strange flavor after bottling

[denny]

@zsmith87

So this past weekend I actually used my beergun for the first time, bottled a very hoppy IPA. Did not even think once to clean or sanitize the C02 lines, and even used the same C02 line that I use to carbonate my kegs and attached that to the beer gun, thus thinking the C02 line in the accessory kit was unnecessary.

My processwas I cleaned the bottles with PBW, then used sanitized with starsan, then used the beergun to purge, then fill and cap. Drank the first one yesterday, 3 days after bottling, and it tasted a little funky. My first question, is any tiny amount of starsan left over going to affect the flavor? Is the consensus to sanitize and clean the c02 line going into the beer gun?

No, the sanitizer won’t affect the flavor

No, you don’t need to sanitize CO2 lines

[scarper11 (Pinski)]

@denny

@brewinhard

Are you sure you sanitized the gas line going from the CO2 to the beergun?

Why would that be necessary?  Or is it a joke I’m missing?

That’s what I was thinking too, Denny.

[zsmith87]

@denny

@zsmith87

So this past weekend I actually used my beergun for the first time, bottled a very hoppy IPA. Did not even think once to clean or sanitize the C02 lines, and even used the same C02 line that I use to carbonate my kegs and attached that to the beer gun, thus thinking the C02 line in the accessory kit was unnecessary.

My processwas I cleaned the bottles with PBW, then used sanitized with starsan, then used the beergun to purge, then fill and cap. Drank the first one yesterday, 3 days after bottling, and it tasted a little funky. My first question, is any tiny amount of starsan left over going to affect the flavor? Is the consensus to sanitize and clean the c02 line going into the beer gun?

No, the sanitizer won’t affect the flavor

No, you don’t need to sanitize CO2 lines

Thanks, I know that may have been a stupid question, but just reading this post start to finish had me second guessing myself.

[jrdunne (Joe Sr.)]

@homoeccentricus

So I tasted another of the 4 bottles that I filled with the beergun, 3 weeks later, and it’s clearly an infection. 99% sure it’s the beergun, what else would it be?

So what is a foolproof way of cleaning the beergun?  A couple of weeks ago I ran some caustic soda through it, let that sit for a while, and then ran Starsan through it. But Mr OCD in the back of my skull whispers in my ears (not sure how he does that) that this may not be sufficient…

This may be a stoopid question, but you’re sanitizing the outside of the beer gun, too, right?  You’ve run stuff through it to sanitize the inside, but isn’t the beer in the bottles exposed to the outside of the gun as well?

[system]

@homoeccentricus

Don’t laugh. I need to bottle my Roche Four and I’m going to do it the old way with priming sugar and a bottling wand.

The best way to bottle a Belgian beer (i’m sure you know this  )

[brewinhard]

@denny

@zsmith87

So this past weekend I actually used my beergun for the first time, bottled a very hoppy IPA. Did not even think once to clean or sanitize the C02 lines, and even used the same C02 line that I use to carbonate my kegs and attached that to the beer gun, thus thinking the C02 line in the accessory kit was unnecessary.

My processwas I cleaned the bottles with PBW, then used sanitized with starsan, then used the beergun to purge, then fill and cap. Drank the first one yesterday, 3 days after bottling, and it tasted a little funky. My first question, is any tiny amount of starsan left over going to affect the flavor? Is the consensus to sanitize and clean the c02 line going into the beer gun?

No, the sanitizer won’t affect the flavor

No, you don’t need to sanitize CO2 lines

I would agree with you if the CO2 line was constantly hooked up to gas, but I completely disassemble my beer gun every time I use it.  I then hang my CO2 line up to dry after sanitizing it after use. If it sits there for 4 months before I use it again, who knows what kind of dust, bacteria, or other wild yeast has had the opportunity to get trapped up in there?  Sanitizing it prior to use simply helps me to be sure that I have potentially eliminated any issues with my bottling process with regards to sanitation.

[brewinhard]

@homoeccentricus

So I tasted another of the 4 bottles that I filled with the beergun, 3 weeks later, and it’s clearly an infection. 99% sure it’s the beergun, what else would it be?

So what is a foolproof way of cleaning the beergun?  A couple of weeks ago I ran some caustic soda through it, let that sit for a while, and then ran Starsan through it. But Mr OCD in the back of my skull whispers in my ears (not sure how he does that) that this may not be sufficient…

I can tell you that I have bottled batches off my kegs that have gone into comps and gotten scores with wild yeast infections noted (plastic notes). Then a couple weeks later bottling them up from the same keg and taking best of show with the same beer. So, I have definitely picked up infections when using the beer gun before. Will I still continue to use it?  Of course, I think it is a good product.  Sometimes s**t happens and it is out of your control.  Oh well, it is just beer. And I love it!

[homoeccentricus]

@homoeccentricus

So I tasted another of the 4 bottles that I filled with the beergun, 3 weeks later, and it’s clearly an infection. 99% sure it’s the beergun, what else would it be?

