Smelly Corny Keg

ere109 · Nov 27, 2011

Six months ago I did a complete tear-down and clean on my four corny kegs, dropped about 16 oz of Star San in each, and sealed them with 20 lbs of CO2. I used two of them right after cleaning - they smelled fine. Last week I was ready to keg a new batch and cracked open the first corny; it smelled rancid. I went back to the garage and opened the second one - a similar smell. Definitely partially CO2, but there's a kind of rankness, as well.
I thought I was thorough in cleaning them. The effects of aging Star San? CO2? Inadequate cleaning? What do your cornies usually smell like? Next steps?

Mongrel · Nov 27, 2011

Remove the posts, and check the poppets. Use a brush on the dip tubes. Check your gaskets to see if they should be replaced. Do a full PBW soak of everything. Then sanitize with Star San before filling with beer.

ere109 · Nov 28, 2011

I tore them all the way down the last time - including pulling the poppets and soaking them before re-assembly. It does seem like the safest thing to do, though.

LKABrewer · Nov 28, 2011

Starsan is not a cleanser, it will only sanitize if the item is already cleaned. Clean everything in pbw, rinse, then sanitize.

wolfman_48442 · Nov 28, 2011

If you're a fan of hops, make sure the insides of the posts are nice and clean. On more than one occasion I've had to scrub some hop bits out of the posts with a brush, soaking won't cut it.

Brewerforlife · Nov 28, 2011

After you clean and sanitize them, I would drain them, and store them dried and un-sealed, if going to be stored for a long time, then re-sanitize and purge before filling. If star-san is mixed with distilled water, it will hold almost indefinitely, but if mixed with tap water, it won't hold forever. Remember, a sanitizer is not a sterilant, it only reduce's the microbial count to a lower, safer level, providing it was properly cleaned first. If the sanitzer breaks down over time, it lose's it's anti-microbial properties, and bacteria numbers begin to increase, it will start to get smelly. Hop that help's!! Cheers!!!

Boohausen · Nov 28, 2011

what happen was the water you used oxdized even though you had 20lbs of Co2 there was still oxygen to stale the sanitizer if you want to soak your kegs leave them open, with idophor then fill to the top with water, at all breweries i worked for we always soaked with idophor and changed it out if it was long period of time, and always left it open to the air. make sure your idophor mixture looks like a copper ice tea. this will be sterile and ready to use, just rinse once so you dont get a medical taste.