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Message |
    
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 747
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 08:07 am: | 
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...this search for possible sources of contamination, I mean. I just discovered that the black "beverage out" connector can be disassembled and cleaned. I took one that I thought I'd cleaned thoroughly by running cleaning solution through it like I always do, broke it apart and lo and behold it still smelled of beer in there. Not stale beer mind you, but still. Not that I think this is a big danger, as O2 and bacteria should find it hard to get in there, but as a possible source for contamination I feel it has to be addressed.
So now I've set up a schedule where once a month I will not only clean the lines and tap handles, but break apart the connectors also.
Phew, it's getting to be a lotta work!
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
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The Jolly Brewer
Senior Member
Username: Matfink
Post Number: 1636
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 86.128.168.7
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 08:21 am: |
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Do you break apart you kegs and clean the poppets and connectors etc?
I get paranoid every now and again and break everything down and clean and sterilise it. then I just go back to the regular running cleaning solution through everything until the next paranoia attack! |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 748
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 08:40 am: |
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"Do you break apart you kegs and clean the poppets and connectors etc?"
Every time a keg runs dry... 
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 749
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 09:24 am: |
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Hmmm, starting to think that maybe I panicked too soon on this one...After all, after one year's continuous use it still smelled of fresh beer, and no off odours. It can't possibly be a big deal.
Sorry everybody, I just had a knee-jerk reaction. Nothing to see here, move along...
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
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The Jolly Brewer
Senior Member
Username: Matfink
Post Number: 1637
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 86.128.168.7
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 10:32 am: |
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Lol.
It's funny. Different people have different levels of sanitation and cleanliness. Some people would shudder at my methods, yet others would think I was over zealous. We have one guy in our club that we call a 'seat of yer pants' brewer. He does seem to fly in the face of convention with certain of his practices, wrings hops out with his hands, uses old yeast, leaves his hops in the cupboard not the fridge or freezer etc. But in spite of this he brews superb beer. |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 750
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 11:07 am: |
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Good for him!
I guess most of what we do is unnecessary, but it's easy to get caught up in a downward spiral of obsessive cleanliness... It's probably healthy to now and again take a step back and try to see what is necessary and what is over the top.
For my own part, I've stuck my arm into the BK to unclog the drain valve, just days after reading here that somebody else had done the exact same thing. The beer turned out fine.
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
The Jolly Brewer
Senior Member
Username: Matfink
Post Number: 1638
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 86.128.168.7
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 11:11 am: |
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Yes, I've done that too! I've dropped stuff into it too and had to fish them out. |
stephen weiss
Junior Member
Username: Emeroid
Post Number: 57
Registered: 09-2003
Posted From: 163.246.48.82
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 12:45 pm: |
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I blow steam cleaner steam for a minute through disconnects and this sterlizes the poppets with out the pain of removing them and them leaking on reassembly. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 7218
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 01:03 pm: |
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I have taken apart corny keg quick disconnects on a few occasions and never found any problems. Yes, there is some beer aroma, but I've not seen any mold or other gunk that would give me cause for alarm. As for cleaning the keg poppets, I will disassemble them every few fills. Again I've never seen anything that appeared unsanitary. I'm rather stringent about cleaning the kegs themselves very soon after they run out. I scrub them well and use CO2 to force hot cleaning solution and rinse water through the poppets, and I rinse once again and sanitize prior to filling. I've never had a contaminated keg as far as I could tell. |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 751
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 85.166.4.218
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 01:29 pm: |
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It seems that every time I dissasemble my kegs, there is a slight residue around the o-rings on the dip tubes. Don't think I'll stop being anal about them anytime soon
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
Roger
Intermediate Member
Username: Roger456
Post Number: 352
Registered: 12-2004
Posted From: 64.142.50.192
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 03:52 pm: |
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I dry hop almost all of my beers. I disassemble the whole keg for cleaning, and I often notice hop matter in the poppets. |
Tom Gardner
Advanced Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 989
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 162.119.232.100
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 04:49 pm: |
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Me too! |
Steve Funk
Intermediate Member
Username: Tundra45
Post Number: 352
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 209.216.175.114
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 05:08 pm: |
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I also completely disassemble my corny kegs every time when cleaning. Run a brush down the dip tubes as well. I can inspect all the o-rings and apply a little keg lube on them while I'm at it. SOP for me. |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 752
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 05:54 pm: |
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What is this "keg lube" I keep hearing about? Is it lubrication for the O-rings?
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
robert rulmyr
Advanced Member
Username: Wacobob
Post Number: 926
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 24.155.102.126
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 06:16 pm: |
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Yes, O-ring lube. Are you kidding? |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 753
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 06:40 pm: |
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Nope, never seen it here. Is it critical?
