Cleaning Carboy with PBW

Got a disgusting carboy? This one used to have an all-Brettanomyces porter in it. PBW will do the trick.

PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) is a patented alkali cleaner originally developed for Coors, now widely used in commercial breweries across North America. Use 1 to 2 ounces per gallon for cleaning kettles, 3/4 ounce per gallon for fermenters, kegs, tanks, and other equipment. Soak equipment overnight in PBW solution; rinse the following morning - no scrubbing required! Will not damage rubber gaskets, soft metals, or your skin. PBW can effectively clean items that can't be reached with a brush or sponge, and is strong enough to remove thick, difficult, caked-on organic soils. PBW is environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and will not harm septic systems.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/default/powdered-brewery-wash.html

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Cleaning
• Carboy
• PBW
• Northern
• Brewer
• Homebrew
• Equipment

[HyvelTjuven]

How does one even make their carboy look like that?

[NorthernBrewerTV]

@HyvelTjuven Lots and lots of Brettanomyces and time. ; )

[HDiGITTY]

@NorthernBrewerTV how did the porter turn out?

[NorthernBrewerTV]

Very nice! Leather and cherry notes behind the roast malt.

[donosborn]

dang, where is the "after" shot? the sparkling clean carboy?  :)

[ReasonablyChic]

Not really helpful at all without footage of the final rinse and an "after" shot.

[HexKrak]

I clean my better bottles with oxy-clean. If it wasn't specified here that you were using PBW I wouldn't have known the difference.

[bjcpc0337]

@donosborn

You are right, the aftershot is the most important demonstration on how well it works. To cut back on a full carboy, use an undrilled stopper for enough liquid to slightly go above the krausen funk and let sit overnight upsidedown. The stuff does work, does seem silly they didn't include a picture from the next day.

[Funkthulhu]

Why did they dump what looks like 1/2 a cup of PBW in there? That's easily enough for 2 or 3 batches! (5 if you're patient!) You only need less than 1/2 an ounce per gallon!

[crazybrody06]

I miss the "Oh hi, I didnt see you there" intros.