For father's day this year I got a brew kit and supplies minus the carboy (large glass jug). Julia's dad had given her an old Arrowhead water bottle a few years ago and since she knew it was sitting in the garage there was no need to buy another. All I had to do was clean it out with the my new large bottle brush and I'd be in business. Here's the rub: there was an strange looking dried out black substance stuck to the bottom of the bottle.
I filled the bottle a few inches with soapy water and let it sit a while. The strange substance didn't budge an inch. Next I used pure vinegar with some baking soda (and a little soap). That worked a little better but after a few hours of work distributed over the course of several days, I realized that I needed something else.
Last night I went into the bathroom and notice some rubbing alcohol on the counter. I poured it into the bottle and voila! the gunk began to dissolve. By the next morning the gunk has almost completely dissolved. I figure I have another hour or so to go get the remaining gunk and residual off the bottle but am now getting a little more excited about brewing my first batch of beer. (BTW for IPA lovers I tried a special Sierra Nevada brew named Torpedo on our vacation and loved it. )
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Hooray, beer! My hub and I started brewing our own beer this past winter/spring, and it is So. Much. Fun. Also, homebrewed beer tastes better than about 99% of storebought beers. I can't wait to see how you like it!
ReplyDeleteBEER! TORPEDO! Must try. I am drinking Sierra Nevada Pale Ale right now...it is my favortie beer of all time. I am getting inspired to try brewing again. Keep us posted on the process and results. Brewing would be something fave spouse and I could do together again. Is it wrong to involve children in the beer process?
ReplyDeleteYes, I can't wait! I'll let you know how it goes. And why not let the kids help brew the beer as long as they don't try to drink it later?
ReplyDeleteI think we'll get our fist batch going this weekend with a post soon after.
Torpedo is ok, although I prefer something along the lines of Stone IPA.
ReplyDeleteBeer brewing is great. I would love to see some updates on your project!
Ahh yes, I love Stone IPA too. Actually I plan to use Stone bottles for my beer (which will also be an IPA). Besides the great beer inside I like that the Stone bottles don't have paper labels.
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