Strilising equipment using VWP

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Bewbrew

Strilising equipment using VWP

Post by Bewbrew » Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:22 pm

Hello to everyone. I am new to brewing, and am starting with a Woodfords Werry starter kit. I have one question though. When sterilising with the VWP it says to disolve a certain quantity with hot water, then to fill fermenting vessel etc with water to the top. However nowhere can I find if this should be hot water or if I can use cold. Can any one please advise me please. Thanks John

Geezah

Re: Strilising equipment using VWP

Post by Geezah » Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:32 pm

Never used VWP, but as long as it disolves ok in the water I cant see why hot or cold water would make a difference.
Personaly I use thin bleach (5ml per gallon) and cold water.
Thin belach 70p for 5l in Lidl ;)

Also, your Wherry will take 6-8 weeks to clear nicely, so dont get alarmed if its still cloudy a few weeks after bottling it.
Last edited by Geezah on Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Bewbrew

Re: Strilising equipment using VWP

Post by Bewbrew » Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:35 pm

Thanks for that Geezah

Beard

Re: Strilising equipment using VWP

Post by Beard » Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:47 pm

Geezah is right, as long as the VWP dissolves it doesn't matter. I've always used the shower head in my bathroom and filled the fermenter with cold water.

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cwrw gwent
Lost in an Alcoholic Haze
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Re: Strilising equipment using VWP

Post by cwrw gwent » Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:12 am

VWP's instructions sound like a lot of unnecessary hard work and a waste of water. When I sterilise a fermenting bin I give it a rinse with cold water to remove any dust, airborne bacteria, spiders' legs etc, then add a heaped teaspoonful of VWP with about five pints of warm water. This is swirled around the bin so all surfaces are covered. Then it is poured into the inside of the lid and stays there while I make the beer.

Rinse the fermenting vessel with cold water and it's ready for action. In addition, I add my sugars first, then dissolve them with a kettle of boiling hot water which is poured so that it covers all surfaces. Not much survives water at boiling point. Once the beer is ready for fermentation rinse the lid before placing on top of the fermenting vessel.

Alternately, you can add VWP with 5 pints of warm water, snap the lid on tight and put the bin on its side. Turn it around every 15 minutes so all surfaces have been subjected to the steriliser. Once again, ensure the bin is rinsed with plenty of cold water, unless you enjoy drinking chemically flavoured ale.

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