Can a Cooler mash tun with scratches contribute to an infection

[olotti]

So I’ve been brewing with my converted round 10gal cooler for 6yrs now but lately I’ve noticed where my false bottom has scratched the sides of the cooler. Didn’t think anything of it till last brew I had a really bad back of tongue astringency that just wouldn’t go away even a month in the keg. initially thought it hop burn or creep so changed my process this time, wp at lower temp with less hops, fermenting cooler mid 60’s but let it free rise to 73 for diacety rest and tonight I took a gravity sample at day 9 and the sample had that same back tongue astringency and this is before the second dh. So when I cleaned my tun last batch I pushed on the bubbled area in my mlt and stanky ass wort came out of a now breach in where the plastic is scratched. I’m wondering if this is doing something with the mash causing this off flavor even after I boil thinking that would kill any bug that may be in the scratches in my mlt.

 

[AJinJacksonville]

I also use a cooler mash tun, and it has some leftover funk sometimes between brews...even after I clean it out well. That being said, infection of any kind should be a non-issue coming from the mash tun. Like you said, the boil of 60-90 minutes would kill just about anything. I can't imagine that it could affect the taste that much, unless you had a bunch of old stinky wort from a previous batch (like half of your batch's worth).

 

[bracconiere]

bubbled area in my mlt and stanky ass wort came out of a now breach in where the plastic is scratched.

that sounds serious, does it taste like insulation?

 

[AJinJacksonville]

Hahaha...I might have misread that part of it! So it wasn't a scratch per se...it's a breach to the innards of the cooler?

 

[AJinJacksonville]

that sounds serious, does it taste like insulation?

I wonder what percentage the alpha acids are at for insulation...haha.

 

[IslandLizard]

Time to start batch sparging using a new cooler?

No need for a false bottom and great 80-85% mash efficiency. I've been using a 54 qt rectangular Coleman Xtreme for 7 years, still going as strong as the day I built it.

 

[AJinJacksonville]

^^ Exactly what I have...but a toddler cooler (only 4 years old)

 

[bracconiere]

No need for a false bottom

going to need something....

 

[AJinJacksonville]

A true bottom?

 

[bracconiere]

for me, no, lol....but i still need stainless braid, or my current bazooka tube......orthwise i'd be making porridge not beer.....

 

[olotti]

Hahaha...I might have misread that part of it! So it wasn't a scratch per se...it's a breach to the innards of the cooler?

I thought it was just scratching the interior but apparently it breached that and now mash was getting into the interior and god when I pitched in the bubbled scratched part of the cooler prob old wort oozed our and it stunk

 

[AJinJacksonville]

I'm pretty confident Island has that...or PVC...or copper...

 

[AJinJacksonville]

I thought it was just scratching the interior but apparently it breached that and now mash was getting into the interior and god when I pitched in the bubbled scratched part of the cooler prob old wort oozed our and it stunk

Now that that's clear...I'd probably sh*tcan that beer...and the cooler. Yucky!

 

[olotti]

I'm pretty confident Island has that...or PVC...or copper...

 

[bracconiere]

I'm pretty confident Island has that...or PVC...or copper...

i'm sure he does....but batch sparging has nothing to do with it.....

 

[olotti]

I’ve also noticed a leak coming between the outer valve of the cooler as it drips down during mash rest and it stinks too like it’s just old mash water pushing out between the valve and the cooler. It smells like the coolers got an infection. Like one would with an abscess.

 

[AJinJacksonville]

I’ve also noticed a leak coming between the outer valve of the cooler as it drips down during mash rest and it stinks too like it’s just old mash water pushing out between the valve and the cooler. It smells like the coolers got an infection. Like one would with an abscess.

Dude. Put it on the curb. Now...haha.

 

[bracconiere]

I’ve also noticed a leak coming between the outer valve of the cooler as it drips down during mash rest and it stinks too like it’s just old mash water pushing out between the valve and the cooler.

you gotta take the valve off and clean it once in a while! but sounds like you need a new cooler....

edit personally, i'm used to drinking this type of swill. but most people here have self respect!

 

[olotti]

It’s not hip burn it’s a back tongue vomiting inducing astringency

 

[AJinJacksonville]

Yeah...probably the Chinese foam breaking down from the hot wort...barf!!

 

[olotti]

I think I survived most my beers with it but once it broke the inner plastic insulation and when I pushed on the bubble out came stinky stuff I’m guessing that’s tainting my wort

 

[bracconiere]

It’s not hip burn it’s a back tongue vomiting inducing astringency

something like wet dog smell? that's the way my MT smells when i don't dump the grain the same day i brew.....

 

[olotti]

Sucks cuz I have a beer ready to be kegged and that’ll be the second drain pour. Oh those poor hops. Sad but I’ll get a new mlt tomm

 

[olotti]

It’s more stanky like old cheese

 

[IslandLizard]

I'm pretty confident Island has that...or PVC...or copper...

Yup!
CPVC manifold. Shown upside down.
Everything on the inside has some surface scratches now and has taken on a (light) brown patina.

 

[AJinJacksonville]

something like wet dog smell? that's the way my MT smells when i don't dump the grain the same day i brew.....

Your post just reminded me that I've got spent grains in my mlt from last week...hahahaha.

Dammit man. I got to building rain barrels and refinishing furniture this week...totally forgot.

 

[olotti]

I think I’ve gotten lazy too at points and left mash in for a week and that’s prob not helping my matter.

 

[AJinJacksonville]

Yup!
CPVC manifold. Shown upside down.
Everything on the inside has some surface scratches now and has taken on a (light) brown patina.
View attachment 693013

Ya know...I've been thinking about building mine out of PVC...the braided line is starting to show some signs of worn-ness. Did you cut those slots yourself? Do you have some sort of filter before it hits the spigot? Do you like it better than the braided line? More efficient? Trying to come up with some ideas.

 

[olotti]

Yup!
CPVC manifold. Shown upside down.
Everything on the inside has some surface scratches now and has taken on a (light) brown patina.
View attachment 693013

Could u send a link to build something like that. I like it vs the false bottom o have that while nice I lose mash efficiency leaving like 2gal under the fb. That looks like it’ll pick up all the wort when u mash. I batch sparge I’m assuming u do to

 

[IslandLizard]

[...] till last brew I had a really bad back of tongue astringency [...]
gravity sample at day 9 and the sample had that same back tongue astringency

Not doubting your badly leeching mash tun may have something to do with off flavors or noticeable astringency. But over-sparging or high sparge pH (runoff should remain under pH 5.8) can also cause astringency.
Maybe your water composition has changed?

And if your brewing water is municipal or otherwise chlorinated, definitely treat all of it with Campden to remove chlorine or chloramines.