# Been on the hunt for WHY I occasionally get a contaminated brew! **URL:** \ **Category:** Brewing Processes\ **Created:** [March 14, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263 "2024-03-14T15:44:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pspengler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pspengler/32/21101_2.png) [@Pspengler](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Pspengler)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/1 "2024-03-14T15:44:03Z")
Hi Everyone - I’ve brewed for years and always thought of cleanliness as THE most important ingredient.  No matter how studious (eg dismantle valves, thorough use of Star San) once in a while I get a contaminated beer from some microorganism. I JUST learned that the Star San site says to use their product within an hour!  They say, “Star San is an EPA registered sanitizer and must be used immediately. We do not recommend using it if has been in solution longer than an hour.” THERE’s my culprit!  I’ve saved Star San in mixture from one brew to the next, usually changing out wfter two brew projects.  I further read on their site that Star San converts to sugar (thus the reason it is not harmful to us humans). I’ve been sanitizing with sugar water! I just wanted to share to save others from the same problem! ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/2 "2024-03-14T15:50:57Z")
It does not need to be used within an hour, but it’s possible you’ve been reusing it too many times. Do you check the pH? If it’s under 3, it’s still good. ---
**Author:** ![Bob357](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/bob357/32/4014_2.png) [@Bob357](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Bob357)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/3 "2024-03-14T16:01:03Z")
I’ve been reusing StarSan solutions for several months before disposing of it and never had an infected batch. If you plan on reusing it, be sure to mix it with distilled or RO water, keep it in a closed container and make sure it doesn’t become further diluted while cleaning equipment. This will help keep the solution in the proper pH range and ensure it’s viability. ---
**Author:** ![profitt\_chartermi.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/profitt_chartermi.net/32/20691_2.png) [@profitt\_chartermi.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/profitt_chartermi.net)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/4 "2024-03-15T13:52:49Z")
I don’t reuse Star San but I do mix up a spray bottle and have kept that on the shelf for 1 to 3 months. I think you need to keep searching for your problem. ---
**Author:** ![neuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8e8cbc/32.png) [@neuse](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/neuse)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/5 "2024-03-15T14:26:17Z")
When Charley Talley was the company president, he was on many podcasts and discussed Star San. He gave practical advice and discussed how practical considerations differ from the official guidelines. Now that Mr. Talley is no longer president, Five Star has gone back to strict EPA guidelines. As home brewers, we aren’t required to adhere to EPA guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![goose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/goose/32/20722_2.png) [@goose](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/goose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/6 "2024-03-15T15:04:25Z")
I stopped using Star San years ago and went to Saniclean since it does not foam like Star San does.  I keep mine in a 5 gallon Gott cooler and use RO water to make the solution.  I can get several months out of a batch of it before discarding it.  As Denny said, if the pH is below 3 you will be fine. Another thing I would do is to carefully inspect your kegs and beer storage vessels, including any fermenters that are made of stainless steel.  If they have beer stone in them, that could serve as a place to harbor bacteria and other nasties.  I passivate my kegs and fermenters occasionally to get rid of any beer stone.  You can use an acid bath to do this or mix up Star San at a concentration of 1 oz. per gallon (recommended by SS Brewtech), fill the keg completely and let it sit for a few hours or up to a day or so if the beer stone is really heavy.  This should dissolve it from the walls of the stainless steel.  It will also work on glass carboys although I do not use them anymore because of the danger issue with glass.  I get my acid concentrate from a dairy supply store that sells bulk milk handling equipment and it works really well on beer stone. ---
**Author:** ![narcout](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/narcout/32/7683_2.png) [@narcout](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/narcout)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/7 "2024-03-15T15:42:01Z")
Try switching to Iodophor. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/8 "2024-03-15T16:13:41Z")
> [@narcout](#): > > Try switching to Iodophor. good suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![rburrelli](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/rburrelli/32/20746_2.png) [@rburrelli](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/rburrelli)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/9 "2024-03-15T16:21:45Z")
> [@Pspengler](#): > > Hi Everyone - > > Ive brewed for years and always thought of cleniliness as THE most important ingredient.  No matter how studious (eg dismantle valves, thorough use of Star San) once in a while I get a contaminated beer from some microorganism. > > I JUST learned that the Star San site says to use their product within an hour!  They say, “Star San is an EPAs registered sanitizer and must be used immediately. We do not recommend using it if has been in solution longer than an hour.” > > THERE’s my culprit!  Ive saved Star San in mixture from one brew to the next, usually changing out wfter two brew projects.  I further read on their site that Star San converts to sugar (thus the reason it is not harmful to us humans). > > Ive been sanitizing with sugar water! > > I just wanted to share to save others from the same problem! You don’t seem to mention if you are using a cleaner and then sanitizing. Star San is NOT a cleaner.  Your regimen should include both items. ---
**Author:** ![Megary](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/megary/32/900_2.png) [@Megary](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Megary)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/10 "2024-03-15T16:37:12Z")
> [@rburrelli](#): > > > [@Pspengler](#): > > > > Hi Everyone - > > > > Ive brewed for years and always thought of cleniliness as THE most important ingredient.  No matter how studious (eg dismantle valves, thorough use of Star San) once in a while I get a contaminated beer from some microorganism. > > > > I JUST learned that the Star San site says to use their product within an hour!  They say, “Star San is an EPAs registered sanitizer and must be used immediately. We do not recommend using it if has been in solution longer than an hour.” > > > > THERE’s my culprit!  Ive saved Star San in mixture from one brew to the next, usually changing out wfter two brew projects.  I further read on their site that Star San converts to sugar (thus the reason it is not harmful to us humans). > > > > Ive been sanitizing with sugar water! > > > > I just wanted to share to save others from the same problem! > > You don’t seem to mention if you are using a cleaner and then sanitizing. Star San is NOT a cleaner.  Your regimen should include both items. +1 On a homebrew level, I believe that proper cleaning is far more important than sanitizing. ---
