Ask The Brewmasters

  • 1.  Clean the Shadows of Ports.

    Posted 10-17-2022 14:19
    Hello,  I am wondering if there any techniques that you all are willing to share for the cleaning the upper portion of fermenter ports?  Our CIP process always misses the upper portion shadows of the ports.  I have recirculated through these ports in the past with some luck and the thing that I ahve done in a pinch has been fill the tank up enough to sumerge the ports and and soak it over night with an acid solution.  I am wondering if you all having any recommendations ie...  chemical suggestions and concentrations?  Methods?  Thanks in advance.

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    Landon Swanson
    Head Brewer
    Pueblo Vida Brewing
    Tucson AZ
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  • 2.  RE: Clean the Shadows of Ports.

    Posted 10-18-2022 11:18
    I use tank tube brushes in my 1.5" ports where we put our carb stone & BF Valve/sample port.

    https://www.unionjacktools.com/2-tube-valve-brush/

    I leave the brushes in the ports during CIP - doesn't completely block the flow but any chemical barely trickles out.  I'll shut off the pump periodically & scrub the port using the brush.  Obviously make sure your PPE is keeping you protected.

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    Sean Coughlin
    Brewing Operations/Quality Manager
    BearWaters Brewing Co
    Waynesville NC
    (315) 567-7862
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  • 3.  RE: Clean the Shadows of Ports.

    Posted 10-18-2022 18:47
    Thanks sean.   We do it all the same except leavng them inside the port even when we aren't actively scrubbing.   am going to give this a try and hope this takes care of the slight build up.  Thanks again.

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    Landon Swanson
    Head Brewer
    Pueblo Vida Brewing
    Tucson AZ
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Clean the Shadows of Ports.

    Posted 10-18-2022 11:19
    Edited by Walter Heeb 10-18-2022 14:33
    We remove all the valves/thermometer/carb stones and clean the ports directly with a brush and caustic solution, rinse with a hose.


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    Matt Yergey
    Head Brewer
    Yergey Brewing
    Emmaus PA
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  • 5.  RE: Clean the Shadows of Ports.

    Posted 10-18-2022 16:03
    We run a brush though all the ports during initial water rinse and during CIP. In the rare instances where I've found stone in port I've soaked a micorfiber cloth in Nitric/phosphoric blend and stuffed it into the port for a couple of hours then hit again with the fitting brush that matches the port size.

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    Gary Heil
    Cypress & Grove Brewing Co
    Gainesville FL
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