How To Clean And Sanitize | Fermenters Mash Tuns Etc 

As someone in the states who can't really get into distilling legally, but can get into brewing and wine making, I especially love the cleaning and sanitization stuff you are talking about. But it's also fun as can be to watch and learn from you, in the event that distilling may become legal here... As many would be distillers are trying to make happen. Thank you for your videos. Very informative, very well done, and a lot of fun to watch.

I was the head of the Safety Committee for over 25 years. You are SO RIGHT about how Cleaning and Sanitizing are two totally different operations. Good Job!

Jesse please do a video on pre-run Still sanitation (vinegar, citric, sacrificial, etc) as well as volume of solution and frequency/duration of cleaning runs. If you haven't done one already, that is. Apparently I haven't seen all your vids yet. Dunno how that's possible. 🤷‍♂️

spot on man keep it simple I m not a spit shine guy maybe that's why I've stuck to distilling instead of brewing lol

👍Good video, love the black background and jacket......gives you a Rasputin look😂😂

I watched your whole video, if you have ever had a problem with a ferment, it's a wake up call. Great information, love your vid's! Oh, your beard is magnificent btw.

I'm in a hard water area, so Starsan goes cloudy when you mix it. I'd suggesting checking the PH has not exceeded above 3.5!

Only just new to the channel never would of thought of napisan for a fermentation barrel

Only time not to sanitize a fermenter is fermenting a sour mash. If making a UncleJessieSSM you remove part of the grains from the fermenter. Dump in more grain, more table sugar, add backset and water. Mix and walk away. The yeast from the previous batch on the bottom will take over. (It will look like brew day "rolling boil" if you punch the cap in 2-3 days in a drum fermenter.) Each generation will get more yummy. Same goes for sweetfeed. Each batch will taste better than previous in hearts cut.

Hey Jesse Im new to this deal. I did get a bottle of star San. But it says for surface sanitizing. Is that the right stuff? Or is there a certain one for fermenters and such? Thanks for any input.

I've heard about Star San endlessly, but never heard of PBW, look at the reviews on places that sell it, it seems to be universal good stuff as a cleaner.

watched all the way to the end.. I also love Star San!!

I'm still listening!

Sorry if its a stupid question, but can we not use a small amount of the end product to sterilise the same way an ethanol hand rub would? Say spray a 60-70% film and leave to dry?

That's some good info there but I myself don't do the sanitize step. I do take it all apart and wash it before and after each use and that's been all I've needed so far.

Thanks for vid. I’ve been having a lot of brews go bad - quite an unclean taste, and have been really sterile I thought in brewing process, however haven’t been cleaning, just star san. Do you think this may be where I’ve gone wrong? First six months of brewing never had a bad batch, now probably 60-70% of batches are bad. I have been scrubbing with a dishes bristle brush, could this have ruined plastic fermenters? Cheers!

go for it bro geek out if people dont want to see it thats there loss

Hi no I have not got it yet my mate got it on Amazon when he seen the bottle he put it in the bin . It's a lot of many for it if it is the wrong thing. I don't know what to do.

One thing I'd like to bring up, when using sanitizer on stainless steel I like to give it thorough rinse. I do this because the sanitizer is caustic which possibly could lead to pitting of the stainless steel. May not be necessary but I don't like to take chances Great video btw, Jesse

Great series of videos you have here, thank you. Just something did come to my mind re: the way of sanitising. The Hydrogen Peroxide is good to sanitise most everything human. It comes in 3% and 6% versions but I am not sure about the value for money or the possibility of the temperature to be the catalytic addition to the efficiency. I do not know, maybe someone can expand on this?

If I can add one more. dead cheap, and best thing i've ever tried. Caustic Soda. I cannot scrub my fermenters. I use those no-chill plastic jerrycan jobbies. So you just have a 50mm opening into the 25L vesle. 50gr caustic. 5L room temp water. Add Water 1st and then add caustic bit by bit. Secure cap really tight, and shake until dissolved. let it stand 30 minutes. Then flip it upside down and let it stand like that for another 30. Throw the solution down a drain or toilette. Then rinse with normal water, and rince down same drain. Then Add 100ml vinegar, topped with 3L water. Shake well, and rince. The vinegar neutralises the caustic which is a very strong base. After this is done, use your starsan as directed, and ferment some goodness. Caustic is dead cheap. like $2 or 3 for half a kilo. ie 10 treatments. I have not had soiling that caustic cannot clean Then the warning. DO NOT TOUCH THIS STUFF!!! Wear rubber gloves. Wear Eye protection Wear long clothes. Do not bring bleach or hydrogyn peroxide near while you are cleaning.

Another great video! Nice and thorough:-)>

Love your channel and videos, awesome! We do not get StarSan in my country, please do a video about bleach and iodine.

Thanks Jesse

Well said, floating head. Seriously, you need to wear something other than black on a black background lol. What is the wash you are going to make for cleaning? I strongly recommend BWTPW. It's all I make for neutrals, is super simple, and there is an online calculator to allow for easy scaling. Cheers

Thanks for the info floating head and hands

That's interesting, I have read up on Star San and I thought the cloudiness was dependent on your water type and had no real effect on the efficacy of the product. Certainly my Star San goes cloudy as soon as I add tap water.

another good one. sound was fine.

lol watched the whole thing, don't be so hard on yourself! someone will be interested!

Hi I am new to homebrewing I have bean looking for star san but I can not get it in the shops where I live just on amazon . when you say don't fear the foam BUT I was told on the back of the bottle it tells you to put gloves on and wear protection glasses. So what the HELL do I do please help if you can will it be ok if you live in a hard water place. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN.

Hi Still It, quick question, I'm more than halfway through a ferment for spirits and I'm just starting to detect a very faint sulphur like smell from the air lock, is this normal? So far the batch consists of 21L of water, 7 kilos of dextrose, triple distilled pure turbo yeast and liquid carbon. I'm confident I did a good job on sanitising everything due to I am not new to brewing as I use to brew beer. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as I am starting to stress myself out the more I research on the internet LOL. Cheers.

Do we really need star san with sugar wash? Or with anything if we (finally) distile it?

It’s Topo Gigio!!

Black shirt and black back ground...😂😂 u know where i m heading

Yes we're not listening still. 🤣🤣🤣

Not bad for a Kiwi!

T_T My fermenter smells like a laundromat now