Immersion Chiller Smells Strongly Like Metal - Problem?

[inkman15]

Getting ready to use my new immersion chiller for the first time today on an ESB that I'm brewing. I spent some time reading on the forum today and have seen differing opinions on how to clean your chiller the first time before use. I just washed it with a non-perfumed soap and intend to soak it in starsan for about 30 minutes before adding to the last 15 min of the boil.

Right now, it still smells very strongly like copper. Is that going to come off into my beer and make it metallic tasting?

 

[JLem]

Should not be a problem - most ICs are made of copper after all. Also, if you are adding it to you boil, there's no need for the star san. I usually drop my IC in with 10-15 minutes left in the boil, which should be more than enough time to sanitize it.

 

[keller2343]

I made mine from copper I picked up at home depot. I wiped mine down pretty thoughly with a moist towel, then threw mine in a pot of boiling water a day prior to really clean it up. On brewday I just dropped it in with 10 mins left in the boil.

Not sure if that extra boil was necessary but it made me feel better.

 

[beerman315]

Palmer suggests cleaning with acetic acid (vinegar) once in a while:

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB.html

 

[helibrewer]

I think I recall washing mine with OxyClean before it's first use (mine is SS) then rinsing with water and StarSan. I just use my StarSan spray bottle before putting it in the kettle. The pH of StarSan is about 2 so it's plenty acidic enough.

 

[Logzor]

I was worried about the same thing during my first brew a month or so ago. It turned out great.

I washed the coil with dish detergent beforehand and rinsed it extremely well. Still smelled strongly of copper but it did not effect the brew.

 

[ciphin78]

Palmer suggests cleaning with acetic acid (vinegar) once in a while:

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB.html

+1

This is how I treated mine before the first use.