Enzybrew 10

[nallum]

Enzybrew 10 is the most effective brewing kettle cleaner I've used. The problem is its cost, if used at the recommended dosage. I'm normally prep 3-4L and circulate through a spray ball. A full volume soak at the recommended dosage is far too expensive.

I've been brewing half batches of dark ales lately and I noticed a stubborn dark, chalky beer stone-like ring around the halfway mark in my kettle. I couldn't be bothered to set up the spray ball or even scrub it by hand. Thought I'd try an experiment instead. It worked so well I wish I had taken a picture of the ring before the experiment.

Enzybrew 10, as the name suggests, is an enzyme-based cleaner. Like any cleaning chemical, it should be respected as potentially harmful. Wear gloves and try not to inhale it of flick it in your eyes. Just because it's 'a natural product' doesn't mean it's safe under all circumstances. Some of the most harmful chemicals are natural products.

Anyway, enzymes aren't used up in chemical reactions. The breakdown of organic brewery debris and films in our case. So, in theory, to get a good result using less Enzybrew 10 we just need to keep temperature within the enzyme's range and increase time.

What I did. Filled my kettle to the brim (about 35L, iirc), added a good tbsp Enzybrew 10 while heating to 55*C with recirculation. Held it there for a couple hours then turned it off and went to bed, leaving it to soak overnight.

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After draining and rinsing this morning, the stubborn ring has gone completely and the inside of my kettle looks shinier than it ever has.

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Conclusion: a brewing kettle can be deep cleaned with as little as a tbsp of Enzybrew 10.

[nallum]

Now the kettle wall is dry, it really shines clean.

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It's that clean, I'm almost tempted to recirculate some hot 10% citric acid to repassivate the stainless, which I haven't done for a couple years or so - probably why a stubborn ring of 'beer stone' started building up.

[Cobnut]

That IS impressive. I’ve used it as a cleaner in my Grainfather 30 and haven’t noticed the substantial amount of debris coming out of the CFC that others have reported. I usually use Chemclean (a scoop in c. 20L heated to 60C whilst recirculating and then held there for a further 20 mins whilst continuing to recirculate. Works quite well, but misses the areas higher up the sides marked by the boil, but a bit of scrubbing with a brush gets most if it off. If I was less “cheap”, I’d fill it to 30L and use more chemclean.

Maybe next time I’ll fill it to 30L add a couple of tbsp of enzybrew10, heat to 55C and leave it overnight before pumping out and rinsing.

[nallum]

I 'm using Chemclean for pretty much everything else. Still only 1-4L working solutions. It does a good job. My kettle/BM usually gets some with a physical clean, but I'm going to start using Enzybrew exclusively for the kettle only. It leaves a weird chalky-like film on silicone.

[FUBAR]

I have had a tub of Enzybrew for a while now and used it for the first time last night following the method nallum used . I put all the other steel parts with my GF in as well for a soak , emptied it out this morning and it had left a white film on some areas which was a bar steward to remove but it certainly has got everything sparkling clean . Think the issue might be my hard tap water reacting with it ? , will use RO next time to see if that makes a difference .

[nallum]

My tap water is very soft. I remember reading that a final rinse with a weak acid solution might be necessary if using hard water. A spray down with 1% white vinegar then 10 minute soak before rinsing with water might do the trick, if RO water isn't an option.

Edit: Double checked on Murphy & Son (often a good source of info, given they supply professionals in the brewing industry) and found this:

https://www.murphyandson.co.uk/wp-conte ... rew-10.pdf

So as low as a 0.25% acid solution might do it. Citric acid here might help repassivate the stainless and keep it cleaner longer.

[guypettigrew]

Wonderful stuff, Enzybrew.

I use it at a rate of about 7g/L with a 'Bucket Blaster' from TMM. About 8 litres in the Bucket Blaster is enough. It's left on, spraying the inside of the King Kegs and fermenter, for an hour or so, and leaves them super clean.

After using it I give everything a swish round with quadruple strength Chemsan/Starsan.

Guy

[nallum]

Wonderful stuff, Enzybrew.

I use it at a rate of about 7g/L with a 'Bucket Blaster' from TMM. About 8 litres in the Bucket Blaster is enough. It's left on, spraying the inside of the King Kegs and fermenter, for an hour or so, and leaves them super clean.

After using it I give everything a swish round with quadruple strength Chemsan/Starsan.

Guy

I think I prefer my DIY 'bucket blaster'. It's got more poke, copes with hot water (up to 100*C, if needed ), can be used with the lid on (to clean my brewing bits like a dish washer) and becomes a clean water rinser within seconds it takes to change hoses. It works with 3L too, 4L if it's something foamy like Chemclean. [smug bast*rd]

Quite often, especially in home brewing, I think we're better off making at least some things ourselves. It seems to be a lost aspect of the hobby these days. What aren't they trying to sell us? And I'm not just talking about the mediocre to crap solutions to problems which don't exist. The social media spaces occupied by home brewers these days are little more like platforms for sales pitches, hook, line and sinker. Hardly ecosystems for personal growth in becoming a better home brewer.

[guypettigrew]

Dead right. Making kit ourselves is sometimes better, and more fun. But, sometimes, it's heaps easier to fork out the cash and get something ready made.

Not sure, though, how making my own 'Bucket Blaster' would make me a better home brewer! Unlike crushing the grain at home and treating the water to get the desired alkalinity. Both of which have definitely improved the final product.

Guy

[nallum]

Not sure, though, how making my own 'Bucket Blaster' would make me a better home brewer!

The skills learned or practiced are transferable to other areas of brewing. To other areas of life.