I normally just use a sponge and soap to clean out my SS 10 gallon brew kettle. This looks like it cleans everything out. Is there a need for a product like PBW for this?
I use Oxyclean and once or twice a year a good scrubbing with Bar Keeper’s Friend to get all the stuck bit off.
BKF is a great product to get those tough stains and beer stone off of stainless steel. I just do it as needed, maybe every 7-10 batches.
yeah, I scrub it out with hot water and a nylon grain bag after the brew and when the beer stone/brown gunky gunk gets gross enough I hit it with some pbw and hot water. I don’t like to let soap get near my beer, perhaps I’m too paranoid but… I also find it doesn’t really work for the stuck on goo in the kettle.
Beer stone?
Bar Keepers Friend works really well but not necessary every time. PBW works great after brews for me. Beer Stone is a calcium build up.
Calcium Oxalate build up on the brewing and storage equipement. Brownish coating on kettles, or you can see it stain serving lines. PBW will remove organics, but not beerstone. For beerstone use and acid like distilled vinegar, Star San, or Bar Keepers Friend (it has oxalic acid as the main active ingredient). Beerstone can harbor bacteria, so it is not desired in a brewery.
Got it, sounds like what the Starsan took off the kettle for me!
I use a copper scrubbie and elbow gease but no soap! I weird about it too.
Another vote for Oxyclean and occasional Barkeepers friend cleaning.
I run PBW through my whole system (partial clean in place set up) after every brew. Every 10 brews, I run Acid #5 to keep all of the stainless nice and shiny and my hard SS plumbing free of build up.
+1
Where do you source the Acid 5?
My LHBS (Apex Brew Wares) will order nearly anything I ask for. He’s really, really good.
Is beer stone on the bottom of a boil kettle a concern for infection?
I will ask mine!
One of our Homebrewing friends who is now working as an assistant in a large brewpub says it is just like a big homebrew set up, but they have better chemicals. One needs to wear more safety gear to use those. 
no. it might or might not be a concern for flavor and, I suppose if it got bad enough it could reduce the heat conductivity between the heat source and the wort (assuming direct fired)
Gotcha. So could possibly affect flavor… I should get out tbe barkeepers friend again.
Yep. I wear pink safety boots, eye protection, and gloves when I’m brewing.
My neighbors might think I’m crazy looking but my feet aren’t wet, I didn’t shoot spent grains into my eye when accidentally turning the shop vac to ‘blow’ instead of ‘suck’, and my hands aren’t burnt or chafed when I’m done brewing.
Probably all of the OSHA classes from construction sites talking, but I’m a huge proponent of safety and cleanliness. Especially in the brewery.
Foxx Equipment sells them by gallon.
Wholesale only thou.
Mid count malt supply also sells them.
Because it is hazardous material it needs to be shipped by freight.
It is not too expensive to my recollection.