Home Brewing System

Extending The Life Of Your Home Brewing System

It is unlikely that purchasing the materials for your home brewing system put you into debt. Most of the items needed to create and set up a home brewing system are relatively inexpensive. But just because you didn’t have to take out a second mortgage on your home to finance your hobby doesn’t mean you don’t want your home brewing system to last for a long time. Provided you take the time to properly care for your home brewing tools there is very little reason why it won’t.

Damaging Affects Of Corrosion

Most home brewing systems have a stainless steel brewkettle. Stainless steel is a metal many consumers have grown fond of. Stainless steel is not only easy to cook with it is also typically inexpensive and looks attractive sitting on the kitchen counter or stovetop. Stainless steel is also a poplar material in the kitchen because it is easy to sanitize. The problem home brewers have with their stainless steel brewkettle’s is that beer is highly corrosive. Stainless steel corrodes when the iron in it starts breaking down, the end result being large rust spots. Beer is extremely hard on your home brewing system because it is acidic and is made with live microfauna. Microfauna are microscopic animals naturally found in beer. If the brewer ignores the corroding they will quickly find themselves seeking another brewkettle. If you notice that your home brewing system is showing any signs of corroding you may want to consider replacing it because the corrosion normally has a negative affect on the flavor of the beer you are brewing.

Preventing Corrosion

The good news is that are steps you can take to prevent the damaging affects of corrosion on your home brewing system. The first thing you need to have on hand is a bottle of bleach. Using a liberal amount of bleach on your home brewing system will not only wash away the acid and any micro fauna lingering on the stainless steel’s surface, the bleach will also sanitize your system, preventing one recipe from contaminating another. You do have to be careful when using bleach, not only can accidental splashes erase the color from your clothing, but prolonged contact with the steel can actually cause the bleach to start eating away at the steel. Something else brewers might want to consider when trying to prevent their home brewing system from corroding is nitric acid. The nitric acid is a mild acid that helps sanitize and preserve the life of the brewkettle.

Check Your Entire System

Stainless steel is not the only material that can be damaged by the beer you are brewing. The rest of your home brewing system can also corrode. To prevent this from happening thoroughly clean your entire home brewing system after every use and sanitize it before using it the next time. Always check all your tubing to make sure it is in good health and that you won’t leak your beer when you are siphoning it.