Cleaning your Bag

[balrog]

I have to weigh in to say my @wilserbrewer bag after 250 batches has only ever been IMMEDIATELY rinsed, then hung to dry.

And I may have to finally wash it, but only because I tried a batch of @Miraculix Hazy Cheapskate which had a 5# bag of store brand wheat flour. It clogged so badly that my next two brews drained noticeably slower than usual so I have to agree with @Bobby_M about the pores. My plan is a pbw soak prior to next brew. Depending on the laziness coefficient.

 

[Miraculix]

I have to weigh in to say my @wilserbrewer bag after 250 batches has only ever been IMMEDIATELY rinsed, then hung to dry.

And I may have to finally wash it, but only because I tried a batch of @Miraculix Hazy Cheapskate which had a 5# bag of store brand wheat flour. It clogged so badly that my next two brews drained noticeably slower than usual so I have to agree with @Bobby_M about the pores. My plan is a pbw soak prior to next brew. Depending on the laziness coefficient.

There's a reason why I call it "The Forbidden Ale" .

Sorry about that...

 

[wepeeler]

I clean my bag with very hot PBW solution every 3rd or 4th brew day because the pores definitely close up on you if you let it go with only rinsing for too long. I also do a double strength warm water starsan soak occasionally to combat any beer stone.

Beerstone on a bag?

 

[Bobby_M]

Beerstone on a bag?

Why not?

Beerstone is a type of scale of known as calcium oxalate (C2CaO4) in the brewing industry, calcium oxalate is a precipitate. This precipitate is largely due to a reaction between alkaline cleaners (caustic), hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) and protein (amino acids).

 

[wepeeler]

Why not?

Beerstone is a type of scale of known as calcium oxalate (C2CaO4) in the brewing industry, calcium oxalate is a precipitate. This precipitate is largely due to a reaction between alkaline cleaners (caustic), hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) and protein (amino acids).

Never thought about it. I usually rinse my bag immediately after pulling it. I've had it build up on fermenters (mostly cooling coils). I was under the impression that beerstone built up in fermenters and beer lines.

 

[Miraculix]

I think that an uncleaned bag can have a negative taste impact. I clean mine with scentless oxyclean in boiling water before use, same for hop bags. They smell completely neutral afterwards.

Soak your bag in hot water for five minutes. Try the water. Do you want this taste in your beer?

 

[balrog]

I finally ran mine through the wash ("trow it in the wash, it'll be grand") after making a batch yesterday. We'll see what happens next batch.

 

[BongoYodeler]

I finally ran mine through the wash ("trow it in the wash, it'll be grand") after making a batch yesterday. We'll see what happens next batch.

I've never put mine in the washer. After I pull and empty the bag I hang it outside to dry. After it's dry I give it a good shake which removes most of the dried grains. Then I soak it in a Homer bucket in Oxiclean overnight. A good rinse the next day, and hang to dry again and put it away until next brew day.

 

[Neldog0]

Old thread I realize... Does anyone find that as their bag ages it becomes less porous? I use a HERMS system and am pretty much constantly cycling the wort through the coil in the HLT and back to a sparging head over the grain bed. With time, my bag seems to hold in more of the liquid, causing it to not only fail to reach the level of the temp probe, but to also impact the flow back to the pump. Essentially the bag has become less porous. Build up of proteins or starches in the fabric perhaps? I always rinse the bag clean after brewing, but never have used a washing machine or dishwasher as described above. I wonder if I should try soaking in something that will dissolve starches/proteins? Suggestions?

I have used a citric acid soak. This seems to open the pores better than PBW. Also less caustic & less worry about rinsing out the PBW.

 

[A1sportsdad]

I have only ever used water. Rinse it with the hose, soak it, rinse it some more, then hang it to dry. 40+ brews and that's all it's ever had.

Same here.

 

[Miraculix]

Same here.

Try putting the "cleaned" bag into boiling water for a few minutes and have a taste test of that water afterwards. Do you want that taste in your beer?

 

[mac_1103]

Try putting the "cleaned" bag into cooking water for a few minutes and have a taste test of that water afterwards. Do you want that taste in your beer?

How about putting your "clean" bag in hot water for more than a few minutes to keep that taste out of your beer?

 

[Miraculix]

How about putting your "clean" bag in hot water for more than a few minutes to keep that taste out of your beer?

Doesn't get everything out. It is a start and better than nothing but the oxyclan really tackles the whole problem.

 

[mac_1103]

I was thinking more about getting out the stuff some folks don't want to use to clean their bags. Like laundry detergent scents and such.

 

[Neldog0]

I soak my bag in citric acid overnight. It works great and it rinses out very easily. Keep in mind that citric acid is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer and is also a natural product that acts as a cleaning agent under the right concentrations.

 

[Miraculix]

I was thinking more about getting out the stuff some folks don't want to use to clean their bags. Like laundry detergent scents and such.

Yes, that's an issue. I use an unscented oxyclean-type of product so I don't have this issue. I'd choose something without any scent, otherwise the whole idea is pretty much pointless.

 

[Yesfan]

Same can be said for new bags @Miraculix and @mac_1103 . I got a Brew Bag and Wilser bag earlier this week. I let the Brew Bag soak in a pot of 180F water for a few minutes and noticed a Clorox type smell. The water had a milky look to it and the same smell. So I filled the sink with hot water and some Dawn and washed, rinsed, and air dried. Smells clean and not bleachy now.

 

[hottpeper13]

When i washed mine in Dawn I had no head on the 2 beers I brewed. Make sure you soak it in PBW after Dawn and then no problem.

 

[balrog]

When i washed mine in Dawn I had no head on the 2 beers I brewed. Make sure you soak it in PBW after Dawn and then no problem.

Good point.
In my ever present chase after shortening brew day, but saving water, I'm finding I almost always have half a bucket hot water from the start of chilling, left at the end. I should always do another final soak of the bag in that, while cleaning up and putting away. And remembering to pitch the yeast. And set the ferm chamber temp.