? 4 beer brewers on sanitizers

[Tōtōchtin]

I was wondering if I need to buy something like Star San or do most sanitizers not interfere with flavors. Can a high abv head mixture work for distillers I haven't read anyone doing so.
Tōtō

[still_stirrin]

What are “most sanitizers”?

Your question is like, “how long is a string?” You’ve got to be more specific in the question.

As a corollary, brewers typically use brewery safe chemicals that are regulated by industry. They HAVE TO, because the public’s health is at stake. So, if you’re asking about circumventing safety in lieu of operational expense, then you’re heading down a torturous path. And it’s unlikely the hobbyists here will condone the unsafe practices.

Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate one minute to use cleaners and sanitizers established by industry standards for my hobby. The cost of “the gamble” otherwise is beyond my budget.
ss

[Tōtōchtin]

Well just for you I was referring to a food safe sanitizer. Now that being a known fact do other food safe sanitizers effect flavor? Not looking to save a dime I've just not been one who follows the herd and have learned to ask questions.
Tōtō

[still_stirrin]

Probably not if you follow the directions for use of the “food safe” sanitizers.

YMMV.
ss

[still_stirrin]

Iodophor is a brewery sanitizer that brewers often use. It uses iodine as the reagent for bacterial abatement. It is very effective in that regard. However, I wouldn’t want to “drink” it. Iodine has a strong odor and harsh/bitter taste, so if you choose to use iodophor as a sanitizer, be sure to follow the directions accordingly.

There are other cleaners and sanitizers commercial breweries and distilleries use. You could use those as well. But again, follow recommended directions.

Good luck with your venture.
ss

[Demy]

When I make my beer I first clean with some alkaline substance then sanitize with an iodine-based product.....I believe that at least 40% alcohol could sanitize well....preliminary cleaning sometimes it is more important than the sanitizer. Even very hot water sanitizes well if the material can withstand the heat.

[Saltbush Bill]

I thought from past posts that your main objective was some variety of Rum?
I wouldn't be to concerned about sanitisation other than a quick rinse with hot water once in a while if that is the case.

[sadie33]

I use Star San. I have not found it to give any off flavors. It is food safe, doesn't need to be rinsed, you can spray it on or use a cloth (I do both depending on what I'm using it on).

Not sure if this answers your question.

[howie]

google "don't fear the foam"
i use star san on fermenters and beer kegs before and after use.
i think star san is high foaming as opposed to iodophor, but both advertise as 'no rinse'
occasionally the S/S boiler and beer kegs get a PBW soak.
fermenters and kegs get air dried upside down if not being used for any length of time.
they will get black mould growing inside if you store them wet with star san.
in my defence, i use my equipment for distilling and brewing beer, so i clean as i think necessary.
eg like SB, the boiler will only get a quick scrub and a rinse with the hose in between distilling (and air dried)

[Tōtōchtin]

Star San seems to be the go to @$28/qt. I've used sanitizers cheaper in between harvest but I wouldn't want to drink it. I mainly want to keep a few 55 gal. barrels and the area clean as I want to go thru some different yeast quickly to see which works better for me. I was hoping that some 70% ethanol would work but not sure for how long.
I start with a small bottle of star San to run thru all new parts. Plus my water lines.. Too many things grow well in the tropics.
Heading right now up to the Mts to get/work on some Raicilla.
Tōtō

[subbrew]

For something like cleaning barrels (plastic, not wood) everything from dish soap, to bleach, to Star San all work. Dish soap or bleach require a few good rinses after, Star San does not. For distilling beer I don't worry. But with almost 20 years of home brewing I have had one infection. My regiment has not changed, after a brew, clean the fermentation container with dish soap and hot water, rinse several times, air dry. Before next use rinse out dust with water and then put in a cup or two of star san and swish around. Let stand, swish again and empty letting drip until ready to put in new wort. With my larger distilling fermenters I skip the star san step.

[Chauncey]

Cup? Did you mean cap?

[howie]

Cup? Did you mean cap?

i hope so
i always use star san at it's recommended dilution rate.
1 x spray bottle in kitchen & workshop, plus a container with 12L for dunking anything i need to dunk.
undiluted star san will burn the enamel paint off your fridge (don't ask me how i know )

[Scratm3]

Use Star San and never look back.

[bilgriss]

Star San works well and does not interfere with flavors used as per the instructions.

Sanitizing most things for distillation isn't necessary, as Saltbush Bill says, and a hot water rinse is usually sufficient. But there's no harm in sanitizing things either.

[subbrew]

Cup? Did you mean cap?

A cup or two of star san solution prepared at the rate given on the bottle, 1 oz per 5 gal if I remember correctly. I mix up the star san solution in a separate container and then use the solution in the fermenter.

[Saltbush Bill]

These people seem to have lost the sanitizer.
http://www.rumgallery.com/travel--life/ ... ious-photo

[Homebrewer11777]

Star San sounds expensive at $28 for a quart but that is enough to make 140 gallons of sanitizing solution. True no rinse, dump it out and go. Can be kept a fairly long time. I keep a 5 gallon keg of star-san solution in the brewery and use it for a couple months and then make a fresh one. That would put my cost per year at $5.25. You can verify your Star San solution is still good with a pH test....below 3.5 it is still good.

Iodophor is also no rinse but not quite as convenient as Star San as instructions call for letting it air dry before use. I understand this is needed to evaporate off the iodine which is not something that should end up in your product.