REVELATION!
Back-tracked my process. I mist all surfaces of the Blichemann with Everclear to sterilize. Bro'n-Law gave me a Mason jar of Kentucky moonshine for Xmas so I used that because I wouldn't put that nasty stuff in my mouth. Strong odor of alcohol but tasted terrible. It's been sitting in the cheap /99 cent plastic spray bottle for months. This morning I misted my hand with it and the odor of alcohol was VERY faint. Faint sensation of alcohol on palate. It's my conclusion the alcohol leached/evaporated through the plastic over the past 7 months leaving only a weak solution of ETOH and water; too weak to kill all the micro-organisms. (Or most probably wife added water to it to do the kitchen windows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Deny, deny, deny!
Verdict--Blichemann not adequately sanitized due to weak alcohol solution in mist bottle. (the Blichemann had been sitting open on the porch for several weeks catching bacteria and wild yeast. Simple wash with soap and water, rinse, then misting with the weak ETOH solution did not kill all the bugs hence the turbidity and phenolic taste.
5 gallons of elixir of the hopp down the drain.
sls