e895515ccb
* Created `alcohol` directory to contain "Homebrew" stuff and other possible future alcohol-related articles * Moved "House Tools" and "Mixed Drinks" to `showandtell/presentations` Co-authored-by: ICBM <noreply@implicitnone.xyz> Reviewed-on: #1 Co-authored-by: ICBM <icbm@noreply.localhost> Co-committed-by: ICBM <icbm@noreply.localhost>
24 lines
1.4 KiB
Markdown
24 lines
1.4 KiB
Markdown
Sanitation is important when brewing alcohol, as bacteria can cause the alcohol
|
|
to turn to vinegar or cause illness upon consumption. Sanitation is not the same
|
|
as cleaning. Cleaning is removing large things like fruit pulp and dirt.
|
|
Sanitation has the goal of removing micro-organisms like unwanted yeasts and
|
|
bacteria. There are two main ways to sanitize: heat and chemicals.
|
|
|
|
The most accessible heat sanitation method is your dishwasher's sanitation
|
|
cycle. This is most useful for things like bottles and other larger glassware,
|
|
as the cycle often takes many hours, and leaves your items hot enough to
|
|
potentially kill your yeast.
|
|
|
|
Chemical sanitation is useful for small items, items you want to use
|
|
immediately, and temperature sensitive plastics. There are many different brands
|
|
of chemical sanitizer, which can be purchased online, at restauraunt supply
|
|
stores, and homebrew stores. Star-San is quite common, and what will be
|
|
described here. Mix 1oz of product per 5 gallons of tap water. Wet whatever
|
|
surface you want to sanitize for one minute. Allow to air dry. Use your solution
|
|
within the same hour it was made.
|
|
|
|
If you are brewing with heat, everything that touches the brew after heating
|
|
_must_ be sanitized. If you are brewing without heat, all containers, presses,
|
|
and equipment should be sanitized before use. An important use of chemical
|
|
sanitizers is to fill airlocks to prevent airborn microbes or fruit flies from
|
|
getting into your brew. |