Ales, Steralisers & Metals

[Steve1262]

Hi all.
Has anyone encountered any particular problems with subjecting various different metals to steralising solutions and later on the wort or resultant beer.
I'm about to re-kindle my brewing hobby and notice the amount of home made kit about using bits of copper pipe, plumbing valves etc and wondered if anyone had had any adverse reaction to the various chromes, cadmium coatings, copper, stainless, brass (olives), etc etc.

Regards, Steve

[Graham]

Hi all.
Has anyone encountered any particular problems with subjecting various different metals to steralising solutions and later on the wort or resultant beer.
I'm about to re-kindle my brewing hobby and notice the amount of home made kit about using bits of copper pipe, plumbing valves etc and wondered if anyone had had any adverse reaction to the various chromes, cadmium coatings, copper, stainless, brass (olives), etc etc.

Regards, Steve

All the alkaline ones (the more common ones) are safe on just about everything except aluminium.

Iodophor, a type that is gaining popularity, rips through copper and copper-based alloys, so it isn't safe on copper.

[Aleman]

You can't use peracetic acid on Copper . . . Trust me,

And Graham is right about iodophor . . . it rapidly decolourises in contact with copper. . . . I've heard people store their CFC's with iodophor in them between brewing sessions . . .

I've done the hot caustic on aluminium trick as well . . . .

[Steve1262]

Thanks Guy's.
That gives me something to go on

[kevanf1]

With apologies to the OP for coming in on this thread. What can I use to sterilise stainless steel? I have some VWP (I think that's what it is) for the plastic ware. I used to use Chempro but I recall having a near disaster with some alloy valves on a pressure barrel with that stuff. I have been told that the VWP is the same as Chempro used to be?

Any suggestions for an easy to source steriliser for stainless (and possibly copper at a later date)?

Thank you.

[kevanf1]

FWIW though as long as you clean your keg well first a light bleach solution will sanitise it perfectly well, just fill with water and a cup of thin value bleach. Add a little gas and open the liquid post with a screwdriver briefly to fill the dip tube and let it sit for 15 mins. Empty and rinse well.

Ah, this is that Baby Burco I mentioned in another thread Same procedure should do it though I suppose On the one hand I could be being a bit too cautious being as the thing will have boiling water and steam filling all the nooks and crannies. On the other it can't hurt to make doubly sure I'll use the Burco purely for hot water. I'm going to start off with a couple of brews using malt extract (or dried ME if I can get it locally). Then once I'm back in the swing of things I'm going to try my hand at grain bewing.

I've just spotted something about using white distilled vinegar on copper (with a thorough rinse afterwards of course). Is that still a viable cleaner? I only ask because we seem to be a bit thin on the ground where I live (Cheslyn Hay in Staffordshire) regarding home brew supply shops. I did drive over to Youngs in Bilston in the week only to find they are trade suppliers only unless I've got £1,000 to spend with them in one go.... yeah right..

Again, many thanks for the advice.

[kevanf1]

There's no point putting it away all shiny, it will become dull shortly after.

I know... I used to be a plumber it doesn't take long for copper to become air oxidised.

I was just worried about putting wort through any copper tubing. I've read that the wort will clean it but doesn't that cleaned off oxide go into the brew? Does it make any sort of difference to the taste?

Cheers

Kevan

[Scooby]

AFAIK cornie lids are alloy so I always boil to sanitise and avoid contact with acidic sanitisers.

I also have used both Starsan and Iodophor on my copper cfc followed by boiling water with no probs.

IIRC Palmers 'How to brew' states Starsan is ok on copper.

[kevanf1]

AFAIK cornie lids are alloy so I always boil to sanitise and avoid contact with acidic sanitisers.

Cornelius kegs? I've heard mention of them. Back when I first used to do home brew the most up market kegs were either a Beer Sphere (I have one but I need to get a new lid) or a Boots Aluminium barrel. Things have certainly changed in 25 years

Kevan