Cleaning day

I had accumulated a number of bottles that needed extra attention for cleaning. That’s what happens when they are not rinsed right away after being emptied. Also, after 4 batches brewed, it wouldn’t hurt for the brew kettle to be cleaned. So, on Sunday July 3rd, I mixed up 5 gallons of PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) in the boil kettle. I cleaned about a case of bottles in several batches, soaking for about 45 minutes each. After soaking in PBW, I cleaned them with a bottle brush then rinsed thoroughly. After drying on the bottle tree they will be ready for sanitizing just before being re-filled. I cleaned the blow off tube along with the growler I use as a water container for the blow off assembly. I also ran some of the PBW through the ball valves. I use 3-piece ball valves so the next time I clean I will disassemble them but I don’t do that every time. Finally, I scrubbed the brew kettle. PBW seems to loosen about every soil normally found in the brewery and really reduces the amount of scrubbing required. A thorough rinsing, however, is a necessity. The brewery is ready for the next batch. Maybe next weekend… ?