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Author Topic: Brew Kettle cleaning question  (Read 7510 times)

Offline flbrewer

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Brew Kettle cleaning question
« on: January 21, 2014, 03:18:45 pm »
I normally just use a sponge and soap to clean out my SS 10 gallon brew kettle. This looks like it cleans everything out. Is there a need for a product like PBW for this?


Offline Stevie

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2014, 03:29:31 pm »
I use Oxyclean and once or twice a year a good scrubbing with Bar Keeper's Friend to get all the stuck bit off.

Offline WDE97

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2014, 03:42:44 pm »
I use Oxyclean and once or twice a year a good scrubbing with Bar Keeper's Friend to get all the stuck bit off.

BKF is a great product to get those tough stains and beer stone off of stainless steel. I just do it as needed, maybe every 7-10 batches.
Robert H.

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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2014, 03:44:37 pm »
yeah, I scrub it out with hot water and a nylon grain bag after the brew and when the beer stone/brown gunky gunk gets gross enough I hit it with some pbw and hot water. I don't like to let soap get near my beer, perhaps I'm too paranoid but... I also find it doesn't really work for the stuck on goo in the kettle.
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Offline flbrewer

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2014, 03:55:09 pm »
Beer stone?

Offline Herminator

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2014, 03:58:19 pm »
Bar Keepers Friend works really well but not necessary every time.  PBW works great after brews for me.  Beer Stone is a calcium build up. 
Hermen D.
Muerte Brewing

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2014, 04:15:23 pm »
Beer stone?

Calcium Oxalate build up on the brewing and storage equipement. Brownish coating on kettles, or you can see it stain serving lines. PBW will remove organics, but not beerstone. For beerstone use and acid like distilled vinegar, Star San, or Bar Keepers Friend (it has oxalic acid as the main active ingredient). Beerstone can harbor bacteria, so it is not desired in a brewery.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline flbrewer

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2014, 04:48:17 pm »
Got it, sounds like what the Starsan took off the kettle for me!

Offline euge

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2014, 05:50:33 pm »
yeah, I scrub it out with hot water and a nylon grain bag after the brew and when the beer stone/brown gunky gunk gets gross enough I hit it with some pbw and hot water. I don't like to let soap get near my beer, perhaps I'm too paranoid but... I also find it doesn't really work for the stuck on goo in the kettle.

I use a copper scrubbie and elbow gease but no soap! I weird about it too.
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Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2014, 06:30:01 am »
Another vote for Oxyclean and occasional Barkeepers friend cleaning.
Seacoast Homebrew Club - Portsmouth, NH
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Offline AmandaK

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2014, 06:51:54 am »
I run PBW through my whole system (partial clean in place set up) after every brew. Every 10 brews, I run Acid #5 to keep all of the stainless nice and shiny and my hard SS plumbing free of build up.
Amanda Burkemper
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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2014, 07:18:32 am »
Another vote for Oxyclean and occasional Barkeepers friend cleaning.

+1
Jon H.

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2014, 07:20:53 am »
I run PBW through my whole system (partial clean in place set up) after every brew. Every 10 brews, I run Acid #5 to keep all of the stainless nice and shiny and my hard SS plumbing free of build up.
Where do you source the Acid 5?
Jeff Rankert
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Offline AmandaK

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2014, 08:17:25 am »
I run PBW through my whole system (partial clean in place set up) after every brew. Every 10 brews, I run Acid #5 to keep all of the stainless nice and shiny and my hard SS plumbing free of build up.
Where do you source the Acid 5?

My LHBS (Apex Brew Wares) will order nearly anything I ask for. He's really, really good.
Amanda Burkemper
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Offline beersk

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Re: Brew Kettle cleaning question
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2014, 11:59:23 am »
Is beer stone on the bottom of a boil kettle a concern for infection?
Jesse