The practice of removing the majority of microorganisms from equipment, utentils, fermentors, bottles etc. that comes into contact with the cooled wort. Poor sanitation can contaminate the wort, producing off-flavors.
12
votes
4answers
5k views
Can OxiClean be used as a sanitizer?
Many batches ago I abandoned the sanitizing solutions sold (at ridiculous markups) from standard homebrew stores in favor of OxiClean Free. My logic at the time (being out of sanitizer, and at a ...
7
votes
2answers
710 views
How long does StarSan last?
I keep StarSan in a spray bottle for easier sanitizing during brew day.
How long does the StarSan last in that bottle? Is it good forever?
7
votes
1answer
468 views
How can you use an oaken barrel for secondary fermentation?
I may be able to get my hands on a oaken barrel that I'd love to age a Scottish ale in. What can I do to sanitize it adequately and minimize oxygen exposure?
9
votes
3answers
4k views
Consequences of infection in a beer?
Everyone learns during their first brewing experience that you have to carefully sanitize anything that touches your wort after the boil to avoid infection.
What happens when wort gets infected? How ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the difference between Clean, Sanitized and Sterilized?
What is the difference between
Clean,
Sanitized and
Sterilized?
4
votes
3answers
298 views
Removing Fruit From Secondary
I recently brewed a peach hefeweizen and I added 7lb of fresh peaches to the secondary. I just chunked the peaches and popped them into the carboy. I have siphoned the beer out for bottling and now ...
28
votes
6answers
3k views
How likely is contamination in an average batch?
I sanitize everything; carboy, bottles, bottle caps, tubing, funnels, etc; because I was essentially told that my beer would turn to deadly poison without it.
I accept sterilizing the lot once ...
2
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I clean an old carboy?
I received a 5 gallon carboy that I want to use but it has some crud in the curve of the bottle. What's the best way to clean this off?
6
votes
5answers
2k views
How long do sanitized bottles keep?
If you sanitize a bunch of bottles and store them upside down on a tree or in a box (still upside down); how long can you store them like that before you feel the need to resanitize them?
Is there a ...
5
votes
3answers
816 views
Cleaning out beer lines
How often do you need to clean out your beer lines when using a home draft system?
What type of cleaner do you use?
Can I leave sanitizer in the tubing when a line isn't in use?
8
votes
7answers
468 views
How do you sanitize the outside of your racking cane?
I'd love to hear the creative ways which folks have come up with to sanitize the outside of their racking cane.
Sanitizing the inside is straightforward - siphon some sanitizing solution through the ...
7
votes
2answers
533 views
Keeping a bottle of no-rinse sanitiser
Some sanitisers, like star-san, chemipro oxi and betadine are no-rinse in certain dilutions. Star-san can additionaly be kept diluted in a bottle for months and used whenever one wishes. Can the same ...
2
votes
2answers
879 views
Boiling water and plastic equipment
I've been boiling my water prior to brewing (extract), and pouring this whilst still hot into my plastic barrel figuring the boiling water will make sure anything that survived the sanitisation is ...
3
votes
1answer
474 views
Sanitizing Second Hand Equipment (plastic fermenters etc)
Would you ever use second hand brewing equipment?
What's the best way of making sure it's absolutely clean?
Ordinarily, for something like this, I'd just buy new (so you know where it's been), or ...
5
votes
2answers
986 views
Beer tastes like sanitizer
I've used a no-rinse iodophor sanitizer both times I've brewed. Both times the beer seems to taste a bit like sanitizer. Is it possible I am using too much sanitizer? The last beer I brewed was an ...
12
votes
2answers
930 views
Sanitation & Dry Hopping
Is there any risk of wort infection by not sanitizing hops before dry hopping?
11
votes
6answers
2k views
[WIKI] Bottle Sanitizing Techniques - Pros & Cons
What are the pros and cons of each bottle sanitizing method? Let's look at time, equipment, quality of sanitation, and other factors.
Post one answer for each method. Edit the answers if you have ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
preparing fruit for secondary
What is the best method for preparing different fruits for fruit additions into secondary fermentors?
There are issues of sanitation and good fruit to wort contact, via chopping, slicing, mincing or ...
3
votes
4answers
256 views
Sanitising and adding homebrew additives
A few questions pertaining to brewing additives:
How would you sanitize orange zest, whole nutmegs, and cinnamon sticks for use in a brew?
When would you add the aforementioned items to the ...
10
votes
8answers
3k views
Sanitizing oak chips
Going to try using dry oak chips in my secondary fermenter. How do you recommend sanitizing the chips before adding them?
