PBW supply

[McMullan]

My tub of PBW is getting too low for comfort and the HBSs I’d normally use for PBW don’t seem to have had any stock for quite a while. Shopping around in Europe, it’s ‘out of stock’. Seems like the tablets and liquid formats are more available, but I’m not sure if it’s old stock or the powder form is being replaced. Is it the same in the US? Anyone have any views on the liquid product?

 

[Franktalk]

Check out this thread on how to make your own PBW. I've been making it myself for years, and it works just as well.

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr....467655//RK=2/RS=noM0aJuVSuaberufyQKkNSRg6Qc-

 

[mac_1103]

In stock at Amazon, MoreBeer, RiteBrew, etc over here.

 

[Kickass]

I second making your own.

 

[wepeeler]

The liquid is expensive, but it's all I've been buying since switching from the powder. I had a bad batch of the powder and contacted 5 Star, and they sent me a sample of the liquid. Best thing ever. Costs more, but it's way easier to use in my opinion. Amazon by the gallon.

 

[Miraculix]

I've bought the ingredients for 3kg homemade stuff. Going to use it next week, gonna let you know how it goes. Two ingredients, about 25 euros for the 3kg, including shipping.

 

[McMullan]

The liquid is expensive, but it's all I've been buying since switching from the powder. I had a bad batch of the powder and contacted 5 Star, and they sent me a sample of the liquid. Best thing ever. Costs more, but it's way easier to use in my opinion. Amazon by the gallon.

I noticed the liquid was a lot more expensive than the powder, weight for weight, but I think the liquid requires less so lb for lb should last longer.

 

[McMullan]

I’m not that keen on making my own. Even if I could get all the components locally, which is highly unlikely in Norway, they’d probably cost more overall than PBW.

 

[pvtpublic]

I have a 5 gallon bucket of the liquid, but I don't use it since I started using this amazing thing called sodium/potassium hydroxide (caustic, lye). Perhaps look for some lye at a hardware store?

 

[mac_1103]

Liquid Powdered Brewer's Wash? What is the world coming to?

 

[Peebee]

I’m not that keen on making my own. Even if I could get all the components locally, which is highly unlikely in Norway, they’d probably cost more overall than PBW.

I thought I'd use your post as an excuse to look up the components of PBW. Humm, in the UK (on EBay) the main component (Sodium Percarbonate) is creeping up in price ... 20Kg (can't even get 25Kg sacks no more) is £50 (small bottles of it are a ridiculous price).

What follows will be a bit below your understanding, but I'm writing here for anyone. (And perhaps anyone to correct me for anything dumb I've said!).

As this stuff gives off oxygen if it gets damp, it is potentially a fire risk (it will help sustain fire, not burst into flames itself) so there could be reluctance of governments to let you have it, store it, transport it, etc.

The (only) other active component is sodium metasilicate (30% suggested by some), a degreaser, and substitute for trisodium phosphate which is an ecological disaster (which you can still get it in the UK, but it should have been banned ages ago). I don't bother with it, percarbonate will deal with any organic grime and I'm not in a habit of spraying WD40 over my brewing kit.

So, +1 for using just sodium percarbonate to replace PBW ... if you can get it! Bulk buy (20-25Kg) or get ripped off with smaller amounts (it does come in handy for other jobs BTW!).


This is a bit more about the stuff (commercial chatter ... or lies?): https://stppgroup.com/understanding-sodium-percarbonate-a-powerful-cleaning-agent/

Now, the other bit that I've wanted to look up for ages ... it's "kill" ability! (Just microbes, I'm sure it'll evict any rats in your fermenter, or perhaps turn their fur white so it's easier to aim half-bricks).

Found this: https://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=87407.0

So, 1g made up to 100ml creates a 0.325% w/v hydrogen peroxide solution? That's the same as the 10g per litre concentration I use mostly (at 40-60°C). Not really enough? From what I've seen you need x10 for that (3%) to be an effective killer? 100g in one litre, that'll strip paint! (Not kidding, it does strip paint!). Maybe 10g/L for general cleaner, 100g/L (but fraction of volume) as a cleaned surface wash as killer? Do rinse off ... don't need to be as meticulous as with a chlorine cleaner, but it will make a bad flavour (using it as "no-rinse" as some suggest is a dumb move as I see it).

 

[user 246304]

My tub of PBW is getting too low for comfort and the HBSs I’d normally use for PBW don’t seem to have had any stock for quite a while. Shopping around in Europe, it’s ‘out of stock’. Seems like the tablets and liquid formats are more available, but I’m not sure if it’s old stock or the powder form is being replaced. Is it the same in the US? Anyone have any views on the liquid product?

