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i just bought a 40 gallon blue barrell from my local brew house. it's empty but had contained malt and there is a bit left in there. what is a safe way to remove the syrupy remnants? i was going to use this as my fermenter. thank you

if it had malt in it that wont hurt a thing,as a matter of fact it will help ferment.

The more malt the better. No worries.



Bull.

If you do feel like getting rid of it, hot water will work just fine.

brewit2it wrote:If you do feel like getting rid of it, hot water will work just fine.

You mite think so but not always. It's a good thing this one just had malt in it. I wouldn't worry about it.

Now I have one that contained Dr Pepper syrup. When I got it there was still a little in it. I rinced multiple times. First cold then hot then boiling water. Then I soaked it with bleach water for 2 days rinced and repeated. This time I made it really strong and left it for a week sealed. When I poured it out it was still very strong of bleach. But still after all that it still reeked of DP. Now I'm on my 5th all bran in that drum. Guess what the spirits carry over the Dr Pepper flavor and smell still. Good thing is it has turned out pretty good.

I'm just trying to say be careful what drums you use. Because whatever they contained does permeates into the plastic. More then one would think.

With that being said. One containing malt would be a great find for what we use it for. I don't think I would even try to clean it out. Use it and enjoy.

Just remember that if whatever was in a plastic container permeates the plastic, anything you use to remove it may do the same... That means that if whatever you use to clean the vessel is toxic to yeast then you may end up with ongoing fermentation issues... Sometimes we have to pick the lesser of multiple evils...

thought of another thing you could do.add 5-6 gallon (20l) of hot water.and see what you git out.
this should make a nice base for whisky..

thank you for all the help. i was going to use the barrell for a rice ferment, (sake and U.R.R.V.) i think i might try a vodka soaked towel? then just run with it