trevelynzx
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2018
- Messages
- 122
- Reaction score
- 50
Hey all.
Recently I posted a thread on the one of the forums about a second batch in a row of beer that I had to dump. Same recipe, same yeast (though I split the starter, didn't harvest from the fermenter), same hops. Couldn't figure out what the issue was.
So... dumped the second batch today and started to give the Unitank a good clean. It's an SS Brewtech, and I also have the micro CIP ball.
First, I went through TWO PBW (home made from the other thread here) washes with the CIP ball for minimum 40 minutes each. At the end I pulled the chiller coil out for a visual inspection and there was still gunk on the top sides of the fermenter and on the coil itself. I was livid. This is what prompted the whole disassembly/ cleaning.
Second, during the break down, I found that almost every 1.5" TC add-on device (sample valve, carb stone, even the butterfly valve dumpers) had black gunk on them, between where the two flat SS plates meet up with each other. That was really disappointing...
So now I know where my infection came from, but I'm at a loss with this unitank/ CIP system. I am expecting not to have to break the whole thing down every time (all the pieces) and be able to CIP to the point where there is only metal & silicon left.
1) Am I expecting to much of the Unitank in terms of being able to CIP effectively?
2) Is my PBW solution crap? I followed the recipe from the PBW thread but after over an hour of CIP it didn't remove some of the krausen gunk (that was subsequently removed by hand with little effort).
3) Did I not tighten down the TC clamps enough to prevent gunk building up between the metal faces of the TC attachments?
4) Something else?
I'm looking for anybody else's experience/ feedback with a Unitank and/ or a CIP solution. I'm at a loss, makes me want to go back to the Speidel...
Help?!?
Recently I posted a thread on the one of the forums about a second batch in a row of beer that I had to dump. Same recipe, same yeast (though I split the starter, didn't harvest from the fermenter), same hops. Couldn't figure out what the issue was.
So... dumped the second batch today and started to give the Unitank a good clean. It's an SS Brewtech, and I also have the micro CIP ball.
First, I went through TWO PBW (home made from the other thread here) washes with the CIP ball for minimum 40 minutes each. At the end I pulled the chiller coil out for a visual inspection and there was still gunk on the top sides of the fermenter and on the coil itself. I was livid. This is what prompted the whole disassembly/ cleaning.
Second, during the break down, I found that almost every 1.5" TC add-on device (sample valve, carb stone, even the butterfly valve dumpers) had black gunk on them, between where the two flat SS plates meet up with each other. That was really disappointing...
So now I know where my infection came from, but I'm at a loss with this unitank/ CIP system. I am expecting not to have to break the whole thing down every time (all the pieces) and be able to CIP to the point where there is only metal & silicon left.
1) Am I expecting to much of the Unitank in terms of being able to CIP effectively?
2) Is my PBW solution crap? I followed the recipe from the PBW thread but after over an hour of CIP it didn't remove some of the krausen gunk (that was subsequently removed by hand with little effort).
3) Did I not tighten down the TC clamps enough to prevent gunk building up between the metal faces of the TC attachments?
4) Something else?
I'm looking for anybody else's experience/ feedback with a Unitank and/ or a CIP solution. I'm at a loss, makes me want to go back to the Speidel...
Help?!?