plastic fermenter lifespan

[NGD]

If you sanitize the exposed walls of the headspace and the (bottom of the) lid, it takes several weeks for that mold to appear. I never push the lid shut on the Starsan storage buckets, just lay them loosely on top. I guess air gets in and allows that mold to grow (faster). Ambient temps are a factor too.

Just resanitize the headspaces and lids more frequently. I mop it around using a small washcloth.

I don't see it as a real problem, I just wash it off and resanitize. If you fill the buckets to the brim leaving no or little headspace it may not happen.

I agree. There was only mold under the lid, likely from the condensation. I’d either need to mix a much larger batch or shake the bucket periodically.

I suspect that recycling the Star-San carries some micro-debris with it. The underside of a bucket lid would seem to be the perfect environment for mold: dark and damp. I keep my Star-San in a clear 3-gal PET water bottle with a cap. Plus, I don't push it past 2-3 batches of use; it's not worth an infected brew for the cost of mixing up a new batch of sanitizer. I mix about 1.5 - 2 gal at a time and always shake it vigorously just before use so that it's as foamy as can be. Maybe the clear bottle with a narrow neck where moisture can't as easily accumulate is why I've never had an issue with mold inside the bottle.

Also agree here. I don’t recycle Star-San. Its not worth it to me. I made up this large batch to keep my spray bottle filled since I periodically use it to sanitize the inside of my kegerator as well as for brewing.

 

[IslandLizard]

The underside of a bucket lid would seem to be the perfect environment for mold: dark and damp.

Excellent observation! That dark environment may well be key to the cause, and would explain why the mold doesn't grow in (clear) carboys, glass or PET.

 

[passedpawn]

Excellent observation! That dark environment may well be key to the cause, and would explain why the mold doesn't grow in (clear) carboys, glass or PET.

There is no biological advantage to the dark. But dark spaces often possess the qualities that DO encourage mold growth, mostly dampness. Correlation da, causation nyet.

 

[Calder]

Excellent observation! That dark environment may well be key to the cause, and would explain why the mold doesn't grow in (clear) carboys, glass or PET.

Mold grew on the underside of my clear lid on my 1 gallon container. I now give the lid a wipe with a starsan soaked cloth every couple of weeks.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Mold can grow in my starsan container?!? Oh dear, something else to worry about in the middle of the night. I keep mine in a 1 gallon plastic cereal container with a dark grey lid on it. It could have mold spots on it right now I just cant see em.

 

[Moose_MI]

...seems like every beer comes out with the same "taste" in it and i cant pin point it

Please list the different beers/styles that you’ve brewed and picked up this taste. Also, are you using same type of yeast ... maybe even re-using from batch to batch?

I use Notty mostly and mostly reuse from batch to batch. It’s generally clean but there is a taste i find common. I really don’t think it’s a bug..just something familiar in the beers.

 

[tomwhit19]

Please list the different beers/styles that you’ve brewed and picked up this taste. Also, are you using same type of yeast ... maybe even re-using from batch to batch?

I use Notty mostly and mostly reuse from batch to batch. It’s generally clean but there is a taste i find common. I really don’t think it’s a bug..just something familiar in the beers.

most recent brew was an irish red with wlp004
winter christmas ale with american ale 1056
3 of a cream ale all with 1056 1 was harvested from a previous brew but the 2 after that were all new packs of yeast

 

[IslandLizard]

thanks everyone, just trying to process of elimination a problem i seem to be having lately....seems like every beer comes out with the same "taste" in it and i cant pin point it [...]

What kind of water are you using for your brews?

 

[tomwhit19]

What kind of water are you using for your brews?

tap water run through an rv filter, im not thinking this is the problem since other beers have come out without this issue im dealing with lately

 

[IslandLizard]

tap water run through an rv filter, im not thinking this is the problem since other beers have come out without this issue im dealing with lately

You should definitely use 1/4 Campden tablet (or a pinch of K-Meta) per 5 gallons, in all your brewing water, carbon block filtered or not.
The carbon filter block in your RV filter may not remove all Chlorine (it needs to flow quite slowly to do that, like <1/2 gallon per minute) and definitely can't remove Chloramines if that's what your Water Co. uses. Neither 'sulfite treatment' will hurt, but will avoid chlorophenols, 100%. Drinking/brewing water from a hose is always suspect to me, never mind what kind of hose it is or how it's been handled or stored. Yuck!

How about using a bucket for getting your brewing water from a faucet (no hose), and use the 'sulfite treatment' on that? I'd start with that.

Maybe the water you use has something in it now that causes off flavors? Higher mineral content, salt (roads). Ask your Water Co. for a 'water quality' report. That's beyond the mandated poison report they send to you yearly or post online.

You could do a (small volume) test brew with distilled water as a reference, using the same (or different) equipment. See if you pick up the same off flavor. Narrow it down by eliminating variables. Make 100% sure that 'distilled' water isn't chlorinated, some apparently are. Or again, treat with a pinch of sulfite to be sure.

 

[oldwhiskers]

+1 on the K-Meta and carrying water in a bucket instead of a hose.

 

[wepeeler]

I switched to stainless steel after 2 batches in a row had off flavors. Havn't had any off flavors since. One of my buckets was 10 years old, the other was close to 2 years old. Both buckets were discolored and smelled like hops no matter what I cleaned them with or how long I soaked them for. For reference, I was mainly making neipas which sometimes had almost a pound of hops + yeast in the bucket.

 

[dwhite60]

I still have my original 6.5 gallon bucket from my first homebrewing kit I bought about 1990/1991. Those were the days you calculated mash efficiency with a paper, pencil and calculator. Made a LOT of good and some great beer with that bucket all without Beersmith, Mr. Malty, 35 malts and 17 types of hops per batch. There was ONLY dry yeast.

