cleaning beer tanks

[DougBrown]

My s/s beer tanks are getting quite brown on the inside. There's no scratches or rust spots -- they look great as far as this goes. I know one is supposed to use nitric acid to 'rejuvenate' (or whatever the word is) them but do I need to do this just to get the brown out?

 

[The_Bishop]

Standard brewery practice is caustic followed by acid.

 

[homebrewdude76]

Caustic is PBW? What would the acid be?

 

[Homercidal]

Acid #5

http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/Acid-5-Tech2.pdf

Or just about any other acid. I've used hydrochloric acid before, but I prefer others due to the hazards inherent in handling the hydrochloric acid. you can see vapors comign up out of the bottle and a drop on the concrete will bubble pretty good. I doubt you'd want any of it in your eyes.

 

[The_Bishop]

Depending on how tough the beerstone/protein is, you'll need to use caustic (lye) as the PBW may not be strong enough.

 

[DougBrown]

Thanks for your advice!

 

[day_trippr]

"beer tanks"?

 

[DougBrown]

Stainless steel "Corny" kegs.

 

[day_trippr]

Hah! Gotcha. That's a new one on me

Cheers!

 

[Homercidal]

I'll have a beer, tanks!