Gel like substance clogged my valve

[Homer]

I just got done building an electric bottom drain keggle, and did a simple 5 gal extract brew in it to test it out. Although I have a bottom drain installed, I do not have the pump setup yet, so I just siphoned the wort out after chilling (immersion chiller). When I was done, I opened up the bottom valve, it was about half way clogged, then a chuck of gel shot out and it flowed normal. The recipe had pilsner lme, and wheat and pale dme (no specialty grains), small amount of hops and irish moss. After the build, I boiled water in the kettle a few times, then let it soak in PBW over night, then rinsed it out. So I don't think it can be any oil or residual from the build, can it? Another thought I had, was that maybe hot break gathered in the bottom drain pipe because maybe it wasn't boiling down there. Sorry for the blabbering post, but I just don't want to poison anyone.

BTW, the hydrometer sample tasted great.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Sounds like keg lube or vaseline. No way the brew.

 

[Homer]

Sounds like keg lube or vaseline. No way the brew.

Where could that have possibly come from? This was an intact sanke keg when I got it, and I cut it up. It was rinsed many times, boiled water in it twice, then let it sit with hot PBW over night before being thoroughly rinsed again.

 

[beernbourbon]

using Irish Moss, could it be your cold break, from the hops? It looks rather gelatinous when it forms.

 

[chickens4life]

I rish moss will set (we used to make a pudding/jello type of thing with it) if concentrated enough, could be that it settled into your valve during chilling and set.

 

[stlbeer]

I vote Irish moss.

 

[Homer]

So did I use too much Irish moss? I usually put in a teaspoon in 3 gallons while stove top brewing then top off later. Yesterday was my first full boil and I did not have any measuring spoons, so I just put a healthy pinch into it. The bottom drain goes from the diameter of the regular sanke opening down to a half in fitting, so I guess it could have collected in there?

 

[stlbeer]

I've use the method of dissolving it in a cup of hot wort first, then toss it into the boil. It's possible the Irish moss did not completely dissolve and some ended up in your drain.