I don't use it because I'm only making 2.5 - 3 gallon batches anymore. It's been stored well. I wouldn't hesitate to use it if I decide to make a bigger batch of something.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Alex413]

Mosher (?) recommends putting a trashbag inside of an old smelly bucket, since they're relatively clean inside and can be thrown away once you're done. Never tried it myself but I think that could be an option if you're making something smelly like hefeweizen

 

[odie]

I have a hefe in my bucket right now. So it’s gonna stink after it’s done?

 

[ncbrewer]

I have a hefe in my bucket right now. So it’s gonna stink after it’s done?

No. It will smell really good.

 

[odie]

No. It will smell really good.

A couple weeks ago it smelled really nice inside the fermenter chamber. This morning very very stinky. But I didn’t open the bucket lid. Having hefe concerns. Been in the primary almost 3 weeks. It’s at 1.010 right now. Not sure it should go down any more. Never done a hefe before

 

[Ninoid]

I have two plastic buckets and wash them immediately after bottling with stream of hot water and let them dry. If I do not use it for a long time then spray it with OXI and after that I wash again with hot water. No any scratch. The only problem I ever saw on a one bucket is that the lid no longer seals properly, but I solved it with stretch foil.

Brew near of 30 batch, mostly with one of them.

 

[Clonefan94]

I have one bucket that I've used since I started brewing 7 years ago. The key is to clean them ASAP. I run hot water in them, do a good wipe down with my hand to get most of the gunk out. Then a little PBW and warm water and clean with a sponge. The only other time I replaced a bucket was when I did something stupid and scratched the inside of the bucket. For the cost of the bucket, I didn't think it was worth the chance. And spare buckets are always a luxury at my house.

Disclaimer: I recently switched to stainless though, because I think the residual smells in the plastic over these years was starting to bug me. After a few brews, no matter how hard you clean them, they will get stained and they will smell like beer. I never noticed any off flavors in my beer, but some gifted money came my way so I decided to splurge on a couple Anvil bucket fermenters.

 

[tellyho]

I tend to have a bucket for 5ish years before I replace. I brew 5 gal 1x/mo., So rarely need other vessels. Even though I have 3 carboys and various other buckets ...

 

[Nagorg]

I had a Better Bottle develop a crack near the bottom of it. Sadly this happened during fermentation. I noticed it in time to transfer to another Better Bottle and the beer was fine but the experience still sucked.

Researching this, I found that prolonged soaks (prolonged can be just a few hours) in PBW or OxiClean solution can degrade the integrity of the plastic and promote cracking. The chance of this was a buzzkill since I found soaking to be the best way to clean stubborn krausen rings. I switched to Big Mouth Bubblers so that I could get my arm in for scrubbing but even those could be tough to really clean sometimes.

Now I ferment in stainless mainly. I'll still use the Big Mouth Bubblers if brewing a smaller batch but that's mainly because I have them and they do work great. That said, I'd really like a SS Brew Bucket!

 

[d40dave]

I use these for primary and found the purple sponge is totally scratch free. I think it's a 3M product. when I first saw them I thought they would be good for my cast iron and boy was I wrong. Only use 'em on plastic, got 2 plastic big mouth when they first came out and don't have any scratches and are brightly clear. On the other hand my friend has 2 pet better bottles that are all foggy from using a carboy pressure cleaner and pbw,and he says he had contaminated beer twice and uses them only for hauling water for brewing.

I found many sponges that were purple but none that were called "purple sponge". I was wondering if anybody know what hottpeper13 what referring to. Does anybody have another suggestion to clean PET fermentors? Thanks.

 

[Ninoid]

Wash only with warm water and hand immediately after pouring beer and sprinkle with Starsan when it dries and seal (remain wet). After washing, go over it with your hand and if somewhere you feel that it is not smooth, wash it additionally with a wet fine cloth.
Open at the beginning of brew and leave to dry. A few minutes before pour the wort, sprinkle with Starsan again and just before pouring, drain the Starsan (it doesn't matter if it remains wet from Starsan) and pour the wort. This is how I work with a plastic fermenter for over 50 batchs and I have no problems. Replace the fermenter if have scraches or stains appear that cannot be removed without scrubbing or soap.

 

[hottpeper13]

They're called Scotch Bright Stay Clean and come in a 3 pack

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I used the plastic buckets for years; washed promptly and drained dry. As they developed stains and odors, I just repurposed them as sauerkraut fermenting buckets. I retained some for myself and passed others on to my non-brewing friends. Eventually, I raided the piggy bank and went to stainless; a move that I have not regretted. I can do either beer or wine with no concerns about residual stains and odors transferring to my next batch. It also allows me to heat my strike water in the fermenter, further sanitizing it to receive my wort.

 

[mashpaddled]

As long as you aren't hacking at the interior with steel wool or anything sharp I wouldn't worry about scratches. Excessively hot water will melt many plastic fermenters. Like, don't pour boiling wort in.

I have my original 7.9 gallon bucket from 2009 in use (although I've mostly switched those batches to fermenting in a keg) and several better bottles from the early 2010s still in use for sour beers. Any time the bucket got too discolored or took on the smell of an adjunct, it's easily removed with a warm water soak with oxyclean or PBW.

 

[aceluby]

I got some really good advice when I asked some homebrewers why I couldn't get the smell out of my glass carboys. No issues, just smelled like beer after a dozen brews, even after thorough cleaning and sanitizing.

Stop smelling your carboy.