homebrew kegging; one more question

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by utahbeerdude, Apr 12, 2013.

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  1. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Thanks for all the information on my homebrew kegging post. I seem to have forgotten one question that did not get addressed there.

    (9) Best practice for cleaning and sanitizing beer lines and taps? I will be initially be going with picnic taps inside the fridge. May eventually put better taps through the door. Again, thanks and cheers!
     
  2. Jaysus

    Jaysus Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2003 Pennsylvania

    Best practice? I dunno... but I usually just run what ever I am cleaning my kegs with through my beer lines while I am actually, you know, cleaning my kegs. I try to let it sit in the beer lines for a bit if it is still warm.
     
  3. epk

    epk Pundit (849) Jun 10, 2008 New Jersey

    Picnic tap lines can be broken down, soaked in cleaner (if that's even needed) or simply rinsed throughly and sanitized if you like all fairly easy.

    For taps, they make this http://www.kegworks.com/economy-beer-line-cleaning-kit-4oz-liquid-395-p16411. I've never actually sanitized the line after cleaning. Beer tastes fine to me. :wink:

    Call me lazy, but I didn't even clean my beer line when I switched on a new keg last - just ran off a half point or more. And I only rinsed out a spare pinic tap line (I use for a second keg) and hung it up to air dry.

    Don't over think these things.
     
  4. harsley

    harsley Maven (1,335) Jun 16, 2005 Massachusetts

    I rinse out and sanitize my beer lines between each keg but I don't go nuts. It's cheap an easy enough to just replace your lines every 1-2 years and start fresh.
     
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Whenever a keg kicks, I run BLC solution through the lines and faucets, followed by plain water. I run Starsan solution through the lines and soak the disassembled faucets in Starsan solution just prior to re-use.
     
  6. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    I have a keg filled with One Step cleaner/sanitizer. When a keg kicks, I hook it up and run that through the line to the faucet until a few seconds after it runs clear. I then disconnect the cleaner keg and leave the line full of cleaner until the next keg is ready to serve - usually overnight (at least as long as it takes to chill). I hook up the new keg and flush the line with the first pint or so (that's gonna get dumped anyway -- it's full of sediment). Occasionally, I'll disassemble the faucet and hand wash it, though that doesn't really have to be coordinated with cleaning the line.
     
  7. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    Hands22 likes this.
  8. Hands22

    Hands22 Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2011 Florida

  9. Soneast

    Soneast Pooh-Bah (1,751) May 9, 2008 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

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