National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: Greg2013 on May 31, 2016, 08:17:42 AM

Title: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on May 31, 2016, 08:17:42 AM
I have been using two of these to store my bulk grain for a couple of years now. They have always been kept clean and dry. I am about to empty the one in the pic as i am planning a double batch brewday. It is marked on the bottom with a triangle/2 and PE,i am going to assume from this they are HDPE containers ? They are heavy duty with twist off lids and silicone seals. Are they ok to ferment in assuming all sanitation needs are met ? Tia. ;D
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: johnrm on May 31, 2016, 12:34:01 PM
What was in them before the grain?
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: auralabuse on May 31, 2016, 03:25:57 PM
Risk of cost of dodgy beer v cost of brew bucket. I personally wouldn't try it.

Sent from my HUAWEI GRA-L09 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on May 31, 2016, 10:53:07 PM
Quote from: johnrm on May 31, 2016, 12:34:01 PM
What was in them before the grain?

Not 100% sure now as i have had them two years or more at this stage,if memory serves it was a food additive of some sort but i must check into it again. ;D
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on May 31, 2016, 10:55:37 PM
Quote from: auralabuse on May 31, 2016, 03:25:57 PM
Risk of cost of dodgy beer v cost of brew bucket. I personally wouldn't try it.

Sent from my HUAWEI GRA-L09 using Tapatalk

Merely a stop gap measure and tbh with an Fv costing upwards of €20 i am tempted to chance it.Just want to get a couple batches down before the new SS Fv arrives and before i have to move house. ;D
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Will_D on June 02, 2016, 08:55:04 AM
A lot would depend on the pigment used. I am sure Mr Plastic himself will chip in!
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: pob on June 02, 2016, 09:15:31 AM
Quote from: Greg2013 on May 31, 2016, 08:17:42 AM
I have been using two of these to store my bulk grain for a couple of years now.

Are they ok to ferment in assuming all sanitation needs are met ? Tia. ;D

In the same way you could use a bath that has been cleaned & sanitised, would you want to.

Presuming the plastic is ok, I would have thought the microscratches caused by the grain storage over time would make it very difficult to really clean properly.

It would be a massive pita to have to dump a double batch after brewing all day if it didn't work.

Could you do smaller batches & just get a €10 Alpack 30L bucket to tie you over? (You'd waste more than €10 in ingredients if you dump the bigger batch)
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: DEMPSEY on June 02, 2016, 10:26:43 AM
Quote from: Will_D on June 02, 2016, 08:55:04 AM
I am sure Mr Plastic himself will chip in!
Would that be plastic John :D or is it John the plastic :D :D
Title: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Leann ull on June 02, 2016, 05:36:03 PM
Consultancy service was provided for the usual fee
Answer is no but interesting trend seen in the US where they use liners for brewing, when brew finished just dump entire bag.
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: molc on June 02, 2016, 05:37:55 PM
Disposable culture is alive and well.
Title: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Leann ull on June 02, 2016, 10:15:01 PM
2x30l buckets today total cost €14 in Alpack
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: mr hoppy on June 02, 2016, 10:36:13 PM
Grain = lacto = not a great idea.
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on June 02, 2016, 11:40:39 PM
Cheers for all the comments guys. Btw CH you never mentioned a fee   ???

Alpack buckets not a bad idea. ;D


Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on June 03, 2016, 12:58:21 AM
I am going to rethink this one. Going over my figures my boil volume is over the capacity of my keggle by 8lt anyway so i may just go with a single batch brewday. ;D
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Shanna on June 03, 2016, 08:13:33 AM
Quote from: CH on June 02, 2016, 05:36:03 PM
Consultancy service was provided for the usual fee
Answer is no but interesting trend seen in the US where they use liners for brewing, when brew finished just dump entire bag.
Looks like some people don't even bother sanitise the bags. Despite the concerns over the environment it seems a convenient & effective way to reduce issues with sanitation of plastic fermenters. Can appreciate the time savings & removing the requirement to use cleaning products such as vwp + gallons of bot water might actually be better for Tue environment. No reason why bag could not become a bin liner for general waste use after brewing is finished. Great idea & thanks for sharing CH.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=51541

Shanna
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on June 03, 2016, 09:29:30 PM
Quote from: Shanna on June 03, 2016, 08:13:33 AM
Quote from: CH on June 02, 2016, 05:36:03 PM
Consultancy service was provided for the usual fee
Answer is no but interesting trend seen in the US where they use liners for brewing, when brew finished just dump entire bag.
Looks like some people don't even bother sanitise the bags. Despite the concerns over the environment it seems a convenient & effective way to reduce issues with sanitation of plastic fermenters. Can appreciate the time savings & removing the requirement to use cleaning products such as vwp + gallons of bot water might actually be better for Tue environment. No reason why bag could not become a bin liner for general waste use after brewing is finished. Great idea & thanks for sharing CH.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=51541

Shanna

The only issue i would have with this is would the bag itself be food safe plastic ? I am referring now to the clear bin liner type bags we used to use for recycling,i don't know what they were made of but it probably was not Hdpe ? :D
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Leann ull on June 04, 2016, 12:51:39 AM
Bags are LDPE if they are transparent and no colours they are probably 90% ok as only a very rare volume don't  have the approvals.
The recycling bags are not recommended as they are made from recycled products.
You need to sanitise all as they are not produced in a clean room environment.
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Greg2013 on June 04, 2016, 05:45:29 PM
Ok so long as they are clear and not made from recycled plastic they should be ok ? ;D
Title: Re: Is This Ok To Ferment In?
Post by: Leann ull on June 04, 2016, 06:37:01 PM
Yep