.