So what is a foolproof way of cleaning the beergun?  A couple of weeks ago I ran some caustic soda through it, let that sit for a while, and then ran Starsan through it. But Mr OCD in the back of my skull whispers in my ears (not sure how he does that) that this may not be sufficient…

This may be a stoopid question, but you’re sanitizing the outside of the beer gun, too, right?  You’ve run stuff through it to sanitize the inside, but isn’t the beer in the bottles exposed to the outside of the gun as well?

Yep, put the beergun in a bucket of starsan…

[brewinhard]

@homoeccentricus

@homoeccentricus

So I tasted another of the 4 bottles that I filled with the beergun, 3 weeks later, and it’s clearly an infection. 99% sure it’s the beergun, what else would it be?

So what is a foolproof way of cleaning the beergun?  A couple of weeks ago I ran some caustic soda through it, let that sit for a while, and then ran Starsan through it. But Mr OCD in the back of my skull whispers in my ears (not sure how he does that) that this may not be sufficient…

This may be a stoopid question, but you’re sanitizing the outside of the beer gun, too, right?  You’ve run stuff through it to sanitize the inside, but isn’t the beer in the bottles exposed to the outside of the gun as well?

Yep, put the beergun in a bucket of starsan…

I also run iodophor through mine prior to packaging.

[homoeccentricus]

@narvin

@homoeccentricus

Don’t laugh. I need to bottle my Roche Four and I’m going to do it the old way with priming sugar and a bottling wand.

The best way to bottle a Belgian beer (i’m sure you know this  )

I do! Funnily enough to me (and many others) some Belgian beers are better on draft. Two local beers come to mind: De Koninck and Westmalle Dubbel.

[homoeccentricus]

OK stoopid question: how do you sanitize the gas line? Will I not have to call the fire brigade to save me when I connect it to the liquid line?

[brewinhard]

I use the beer gun gas line that came with it. I simply soak it in star san for 2 minutes prior to attaching it to the beer gun and my CO2 tank.

[homoeccentricus]

Ah so not the inside of the line itself…

[brewinhard]

Yes, when I soak it I make sure that starsan fills the whole CO2 line sanitizing the inside.

[blair.streit]

This conversation shows a lot about why “gas line sanitization” is just one of those things that I’ve never felt fully comfortable with. None of us works in a completely aseptic environment, so admittedly there is always some level of contamination in homebrew (and probably all beer if we’re talking about counting cells). The trick seems to be keeping the unwanted organisms to a minimum.

With that said, the best way I can think about it is that:

• “The front end” of yeast propagation is the most dangerous place for contamination, as you will grow most unwanted organisms right along with your yeast (this is why I worry about the inside of the oxygenation tubing as I sometimes oxygenate starters before putting them on the stir plate)
• “The front end” of fermentation seems like the next big danger area, as you’re preparing for another growth phase and dumping your microbes into an all you can eat buffet (this is why I worry about the inside of the oxygenation tubing)
• Packaging seems less concerning than the rest of these environments as the conditions for multiplication inside packaged beer aren’t as favorable as the other environments; However, anyone who has ever seen a gusher knows it’s still quite possible to screw this up

Bringing it back to the OP’s question, it seems like we’ve had several people convinced that dirty gas lines on the beer gun could be the cause of their issues. This seems plausible to me, but applying Occam’s Razor it seems like a gas line at packaging is the least likely place to go looking for a contamination source unless you’ve thoroughly eliminated the more likely possibilities first.

As for whether I will run sanitizer through the inside of my oxygenation line after all this – probably not. I leave it connected to the tank and clean/sanitize the wand and outside of the line already. It seems like pulling it apart might create more opportunities for contamination than leaving it alone (unless I somehow managed to get beer inside the line, in which case I’d just buy new tubing and start over).

[pmorrissette (Phil_M)]

Do you have another sanitizer to try? I know most folks don’t have issues with star-san, but since it doesn’t work particularly well on yeast and mold there’s always the possibility that this could be you issue.

[JJeffers09]

@salcedo

Maybe the off flavors come from the sanitizer itself?

Sent from my K01A using Tapatalk

This is what I thought, StarSan is extreme low pH that could lend into the sourness of the beer.  I know it is a “no rinse” sanitizer by that is why I am moving away from it in bottling.  Maybe the bottles did not drain out enough…  IDK just speculation.  next time try a different sanitizer when you bottle?  How was the Quaffable Porter? Kegged?  I don’t remember your update but I remember you working out your recipe… What direction did you go for?  Brown, Baltic, Robust ??

[skatz (Stevie)]

While starsan is low pH, the total amount of acid is quite small. I think your worrying about nothing.

[ynotbrusum]

I agree that an iodophor solution is warranted on the tubing and fermenters to best avoid any prior or wild yeast - especially in warm months and when re-pitching ales.  I haven’t had issues with the CO2 tubing, but it could happen.

[salcedo]

While starsan is low pH, the total amount of acid is quite small. I think your worrying about nothing.

Yeah, it was just a thought. I sanitize my bottles with starsan then put them on a bottle tree just before filling from the keg. I’ve never noticed any sourness, but some people’s tastebuds are more sensitive than others.