The dreaded TCP taste ...

[chrisbuck10765]

The dreaded TCP taste ....

I've been brewing for a couple of years now and had pretty successful brews (if I do say so myself !!) but the last one had the dreaded (slight) TCP taste. Now, I'd brewed in the same way and carefully rinsed and re-rinsed after sterilising equipment with 'VWP' steriliser.

I waited... and waited hoping the taste would go away - it didn't of course and eventually I chucked out 40 pints of tcp flavoured brown alcoholic liquid. :wha:

I rinsed out the barrel, cleaned the barrel and in fact re-sterilised it followed by rinsing a lot. Amazingly the TCP smell is still there ....

This got me thinking, could it be the beer reacting with the plastic barrel ? Sounds daft but this is the first time I'd used this particular barrel and it came from a cheap 'supermarket' (Wilk......s) and I just wondered if maybe the plastic in this particular 'bargain' barrel may not be food-grade.

I'd be really interested to hear any thoughts or similar experiences. Thanks.
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[Springer]

I certainly know the taste :) Yes you keep hoping it will disappear, infact it gets worse.
Can't put it down to the bucket myself :? How about a session with a diluted bleach solution. ?
S

 

[graysalchemy]

I had it in my first AG which was a stout. I had a terrible trouble with a stuck sparge so i put it down to tannins from the sparge.

 

[TheMumbler]

I've used a youngs barrel from wilkos to dispense from when I was still using kits and for occaisional conditioning with no issue. I'd be really surprised if it isn't food grade. Surely they would be breaking some law or other if not. Smells do get into plastic sometimes, maybe it is just that?

 

[dennisking]

Did you use a camden tablet, chlorine in your water supply could be a reason.

 

[fisherman]

: Sounds 100 % chlorine. I make up a solution of 1 pint of cooled boiled water with a camden tablet dissolved in it . Just to be sure it is even. I then add this solution to the 35 litres of brewing liquor and the chlorine has gone.

 

[fisherman]

Sorry I think this solution also clears bleach off anything that you have sterilised with chlourine based liquids. Someone on this site will know more than me and confirm. Cheers

 

[Hawks]

I had the chlorine / chloramine caused TCP taste before - you think you can smell it everywhere for ages after. Treat the water with a CT or use a filter ( but be wary if its nearing end of its life), you should be ok.. :thumb: