Cidery taste

[Jayme]

All of my materials end up in a Oxi-San (H2O2) soak in the brew kettle while I mash my grains on the stove. All of my water is pre-boiled to try to remove chlorine.

I usually slightly overpitch my yeast, as I use dry yeast. Probably 3-4 g of yeast for the gallon of wort.

The first statement I've quotes is a potential issue - Oxisan, which is considered a one-step cleaner/sanitizer, is better for cleaning than it is sanitizing (being primarily H2O2 makes it similar to PWB) . I would strongly reccomend you switch to either Star-san or iodafor - opinions vary, but I believe the general consensus on one-step cleaner/sanitizers is that they are typically good at one task, the other, or mediocre at both. Anyway, it's definitely something you could try.

I have questions about the second statement. Do you rehydrate your yeast in water before pitching? If so, do you first boil the water and let it cool? Do you keep it carefully sealed while cooling? Over pitching can lead to some issues as well, though likely not the flavours your describing (https://www.wyeastlab.com/com-pitch-rates.cfm see the bottom of the page), but 4g in a 1.050 batch is close to double what you need (unless you're direct pitching, in which case that's probably about the right amount).

[GAM]

Moral, if you screw around you'll get infections.

Life lesson!

Sandy

[GasMD30]

No I don't rehydrate. 1 because I am lazy 2 because I worry about infection and 3 because articles I ve read said you don't need to.

[Jayme]

No I don't rehydrate. 1 because I am lazy 2 because I worry about infection and 3 because articles I ve read said you don't need to.

Likely not that then. Personally, I've only read articles stating the exact opposite, and the only evidence I've seen stating you shouldn't rehydrate is empirical evidence from people saying "my beer turns out just as good, so why bother". Anyway - that's off topic.

I would try a different sanitizer and see if that makes a difference. One-steps are not ideal.

[GasMD30]

Definitely a reasonable thing to do, as well as the nylon bag for my hops.

[Jayme]

Keep us posted and good luck!

[GasMD30]

Keep us posted and good luck!

Thanks

[GuingesRock]

Just to confuse you more,

When I use dried yeast I don't re-hydrate (for the same reasons you mention) although I did try it. The professional brewers I know don't re-hydrate. I presented some literature arguing the case against on Jimmy's thread here: http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/viewto ... +dry+yeast" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I think I lost the case, but was badly outnumbered.

Also I use one step and love it. I've used it for 2 years.

[AllanMar]

Another vote for StarSan, its all I use and I've never had a problem (for what thats worth). I don't bother with boiling water or anything even anymore. perhaps I'll be burned by that eventually (excuse the pun).

I rehydrate sometimes, and don't others. Both produce good results but the re-hydrated yeast has shorter lag times (at least for me) which implies higher viability. If its a higher og beer i usually rehydrate for that reason.

[GasMD30]

Well I will definitely switch my filtration process. Are those nylon bags boil safe?

[Tony L]

Are those nylon bags boil safe?

I have used them in the boil all the time when I did use them. Now I don't use them as such as they are quite small and don't hold enough hops for my use. If you can't find any I can give you one of the ones I have.

Also I either use Bleach or PBW to clean my equipment depending on what I am cleaning. I use Star-san to sanitize

[GuingesRock]

I should mention that I only use the one step for kegs, I fill the kegs with the solution, run it through both dip tubes and posts, and then leave the kegs full of solution until I'm ready to keg, then I simply dump and fill. For every other sanitizing job that isn't done with heat, I have a bucket of starsan, everything gets thrown in there, including tubing which is coiled in so it fills ...and my hands, which go in the bucket first before I touch anything.

If you are suspecting infection, might be advisable to step up the game and use starsan after a thorough clean.

[GasMD30]

This is getting me revved up to brew another batch! If only I wasn't working Saturday!

[GasMD30]

Do you guys use StarSan in your air locks? I've noticed it makes bubbles

[dexter]

Any suggestions for reducing the amount of hop bits in the fermenter? I cannot get a good whirlpool going to save my life

look for a hop spider, works like a tea infuser for hops. i use one in conjunction with a mesh bag.

[Keith]

Hop spiders just restrict flavour. Ask Derek (leafman) to post a pic of his setup

[dexter]

Hop spiders just restrict flavour. Ask Derek (leafman) to post a pic of his setup

Depends on the bag I think. My first one was a smaller bag like a tube sock,my newer one is almost the same size as my BIAB bag takes fills most of the kettle

[LeafMan66_67]

Hop spiders just restrict flavour. Ask Derek (leafman) to post a pic of his setup

Depends on the bag I think. My first one was a smaller bag like a tube sock,my newer one is almost the same size as my BIAB bag takes fills most of the kettle

If you can keep the wort flowing in and around the hops in a bag, preventing them from balling up, it should be good.