New Member - New BREWER!

[HomelessWook]

Hi guys,

Just thought i would join this site to get some tips when needed and educate myself.

Last night my girlfriend couldn't wait any longer to give me the birthday present she got me.

I opened it and found a home brewing kit and everything else necessary for my first brew! i have always wanted to do this so i am officially pumped. i have a True Brew set up and i will be brewing an Amber beer from them as well.

i've read a little about this and think i know what i am doing but one of the reasons i came here is because i wanted to read up on how to get the sanitation just right.

It came with some C-Brite cleanser and i was thinking about throwing a bit into one of my 5 gallon buckets and rinsing all my equipment that way (then under fresh water) and letting dry

i was thinking i could put the bottles and some equipment straight from the c-brite into my dishwasher and run a cycle in the dishwasher with no detergent to rinse them and steam dry the equipment - would this work or would it contaminate my stuff?

i'm sure ill these questions have been asked before on here so ill go do some research but any help would be great.

thanks

 

[Lunarpancake]

I would recommend hand washing everything and then tossing everything into the bucket with the sanitizer in it.

Also, make sure you fill a spray bottle with some sanitizer and have a cookie tray on hand. Sanitize the tray and use it to put your clean stuff onto. Use the spray bottle to quick-sanitize anything that may need it.

 

[barleynhops]

I would recommend using a no-rinse sanitizer like iodophor or StarSans. I keep a bucket filled with sanitized water, soak all my utensils in that and dip anything back into the solution that comes in contact with the wort post-boil.

 

[Homercidal]

Hand wash with something that doesn't scratch. Rinse well. Use StarSan if you can get it, to sanitize everything just before you use it.

Except for price tags, there really should be nothing that requires scrubbing. Just make sure there is nothing that bacteria can hide in, like bits of the previous brewing session. Otherwise, the sanitizer can't get in there to kill the germs.

 

[Domminigan]

I'm very excited for you! I third what they said...

 

[HomelessWook]

I've decided to start the brew tonight because i cant wait!

i just washed the fermenting bucket, the lid, and all parts of the airlock with normal dish soap and a soft sponge. they are drying now.

I am going to put 2tbsp of bleach in the fermenting bucket with 5 gallons of water and then throw the airlock in there and soak it for a while - and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

i can only find that product at one store and i dont have the time to get there tonight but will before i bottle.

would c-brite be better to use then bleach?

edit: and would you recommend taking a hydrometer reading my first brew?

 

[DragonTail]

Welcome

 

[Richabt]

Welcome!

Something to think about is that if you rinse with warm water after cleaning or sanitzing, you may not be sanitized any longer. That last rinse should be with a no rinse sanitizer like iodophor or starsan.