How do you sample sour brews?

[barrooze]

I've got a couple sours going and would like to taste them to see how they're doing. I nory use my "wine" thief for this on non-sour brews, but with these I'm worried I'll infect my thief and then contaminate my other brews.

How do you all take samples? Do you have a separate thief for sours? Btw, my sours are in carboys. Thanks!

 

[LiquidArtisan]

I have two, one for sours & one for non sours & I keep them in separate spots

 

[DisturbdChemist]

pretty much have different equipment for sours and non-sours to be safe. I made one sour and used my turkey baster and auto siphon and had no cross contamination at all but on the safe side get an extra set of sampling equipment and label as sour so you dont get confused

 

[barrooze]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like I'll be picking up another thief at some point...

 

[smokinghole]

Use a long straw, but be careful not to backwash.

 

[TravisT]

Maybe you could get one of those huge pixy~sticks that are filled with pure sugar, cut both ends and use you thumb to plug one side to take samples. It's the first thought that popped into my head.

 

[microbusbrewery]

I can't remember where I got mine but I bought a stainless turkey baster like this, http://www.keystonehomebrew.com/shop/wine-thief-ss-18-inch.html

I use if on both sours and non-sours and usually boil it after I use it on sours.