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
Tim Wi
Advanced Member
Username: Riverkeeper
Post Number: 849
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 170.141.68.98
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 07:07 pm: |
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My view is that cleaning/sanitation is one of the top tier items a brewer has in his/her complete control to quality brewing (exceptions noted). Temperature is another.
One unlooked for benefit just occured in my last brew. Split batch of 10 gallons, 1/2 got US56, 1/2 got a WLP of 833.
The US56 did the job within 5 days, the tube of WLP was obviously dead at the end of that time. I almost dumped the lager half of wort thinking there was no way I could have gone that long without tainting the wort by an airborne, even at 51 in the lagering fridge. I thought, what the hell, I've got a clean yest cake, it ought to blast right through, so, I racked the US56 batch to a carboy, then racked the "dead" 5-day old wort onto the 56 yeast cake.
Last night I kegged that "dead" batch, and you know, it was clean.
If I weren't careful with cleaning and sanitation, no doubt I would have had to dump half the original batch, as it was a blonde ale, lightly hopped.
That taught me two things.
1. my sanitation routine is pretty good
2. The first time I have ever used one of those WLP tubes without a starter (time-crunch desperate and with kids) was the only time it happened to be a dead vial, even within the best by used date.
So, I took a shortcut on the lager yeast and could have got burned if had not been for anal sanitation.
A.S. (of the mountain) SAVES THE DAY!!!!
T |
Brewzz
Intermediate Member
Username: Brewzz
Post Number: 315
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 67.94.59.58
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 10:12 pm: |
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Joakim,
Keg lube is just a semi-clear food grade grease that helps keep the o-rings sealed.You should be able to get it somewhere...
Cheers,Brewzz
Cascade Beer and Rum Works
Soon to be Alamo Beer and Rum Works
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 7221
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 10:37 pm: |
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Not to be accused of perversion, but K-Y "personal lubricant" works in a pinch and is food safe. 
(Message edited by BillPierce on June 07, 2007) |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 754
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 06:50 am: |
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Ok, cool! I've sometimes had problems getting a seal with dry O-rings. I'll order some from B3.
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
The Jolly Brewer
Senior Member
Username: Matfink
Post Number: 1639
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 86.128.168.7
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 08:24 am: |
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Would Vaseline do the same thing? |
Joakim Ruud
Advanced Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 755
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.209.9.142
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 08:48 am: |
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Isn't Vaseline an oil/petrochemistry product?
For to accuse requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to
excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice.
-Hobbes, Leviathan
|
The Jolly Brewer
Senior Member
Username: Matfink
Post Number: 1640
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 86.128.168.7
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 09:54 am: |
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yes, petroleum jelly. You can use it on your body, and I'm sure I've had people say you can use it on the o rings of 5gallon plastic barrels and fermenters to create a proper seal. |
Marlon Lang
Junior Member
Username: Marlon_lang
Post Number: 95
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 70.149.178.236
| | Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 09:00 pm: |
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Gentlemen,
I opine that it would be better not to use petroleum jelly. Oil-based compounds, including soap or detergent, can totally wreck your foam. Do as Bill sez, or use a silicone-based compound.
Just my 2 cents from the kinder, gentler retiree.
Illegitimi non carborundum rectum
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Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 2783
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 208.49.148.10
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 09:56 pm: |
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Ugh, petroleum jelly will work but it will degrade the rubber O-rings. Same reason you're not supposed to use it with condoms. Just less severe consequences with the O-rings 
Keg lube is a silicone grease. |
Bob Wall
Advanced Member
Username: Brewdudebob
Post Number: 817
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 139.76.128.71
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 10:10 pm: |
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So now I know of 2 uses for K-Y jelly.
"If ignorance is bliss, this lesson would appear to be a deliberate attempt on your part to deprive me of happiness, the pursuit of which is my unalienable right according to the Declaration of Independence. I therefore assert my patriotic prerogative not to know this material. I'll be out on the playground."
-- Calvin
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Tom Meier
Advanced Member
Username: Brewdawg96
Post Number: 593
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 74.241.132.29
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 04:21 am: |
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oh man. I can see it now; down to just a bit in the tube..
"Sorry honey, it'll have to wait.. I've got a leaky lid on my rye pale that won't seal" |
Hallertauer
Intermediate Member
Username: Hallertauer
Post Number: 472
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 204.104.55.243
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 11:37 am: |
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**Ugh, petroleum jelly will work but it will degrade the rubber O-rings. Same reason you're not supposed to use it with condoms.**
So can I use keg lube on my condoms? |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 2784
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 208.49.148.10
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 05:54 pm: |
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"So can I use keg lube on my condoms?"
It's food grade 
Not sure what other grades it is though.... |
Brews and Views Archive 2007 
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