Beer Stone

[Timothy Doane]

Hi Guys!

Long time lurker, seldom a poster...how do I remove beer stone without damaging my kegs? I've read if Starsan is left in too long it will destroy the rubber rings. Help!

[chalmers]

We use a combination of hot water, plastic scrubber (the tougher plastic sponge type, but not steel wool) and elbow grease. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) and/or scent-free Oxiclean in warm/hot water can be used as well. These can be left to soak to help dislodge the crap. We tackle it after every brewday, so it never has a chance to build up.

BTW, Starsan isn't a cleaner, it is a sanitizer, so won't really help with this issue.

[Timothy Doane]

I use hot water ond oxi-clean now with 0.5 hour soak, and scrub with a carboy brush, I can't get my arm down in the kegs to scrub. I was lloking for more of a chemical response.

[mr x]

Maybe it time to try some hot caustic.

[Timothy Doane]

Hot caustic - where do I get it?

[mr x]

It goes by various names, lye, sodium hydroxide, and iirc, PBW is a caustic.

[ratchet]

I just use PBW... never had any issues.

[NASH]

To remove beer stone you'll need an acid. PBW and caustic are alkaline and useless on beer stone. In a pinch CLR should strip any beer stone but you might want to grab some phosphoric acid or even citric would do it, you can likely get that at a local homebrew shop.

[mr x]

I thought oxiclean was an acid, which is why I mentioned caustic. As in maybe it's not beerstone at all.

Regardless, IIRC, you can get high strength phosphoric at hydroponic stores.

[McGruff]

Have you tried Bar Keepers Friend? It is a great SS cleaner.