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My brew is in about day 5 of fermentatin.... I noticed yesterday there is a really small leak at the tap of the fermenter. When I say small, I mean that there appears to be about maybe 2mls of leakage, that's all. I'm just wondering if a leak that small would open me up to getting an infection....

or more importantly, what are the chances of me getting an infection?

not sure where the leak is coming from, but maybe you can try and screw the tap in a bit further ?. As for an infection if you have a second fermenter you could rack it ? or just leave it in the hands of the beer gods.

Phill

yeah, i screwed it on tighter...

I dont have a second fermenter, so I guess its up to the beer gods. Fingers crossed. I think it'll be ok...

although I'm basing that on nothing!

You won't get an infection. Don't worry about it, just bottle as normal.

use a spray bottle with metho or bleach & water in it to disinfect the inside of the tap before bottling. rinse with another spray bottle.

I very much doubt that you'll get an infection!!!!

Just be Ultra Sure about sterilisation at bottling and you shouldn't have a problem.

Wassa

I doubt you will get an infection this time, the problem will be next time if you can't get it clean.

and you guys all know my pet peeve, unless you are using an autoclave you can't sterilise anything. The requirement is 250 deg F for 15 min I believe to achieve sterilisation.

I am contemplating using a pressure cooker to sterilise my wort for starters, at 15 psi I can get the right temp.

Dogger

Dogger Dan wrote:and you guys all know my pet peeve, unless you are using an autoclave you can't sterilise anything. The requirement is 250 deg F for 15 min I believe to achieve sterilisation.

I'm sure this has been answered elsewhere, and you know a helluva lot more than I do, but...does everything <i>really</i> have to be scientifically <i>sterile</i> (free of any life forms) rather than <i>sanitised</i> (occurrence of life forms reduced to an acceptably low level)?

I'm not trying to set off a cleanliness war, but I'm interested in the responses this might generate. I'm sure the question comes down to what is acceptable to the individual.

I think people worry too much about infection....

Touch wood I have never had one and I'm not a sterilisation freak but do make sure things are clean

Its OK KIP,

It is a definition thing. Sterile is the abscense of, sanitised means you still have the critters (like you said) but the level is so low that the yeast when you pitch it will get a good grip first and the infection won't get chance to spread. Things just need to be sanitised, not sterilised. I work in the food industry and I like calling it what it is, so its my pet peeve.

DJ, if there is one thing to worry about its cleanliness. Good habits are good habits. I use an 18 year old plastic primary. I use it because I am anal over cleanliness. Its just me though, please don't take offence. There is nothing wrong with having a clean brewery and if it saves a batch, it saves a batch.

Dogger

Dogger Dan wrote: DJ, if there is one thing to worry about its cleanliness. Good habits are good habits. I use an 18 year old plastic primary. I use it because I am anal over cleanliness. Its just me though, please don't take offence. There is nothing wrong with having a clean brewery and if it saves a batch, it saves a batch.

Dogger

I know what you are saying Dogger.. I was saying I don't sanitise, rinse, sanitise, bleach, rinse, santise again and rinse.

I just make sure I clean my bottles/fermenter as soon as they are used so they are a clean as the can be before I need to sanitise them. This lessens the chance of infection I believe.

Got ya

I don't either

Dogger