Rum or vodka
vodka tends to make me wake up naked in places where i didn't go to sleep. there is, therefore, a self-imposed vodka ban in my household.
LMAO! Jamebow.
I personally would stay away from using alchol based cleaners to sanitize... home brew shops have a nice powder you could mix with water and use.... Probably a little safer too... as far as not getting any odd flavors.... TheJet
TheJet wrote:
I personally would stay away from using alchol based cleaners to sanitize... home brew shops have a nice powder you could mix with water and use.... Probably a little safer too... as far as not getting any odd flavors.... TheJet
I'm with TheJet on this one. I usually just use B-Brite or PBW to clean my stuff. Put in a couple of scoops, add water so you get a nice foam, let it sit for 15 mintues, dump and rinse. Never had an infection.
And I just add water to the airlock. I've never had an issue with the water getting sucked into the wort, but I have had the water get pushed out when I've had a really ripping primary fermentation.
For those of you that use vodka, does the vodka smell overpower the fermentation smell down at the airlock when the bubbles coming through?
DT
Anything that you use for cleaning your equipment should have absolutely no effect on the taste of your brew. I think the absolutely best thing for sanitizing is iodine. It is sold wherever you buy your homebrew supplies, it is pretty cheap (very cheap compared to liquor) and lasts a very very long time. So, for cleaning and sanitizing parts, I would not use anything else - for maximum sanitation AND economics.
As for liquid in the airlock, you need something. It can be plain water, BUT, since there is a possibility of some of it being sucked into the fermenter, and just because it is the only thing separating your vulnerable brew from all the nasties in the outside air, it is best to use something that will maintain the sanitation. One choice would be iodine solution or bleach, but, again, it might slip into your brew which would be bad. Therefore, many people use a liquor. Any strong liquor will work, because the alcohol content will kill anything nasty that tries to get in.
Many people use cheap vodka, it is clear, doesnt have added flavors or sugars, and therefore doesn't attract too many bugs. Rum may attract bugs because it is sweet.
I totally understand that you don't like vodka. But, you wouldn't be drinking it either. Go get the cheapest vodka on the shelf. If you want, start off with a small bottle of it. And use it only for this one thing. I have a bottle of vodka that is dedicated to using in the airlock. I consider it just one of the many tools needed for brewing.
Thanks guys.
vodka it is then.
Marv.
dmofot wrote:
For those of you that use vodka, does the vodka smell overpower the fermentation smell down at the airlock when the bubbles coming through?
DT
It would have to be some pretty bad vodka to have a strong smell (not that you have to use a premium vodka). If you use something like Smirnoff, you would be fine. Next time you go to the liquor store, just buy one of those small sampling bottles and get a small bottle of Smirnoff (or if you want a better vodka to actually try, get the Stolichnya). That's more than enough vodka for an airlock.
Okay, vodka for air locks, how about soaking spices to be added to your secondary?
Would you still stick with vodka or would rum be okay for that?
For that, would it be more about preference. Or is vodka more of a standard?
Marv.
webby wrote:
It would have to be some pretty bad vodka to have a strong smell (not that you have to use a premium vodka). If you use something like Smirnoff, you would be fine. Next time you go to the liquor store, just buy one of those small sampling bottles and get a small bottle of Smirnoff (or if you want a better vodka to actually try, get the Stolichnya). That's more than enough vodka for an airlock.
Yea, I hear that. I guess what I meant is does the vodka tend to cover up the fermentation aroma down at the airlock. In a real vigorous fermentation I can smell it as soon as I enter my house, but others I have to put my nose up to the airlock as it's bubbling. So not that vodka smells bad, but it does have a particular smell to it, whether it's good or bad vodka probably isn't the smell I get, it's probably just high alcohol level that gives the sensation of smell...kind of like rubbing alcohol.
But yea, I guess I should ask more specifically if the vodka tends to trap the aroma that usually accompanies the bubbles coming out of the airlock. Don't tell me you all don't put your nose up to the airlock while it's bubbling and think "Damn, this smells incredible. This is going to be a fine brew", haha.
DT
Marv. wrote:
Okay, vodka for air locks, how about soaking spices to be added to your secondary?
Would you still stick with vodka or would rum be okay for that?
For that, would it be more about preference. Or is vodka more of a standard?
Marv.
I believe vodka is the standard for soaking spices, at least alcohol soluble spices, like vanilla, etc.
DT