Brewing Master

Question:

Alan may I point out that Cornelius kegs were originally designed to carry soft drink syrups and are currently used to contain carbonated premix soft drinks.  If you look at a bottle of Coke or Pepsi you will find that one of the ingredients is phosphoric acid.  I believe it would be more concentrated in the syrup than in Iodophor sanitizing solution. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have it from an Austrian guy who’s son studies at Weihenstephen. German breweries won’t use it because of the corrosive effects. I’m still not going to worry about it, because it’s still a lot less than bleach, and I still use it, too. But this is definitely one of the reasons I even rinse my Iodophor and not just my bleach.

Response:

Be that as it may, I tend to trust the Germans when it comes to making beer.  Even if they are a bit anal at times cheers, -Alan Alan may I point out that Cornelius kegs were originally designed to carry soft drink syrups and are currently used to contain carbonated premix soft drinks.  If you look at a bottle of Coke or Pepsi you will find that one of the ingredients is phosphoric acid.  I believe it would be more concentrated in the syrup than in Iodophor sanitizing solution.

–    "Brewers make wort, yeast makes beer"     – Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/

Response:

Whatever you do, make sure to take the keg apart before you clean it. Nothing can clean what it acnnot get to.  I clean my cornys by first taking them apart, rinsing them out and filling them with warm water to which I either add caustic soda (2 tbsp red devil lye would get the same effect) or PBW. I soak the small parts in the same solution. I let it sit for 15 mins or so and then rinse everything well. Put the keg back together, add 1 qt of sanitizer (i use Chlorine Dioxide but Iodophor at 12 ppm would work just fine)    (Don’t use bleach on SS without rinsing afterwards, thereby defeating the sanitizing effort) Cap and pressurize. slosh the sanitizer all around then blow it out using CO2. A clean and sanitized keg, filled with CO2 and ready to hold a fresh batch!!! Chris Terenzi                                 Professional Brewer 52 Ford Victoria Atlanta, GA

Response:

Don’t recall if I already replied to the original poster, but check my page below for full details on cleaning a keg. everything well. Put the keg back together, add 1 qt of sanitizer (i use Chlorine Dioxide but Iodophor at 12 ppm would work just fine)    (Don’t use bleach on SS without rinsing afterwards, thereby defeating the sanitizing effort)

Firstly, I’ll point out that Iodophor is corrosive to SS.  Not many people seem to know that one.  Secondly, unless you’ve got some pretty unpotable tap water, rinsing does not defeat the effort whatsoever.  If it did you’d be getting sick off your tapwater all the time.  I even rinse my iodophor because I trust my tapwater a lot more than I trust some chemical. cheers, -Alan —    "Brewers make wort, yeast makes beer"     – Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/

Response:

: I have clean corny kegs, hoy do I prepare them (sanitize them) : to keg my first batch? : I am looking for a sensible way, I don’t mean to sterilize the ket for : the boy in the air bubble, simply to mae it not infect my beer. I use iodophor for my kegs and have had no trouble with corrosion. Fill the keg 2/3 to 3/4 full of sanitizing solution.  Soak lid and fittings separately in a small bowl.  I remove the poppets when I soak the fittings. Leave the dip tube in the keg but soak the short gas tube in the bowl. After some time (depending on sanitizer) reassemble the keg, and turn it upside down on in a sink, outside, or on a washing machine.  With a small screwdriver, depress the two valve poppets and let sanitizer solution dribble out the fittings for a few seconds.  Pull the pressure release to dribble sanitizer solution through that too. After some time, pop the lid, pour out the sanitizer, depress each poppet again to drain the tubes, and pour out the remaining sanitizer. Seal keg until ready to fill. Since I use iodophor, my contact times are on the order of 30 minutes, and I don’t rinse before filling.  I do let the keg stand open upside down for about 2 minutes to drain. Cheers, Domenick Venezia Venezia & Company, maker of PrimeTab Seattle, WA demonick at zgi dot com

Response:

Firstly, I’ll point out that Iodophor is corrosive to SS.  Not many people seem to know that one.

