Sanitization

Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize......it can't be said too many times. Once the wort is done boiling, everything that comes into contact with beer, including containers and bottles, must be clean and sanitized. If you need to clean, I recommend using Powdered Brewery Wash (PBW), but remember it is not a sanitizer. Everything must be sanitized. One Step is an oxygen based cleaner/sanitizer that will leave no film, it sanitizes in two minutes and requires no rinsing. Another good sanitizer is BTF Iodophor, which uses iodine and requires only two minutes of contact. One other sanitizer I have used is Star San, which is a food grade acid-based sanitizer. It does not require rinsing and it only takes one minute of contact. This is good to use, because it foams and can penetrate cracks. Be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling all sanitized equipment.