Sterilisation

[Cononthebarber]

This may be a silly question but is there a good reason we don't use normal household cleaner such as dettol to sterilise and clean equipment? It does kill 99.9% of bacteria afterall...

 

[NickW]

I have some starsan on the way but have been using thin bleach in lots of water. Just make sure you rinse three times and it's been fine so far. I've just got starsan purely for quicker bottling

 

[anthonyUK]

Sterilisation isn't strictly necessary for brewing. Sanitisation is sufficient which is 99.9% of stuff removed.
The main reason for not using some household cleaners is that they are perfumed or they leave a trace behind which can affect the flavour.
Some things such as budget bleach works though as long as you remove any trace of residual chlorine which a campden solution will do.

 

[jonnymorris]

Santiation - 99.9%
Disenfection - 99.999%
Sterilisation - 100%

 

[Cononthebarber]

After a mammoth bottling session yesterday I really got tired of the whole sterilising and rinsing process...think I may have to just invest in some star san, it sounds so much easier!

 

[Pjam]

I've been using Milton baby stuff ............. no problems so far ......... and cheap :) though perhaps the Starsan is easier?

 

[cask is best]

I use a steam bullet. 20 seconds of hot steam in the bottles and they get that hot you have to hold them with oven gloves. Been using it a year now cost 40 sheets. Now you tell me any nasties can survive that Had no ill effects yet.

 

[adomant]

I use a steam bullet. 20 seconds of hot steam in the bottles and they get that hot you have to hold them with oven gloves. Been using it a year now cost 40 sheets. Now you tell me any nasties can survive that Had no ill effects yet.

Mold spores will laugh at that, but presumably your bottles are already scrubbed clean in which case you're fine.

If you keep the bottles clean, then it's easy whichever method you use. My method is to give them a hot rinse in the dishwasher and put them in the oven at 120c for 20 minutes and leave to cool. Not only does that kill everything, it leaves the bottles nice and dry with no water lying around the kitchen for the missus to moan about.

 

[Moby]

I keg most of my beers but like to bottle a few to make comparisons with future brews.

I tend to clean them in the dishwasher and also use a steamer to finish them off. This takes a fraction of the time than conventional sterilising and I have't had any problems to date. One of the main reasons I keg is because I hate sterilising bottles.

 

[winelight]

I'm sure people are bored with me repeating this, but someone (I forget who) on this forum said his dad only bothers to sanitise his bottles once a year - so they get used half-a-dozen times between sanitisation - and has never had an infection in donkey's years.

Well, I put this to the test and bottled a batch of Coopers stout without sanitisation, and every bottle was absolutely fine.

Of course the bottles were well washed first.

 

[NickW]

We get hung up on these sorts of things. It's better safe than sorry though I guess.

I suppose beer's alcohol content helps with fighting off a proportion of nasties.

 

[Ian...]

I'm sure people are bored with me repeating this, but someone (I forget who) on this forum said his dad only bothers to sanitise his bottles once a year - so they get used half-a-dozen times between sanitisation - and has never had an infection in donkey's years.

Well, I put this to the test and bottled a batch of Coopers stout without sanitisation, and every bottle was absolutely fine.

Of course the bottles were well washed first.

I agree. I give my bottles a good rinse out with hot water and they’re always fine. I said this some months ago on here and got severely chastised by one of the mods for misleading people!

 

[winelight]

It's better safe than sorry though I guess.

This is the bottom line - we don't want to mislead people into getting infected brews.

But when it comes to bottles, that's different. Firstly, I've never heard of an infection from people who haven't sanitised bottles. Secondly, if there is a problem, it should only affect one bottle.

 

[Aleman]

It's better safe than sorry though I guess.

This is the bottom line - we don't want to mislead people into getting infected brews.

But when it comes to bottles, that's different. Firstly, I've never heard of an infection from people who haven't sanitised bottles. Secondly, if there is a problem, it should only affect one bottle.

How about an infection from someone who has sanitised bottles and still got an infection in the bottle!!

Yep That was me. Infections in bottles are actually very common.

Trust me if you have sampled some of the beers that we had at the National Comp (2012) and Sutton on occasion, you would be more tempted to actually make sure that you did a proper job. Of course that actually implies that either these beers were entered in the full knowledge that there was a problem . . .or perhaps even more worryingly (but more likely) . .The brewer didn't realise that the beer was infected . . .and was quite happy drinking infected beer.

Ultimately though it is best practise to cleanse and sanitise your brewing equipment and bottles properly with effective products designed for the job. if you choose not to that is up to you . . . just don't expect more experienced brewers to sit there and say nothing about your shoddy, slap dash methods :whistle: :whistle:

 

[winelight]

or perhaps even more worryingly (but more likely) . .The brewer didn't realise that the beer was infected

I'm sure that must be very common. But I suppose it depends on the type/degree of infection. After all, some beers are intentionally made with wild yeasts. They taste disgusting to me, but somebody must like them.

 

[Jeff Brewjubbly]

I tend to be paranoid so can't help but take all the steps advised. This is why I have 3 corny kegs and never bottle now :) Paaaiiiiinful bottling process. I do have some Christmas ale that I will bottle though (only 2 gallons and I want to spread them around a bit) but that is more of a pleasure as it a rarity.

 

[zgoda]

Trust me if you have sampled some of the beers that we had at the National Comp (2012) and Sutton on occasion, you would be more tempted to actually make sure that you did a proper job. Of course that actually implies that either these beers were entered in the full knowledge that there was a problem . . .or perhaps even more worryingly (but more likely) . .The brewer didn't realise that the beer was infected . . .and was quite happy drinking infected beer.

Yes, we had the same here. Of 3 bottles sent to our Regional it was common 1 to be infected. This time the reserve one was used for tastings, but I guess this will not be the case in 2014.

 

[NickW]

Trust me if you have sampled some of the beers that we had at the National Comp (2012) and Sutton on occasion, you would be more tempted to actually make sure that you did a proper job. Of course that actually implies that either these beers were entered in the full knowledge that there was a problem . . .or perhaps even more worryingly (but more likely) . .The brewer didn't realise that the beer was infected . . .and was quite happy drinking infected beer.

Yes, we had the same here. Of 3 bottles sent to our Regional it was common 1 to be infected. This time the reserve one was used for tastings, but I guess this will not be the case in 2014.

So you're saying of the 40 bottles of stout I will be bottling this weekend - 13 will likely be infected? :wha: :nah:

 

[graysalchemy]

Trust me if you have sampled some of the beers that we had at the National Comp (2012) and Sutton on occasion, you would be more tempted to actually make sure that you did a proper job. Of course that actually implies that either these beers were entered in the full knowledge that there was a problem . . .or perhaps even more worryingly (but more likely) . .The brewer didn't realise that the beer was infected . . .and was quite happy drinking infected beer.

Yes, we had the same here. Of 3 bottles sent to our Regional it was common 1 to be infected. This time the reserve one was used for tastings, but I guess this will not be the case in 2014.

So you're saying of the 40 bottles of stout I will be bottling this weekend - 13 will likely be infected? :wha: :nah:

No you probably have a 1 in 3 chance of all of them being infected if the 2012 National Comp is a reflection of national average.

if you choose not to that is up to you . . . just don't expect more experienced brewers to sit there and say nothing about your shoddy, slap dash methods

By the way well said Aleman. :thumb:

 

[Pjam]

Oh. Is my miltons 'slap-dash'? Tis for sterilising ........... not intended for brewing though. I do want 'best practice' :geek: