Wine Thief Infection Culprit?

[dibs78]

Last couple batches turned vinegary and FG almost down to 1.000! Going to brew tomorrow and was giving my autosiphon and Thief a good cleaning when I noticed a small hole in the plastic of the Thief. Pic below. Do you think this has been my problem? I have been using it to draw samples after cooling and before pitching:

 

[podz]

I don't know, but there's an easy way to deal with the problem: don't use a wine thief.

I got a 30 liter fermentation bucket with a spigot. I put my graduated cylinder below the spigot and draw a 100ml sample, then drop my hydrometer in that. Record the gravity and then drink the sample!

No reason whatsoever to transfer to secondary, if you do secondary, until final gravity is reached in the primary. And after final gravity is reached, no reason to be drawing samples anyway.

Get yourself a bucket with a spigot. They cost like 15 bucks. Far less than the cost of one failed batch.

 

[Hello]

Or buy a turkey baster because not all of us use buckets. ;-)

 

[Dog House Brew]

What sanitizer are you using? When I started I had this problem. I figured out that my ph of my starsan was not staying effective. I was mixing it with tap water. Once I started mixing it with distilled water I've never had the problem again. I don't think the hole is the issue. I would have to start with my cleaning and sanitation practices. Hope you figure it out.