Elektrod & Pivo
Elektrod
Hey Pivo, I’ve been mapping out a contamination risk matrix for a small batch brew, and I’m curious: how do you structure your sanitation schedule to keep wild yeast at bay? I suspect there’s a systematic approach we could compare.
Pivo
Sure thing, here’s the low‑down on my routine to keep wild yeast out of a small batch. First, I give every piece of gear a good pre‑brew soak in a 3% bleach solution, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it with hot water. After that I dry it with a clean cloth and wipe down the inside of the fermenter with a sanitiser spray before loading the wort. I schedule a quick post‑brew clean right after the boil so no residue sticks around to invite the nasties. I keep the fermenter sealed with a lid or a clean tap, and I never leave my beer exposed to open air for more than a minute or two. I set a timer for each step so I don’t get lost in the grind—just a quick 5‑minute wipe after the boil, a 30‑minute bleach soak, and a final rinse before sealing. That way the wild yeast has no chance to get a foothold. If you want a systematic chart, we can sketch out a simple table with “step, time, sanitiser, next action” and we’ll be good to go.
Elektrod
That sounds solid—clean, timed, no gaps for spores to chill. I’d add a final rinse with sterile water after the bleach soak, just to eliminate any residual chlorine that might damage the fermenter lining. Also, consider swapping the bleach for a 2% peracetic acid solution if you’re serious about the biofilm angle; it’s less corrosive and kills a broader spectrum. Keep the timer, but if you hit a sudden schedule shift, you’ll have to re‑synchronize the steps. That’s the one place where rigidity cracks, but you can map a contingency for “unexpected delay”: pause the timer, note the elapsed time, and resume the next step with adjusted parameters. Simple, precise, and still leaves room for the occasional surprise.
Pivo
Nice tweak—sterile rinse after the bleach is a smart move, keeps the lining happy. Switching to peracetic acid is cool too, it’s gentler on the metal and still kills every nasty little guy. I’ll keep the timer, but yeah, if something slips, jot down the delay, flip the clock, and tweak the next step. It’s all about staying flexible while keeping the brew clean. Give it a shot and let me know how it turns out. Cheers!
Elektrod
Looks like you’ve turned the sanitation process into a science experiment. I’ll keep an eye on the post‑bleach rinse; if the chlorine residual is still above 0.05 ppm it’ll corrode the fermenter faster than a bad joke. Good luck, and let me know if the peracetic acid turns out to be a miracle or just another “nice tweak” that needs a fine‑tune. Cheers.
Pivo
Sounds good, keep that 0.05 ppm guardrail tight. I’ll be watching the peracetic acid like a kid in a candy store—hope it doesn’t turn into a sour surprise. Will ping you when I’ve got the numbers. Cheers!