**Author:** ![Pspengler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pspengler/32/21101_2.png) [@Pspengler](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Pspengler)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/11 "2024-03-15T17:40:15Z")
> [@denny](#): > > It does not need to be used within an hour, but it’s possible you’ve been reusing it too many times. Do you check the pH? If it’s under 3, it’s still good. Thanks I’ll do that! ---
**Author:** ![Bilsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bilsch](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Bilsch)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/12 "2024-03-17T01:03:28Z")
> [@goose](#): > > I passivate my kegs and fermenters occasionally to get rid of any beer stone.  You can use an acid bath to do this or mix up Star San at a concentration of 1 oz. per gallon (recommended by SS Brewtech), fill the keg completely and let it sit for a few hours or up to a day or so if the beer stone is really heavy. Unfortunately SS was incorrect about phosphoric (starsan) passivating stainless, it absolutely positively will not do that. The only acids that are capable of selectively dissolving the iron and enriching the chromium layer are nitric and citric. ---
**Author:** ![fredthecat](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/fredthecat/32/9872_2.png) [@fredthecat](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/fredthecat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/13 "2024-03-17T03:44:21Z")
> [@narcout](#): > > Try switching to Iodophor. this. i dont calculate how much the dose of iodophor costs on brewday and bottling day, but i’d estimate something like 10 to 20 cents. starsan’s storage (leaky/sticky starsan concentrate, developing strings if i dont use distilled water for it etc) was always more of a hassle for me, and i just said forget it. ---
**Author:** ![TechBrew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/techbrew/32/19_2.png) [@TechBrew](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/TechBrew)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 4:21am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/14 "2024-03-17T04:21:23Z")
> [@Bilsch](#): > > > [@goose](#): > > > > I passivate my kegs and fermenters occasionally to get rid of any beer stone.  You can use an acid bath to do this or mix up Star San at a concentration of 1 oz. per gallon (recommended by SS Brewtech), fill the keg completely and let it sit for a few hours or up to a day or so if the beer stone is really heavy. > > Unfortunately SS was incorrect about phosphoric (starsan) passivating stainless, it absolutely positively will not do that. The only acids that are capable of selectively dissolving the iron and enriching the chromium layer are nitric and citric. Goose and Bilsch are both correct. StarSan will not passivate stainless, but Goose perhaps misused the word. Extra strength StarSan _will_ remove beer stone, as Goose said. ---
**Author:** ![goose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/goose/32/20722_2.png) [@goose](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/goose)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/15 "2024-03-17T15:28:27Z")
The acid I use contains phosphoric, nitric and a small amount of sulfuric acids.  It is used in the dairy industry to clean milk handling tanks and equipment and works well on milk stone.  It also works very well on beer stone The small amount of sulfuric acid will not corrode stainless steel. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/16 "2024-03-17T18:18:25Z")
I use milkstone remover as well. One day, you’ll wake up and there won’t be anymore time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Don’t wait. Do it now. ---
**Author:** ![majorvices](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/majorvices/32/12825_2.png) [@majorvices](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/majorvices)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 12:33pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/17 "2024-03-18T12:33:15Z")
I would argue that if you are getting infections it isn’t because something hasn’t been sanitized, rather something isn’t getting cleaned. You can’t sanitize something that is dirty. And sanitization is just an extra precaution. You could take your chances and rack a wort into a clean fermenter that hasn’t been sanitized and most likely it will be fine. You can’t say the same thing about a dirty fermenter. ---
**Author:** ![pete\_baker](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pete_baker/32/5190_2.png) [@pete\_baker](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pete_baker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/18 "2024-03-18T14:15:06Z")
> [@majorvices](#): > > I would argue that if you are getting infections it isn’t because something hasn’t been sanitized, rather something isn’t getting cleaned. You can’t sanitize something that is dirty. And sanitization is just an extra precaution. You could take your chances and rack a wort into a clean fermenter that hasn’t been sanitized and most likely it will be fine. You can’t say the same thing about a dirty fermenter. I agree 100% with this and would add that a couple places I try to pay special attention to are spigots on fermenters and racking cane and tubing. They both need to be taken apart to clean and racking cane set ups should be replaced fairly regularly. ---
**Author:** ![profitt\_chartermi.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/profitt_chartermi.net/32/20691_2.png) [@profitt\_chartermi.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/profitt_chartermi.net)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/19 "2024-03-18T14:41:26Z")
> [@majorvices](#): > > I would argue that if you are getting infections it isn’t because something hasn’t been sanitized, rather something isn’t getting cleaned. You can’t sanitize something that is dirty. And sanitization is just an extra precaution. You could take your chances and rack a wort into a clean fermenter that hasn’t been sanitized and most likely it will be fine. You can’t say the same thing about a dirty fermenter. Applause, applause, applause! ---
**Author:** ![goose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/goose/32/20722_2.png) [@goose](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/goose)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263/20 "2024-03-19T16:38:38Z")
> [@kevin](#): > > > [@majorvices](#): > > > > I would argue that if you are getting infections it isn’t because something hasn’t been sanitized, rather something isn’t getting cleaned. You can’t sanitize something that is dirty. And sanitization is just an extra precaution. You could take your chances and rack a wort into a clean fermenter that hasn’t been sanitized and most likely it will be fine. You can’t say the same thing about a dirty fermenter. > > Applause, applause, applause! Agree, agree, agree! [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/been-on-the-hunt-for-why-i-occasionally-get-a-contaminated-brew/33263.md?page=2)