No issues at the LHBS I work or online.

 

[schmurf]

I checked the MaltMagnus site, but wow.... shipping cost to Norway just as much as the cost for the 3.6kg one.

 

[Broken Crow]

Still readily available in Canada, but when I checked on a UK site, many of their 5-Star Chemicals, including smaller PBW, were out of stock.

 

[bike2brew]

Liquid Powdered Brewer's Wash? What is the world coming to?

I use it preferentially in my svbs where it circulates through the manifold and tubing. Have always had slight issues with getting it fully dissolved.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I noticed the liquid was a lot more expensive than the powder, weight for weight, but I think the liquid requires less so lb for lb should last longer.

Not sure what's available in your neighborhood but I found lots of dairy type products can be used successfully in the brewery. Cows are cows no matter where they are so this might help you with a cleaner until PBW is available.

I use this utensil cleaner for most of my manual cleaning. It's high foamy so you wouldn't want to use it with a pump.

 

[McMullan]

Not sure what's available in your neighborhood but I found lots of dairy type products can be used successfully in the brewery. Cows are cows no matter where they are so this might help you with a cleaner until PBW is available.

I use this utensil cleaner for most of my manual cleaning. It's high foamy so you wouldn't want to use it with a pump.

View attachment 843106

There’s a farmer’s supplier just down the road. I’ll have to pop in there and see what they’ve got.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

There’s a farmer’s supplier just down the road. I’ll have to pop in there and see what they’ve got.

Besides that, cleaner I also use a couple different sanitizers from that same brand. They have a whole bunch of other "dairy" products that could be used but I haven't explored them in detail.

 

[mac_1103]

Liquid Powdered Brewer's Wash? What is the world coming to?

I use it preferentially in my svbs where it circulates through the manifold and tubing. Have always had slight issues with getting it fully dissolved.

Do I really have to explain that it was a joke based on the oxymoron? See?

What is the world coming to?

 

[DuncB]

New Zealand had a drought for PBW a while ago.
The thread linked above shows how to make it and is well worth doing if you can get the ingredients.
I believe it's the free radicals in the H2O2 that tend to damage cells for the " sanitizer" effect.
Perhaps an ozone producer inline pumped as used in some high end aquariums could be an option.
I would be tempted by some enzybrew if I could get it and then follow on with starsan. But currently I have good cheap access to the PBW ingredients including EDTA.

 

[DuncB]

Not sure what's available in your neighborhood but I found lots of dairy type products can be used successfully in the brewery. Cows are cows no matter where they are so this might help you with a cleaner until PBW is available.

I use this utensil cleaner for most of my manual cleaning. It's high foamy so you wouldn't want to use it with a pump.

View attachment 843106

A picture of the back of the bottle and ingredients would be useful.

 

[DuncB]

Do I really have to explain that it was a joke based on the oxymoron? See?

What is the world coming to?

I've always found a bag of dehydrated water is useful for emergencies.
Just add water and you are sorted.

 

[Miraculix]

I've always found a bag of dehydrated water is useful for emergencies.
Just add water and you are sorted.

Another good tip is to freeze some boiling water for later usage. You can quickly defrost it when you need some boiling water!

 

[mac_1103]

Another good tip is to freeze some boiling water for later usage. You can quickly defrost it when you need some boiling water!

Does this work in reverse when you need ice in a hurry?

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

A picture of the back of the bottle and ingredients would be useful.

Yes it would be helpful but I don't have one. The product is Stearns/Dairyland brand sold around here in the farm stores, Fleet Farm.

I did find a PDF about it, I'll try to post it when I get to my PC.

 

[AmarikinBrew]

Another good tip is to freeze some boiling water for later usage. You can quickly defrost it when you need some boiling water!

I just MASS EXHALE onto a very large mirror, then scrape it off into a bucket.

 

[DuncB]

Another good tip is to freeze some boiling water for later usage. You can quickly defrost it when you need some boiling water!

And we've all heard that boiling water freezes quicker than cold water.

 

[McMullan]

So, in theory, and based on what our garden looks like at the moment, I actually have all the “PBW” I need?

I’ve ordered some sodium percarbonate. Hopefully it doesn’t foam too much, like the expensive “alternatives” to PBW being sold by my LHBSs.

 

[DuncB]

Sodium percarbonate doesn't foam even when pumped and used through CIP ball.
I'm jealous of that snow.

 

[McMullan]

I'm jealous of that snow.

It’s like this for 5-6 months here most years. The novelty wears off after the first week. I get flashbacks when I open our frosty freezer during the summer.