markstache
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2013
- Messages
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First, a question: several recent batches have developed little rings in the bottle at the liquid line. A few have developed white film on top of the liquid. Am I right in assuming that this is evidence of bottle infections? I'm not 100% sure, but the carbonation for these batches seems high. For the white film bottles, they were 1 gallon batches and I tried to drink them super fast. More recent batches haven't been around long enough for me to be sure that they are getting more carbonated.
Next, how to eliminate and stop this issue for ever.
My current cold side process is to ferment (primary only) in plastic PET carboys. Take a gravity reading using a plastic turkey baster. Rack with a plastic autosiphon into a bottling bucket. Boil sugar in water and add. Stir with sanitized spoon. Bottles soaked in Star-San and set up right in dish washer door. Dispense with plastic bottling wand. Caps sit in star-san until needed.
I use star-san throughout. Freshly made for each bottling batch.
I haven't seen any evidence of infections in the PET fermenters, so I'm going to keep those. I'm going to toss all other plastic. My questions are what to use to replace.
To take samples, I'm going to get a stainless theif/baster. I'll boil it before using it.
To rack, I have a stainless cane that's been sitting idle. I'm planning to replace the autosiphon with a sterile siphon starter (HEPA filter and plastic cap).
Question: Should I get new vinyl tubing for racking or should I get some silicon? I could boil the silicon each time.
To bottle, I'm thinking of using my 8 gallon kettle. I can boil water it in before using to heat sanitize.
To get from the kettle to the bottles, I'm thinking about using silicon again. Bottling wands are pretty cheap and I'm not seeing a stainless options. I might just buy a box and call it good.
For my bottles, I think I will heat sanitize for the next few batches. If the bottle infections ceases, I'll probably just continue with my brush and rinse after use, oxyclean soak, and star-san soak.
Thoughts on this plan?
Next, how to eliminate and stop this issue for ever.
My current cold side process is to ferment (primary only) in plastic PET carboys. Take a gravity reading using a plastic turkey baster. Rack with a plastic autosiphon into a bottling bucket. Boil sugar in water and add. Stir with sanitized spoon. Bottles soaked in Star-San and set up right in dish washer door. Dispense with plastic bottling wand. Caps sit in star-san until needed.
I use star-san throughout. Freshly made for each bottling batch.
I haven't seen any evidence of infections in the PET fermenters, so I'm going to keep those. I'm going to toss all other plastic. My questions are what to use to replace.
To take samples, I'm going to get a stainless theif/baster. I'll boil it before using it.
To rack, I have a stainless cane that's been sitting idle. I'm planning to replace the autosiphon with a sterile siphon starter (HEPA filter and plastic cap).
Question: Should I get new vinyl tubing for racking or should I get some silicon? I could boil the silicon each time.
To bottle, I'm thinking of using my 8 gallon kettle. I can boil water it in before using to heat sanitize.
To get from the kettle to the bottles, I'm thinking about using silicon again. Bottling wands are pretty cheap and I'm not seeing a stainless options. I might just buy a box and call it good.
For my bottles, I think I will heat sanitize for the next few batches. If the bottle infections ceases, I'll probably just continue with my brush and rinse after use, oxyclean soak, and star-san soak.
Thoughts on this plan?