Are you sure about this? The phosphoric acid in iodophor could corrode stainless steel if concentrated enough, but not enough to be a concern when diluted, IMO. Dave — http://www.cnw.com/~ibis 01001001010000100100100101010011

Response:

I have it from an Austrian guy who’s son studies at Weihenstephen.   German breweries won’t use it because of the corrosive effects. I’m still not going to worry about it, because it’s still a lot less than bleach, and I still use it, too. But this is definitely one of the reasons I even rinse my Iodophor and not just my bleach. cheers, -alan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Firstly, I’ll point out that Iodophor is corrosive to SS.  Not many people seem to know that one. Are you sure about this? The phosphoric acid in iodophor could corrode stainless steel if concentrated enough, but not enough to be a concern when diluted, IMO. Dave — http://www.cnw.com/~ibis 01001001010000100100100101010011

–    "Brewers make wort, yeast makes beer"     – Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/

Response:

: Believe it or not Iodophor is also corrosive to stainless. : I have this on good authority from a student at Weihenstephen. : That’s why it isn’t used in Germany. Perhaps in Germany, but the BTF Iodophor sanitizer that I have makes no mention of containing phosphoric acid.  The ingredients are listed as: butoxy polypropoxy polyethoxy ethanol-iodine complex (providing Restaurants routinely fill stainless steel sinks with iodophor solution and throw just washed flatware into the sink for a sanitizing soak before usage/storage. The use of the suffix "-phor" in this case does NOT mean phosphoric acid.  It is a bastardization of the suffix "-phore", meaning "bearer". In this case meaning "iodine bearing". I seriously doubt that the BTF Iodophor commonly used in homebrewing contains phosphoric acid.  As mentioned, phosphoric acid is corrosive, and would have to be mentioned on the product packaging. Domenick Venezia Venezia & Company, maker of PrimeTab Seattle, WA demonick at zgi dot com

Response:

A little pricey, but I use PBW to clean my kegs and then Star-san to sanitize them. Cheers! Steve Garrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, I have clean corny kegs, hoy do I prepare them (sanitize them) to keg my first batch? I am looking for a sensible way, I don’t mean to sterilize the ket for the boy in the air bubble, simply to mae it not infect my beer. Thanks! Daniel

Response:

Using the same sanitizer you use with your other equipment will work fine unless you use bleach. Chlorine is corrosive to stainless so we don’t want to use that. A very easy way to sanitize your keg is with boiling water. A couple gallons poured into a keg with the lid reattached will work quickly without having to rinse out your sanitizer. This heat sanitizing is very effective and easy. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, I have clean corny kegs, hoy do I prepare them (sanitize them) to keg my first batch? I am looking for a sensible way, I don’t mean to sterilize the ket for the boy in the air bubble, simply to mae it not infect my beer. Thanks! Daniel

Response:

Be sure to clean the "out tube" as well, which will remain dry unless you release pressure through the out fitting while sanitizing. – Anhydrous (dry) chlorine will not damage your SS as liquid chlorine (ie. bleach) will. at least according to Cole-Palmer’s reaction tables.

Response:

Visit the kegging section of my webiste below. cheers, -Alan Hi everyone, I have clean corny kegs, hoy do I prepare them (sanitize them) to keg my first batch? I am looking for a sensible way, I don’t mean to sterilize the ket for the boy in the air bubble, simply to mae it not infect my beer. Thanks! Daniel

–    "Brewers make wort, yeast makes beer"     – Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/

Response:

Using the same sanitizer you use with your other equipment will work fine unless you use bleach. Chlorine is corrosive to stainless so we don’t want to use that.

Chlorine is fine as long as you don’t overdo the dosage or the contact time.  2 or 3 tablespoons in the keg is fine, and 15 minutes that’s it.  Put the bleach in when at least half full of water. Believe it or not Iodophor is also corrosive to stainless. I have this on good authority from a student at Weihenstephen. That’s why it isn’t used in Germany. I use both on my kegs. cheers, -Alan —    "Brewers make wort, yeast makes beer"     – Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/

Response:

Hi everyone, I have clean corny kegs, hoy do I prepare them (sanitize them) to keg my first batch? I am looking for a sensible way, I don’t mean to sterilize the ket for the boy in the air bubble, simply to mae it not infect my beer. Thanks! Daniel

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