Beer Forum

Located a couple carboys under my basement stairs that I had forgotten about for a while. They had been filled to the rim with hot water and PBW and left to sit until I needed them again. I finally had the time to give then a proper cleaning and while the inside of the carboys are sparkling, the PBW has left a ring "around the neck" that even a carboy brush can't remove. The ring is barely noticeable, but I know its there and it bugs me.

Do you guys think these would be safe to brew with or should I keep trying to get rid of that "stain"? At least I know its from a cleanser and not from fermentation filth. Any thoughts?

I would try another hot PBW soak (just don't let it sit so long this time ). Would you say the ring is where the PBW/air barrier was? I imagine it just some kind of staining that the PBW should clean up.

I have a clear coffee cup at work that you couldn't see through and no scrubbing would may it better. I soaked it in hot oxyclean over night and it looks brand new.

Are these glass carboys or better bottles?

I get that all the time. So often, in fact, that I just incorporated it into my cleaning schedule. I let them sit for a long time filled with PBW (mostly cause I hate using those brushes). When I pour out the PBW, I heat it up & soak it again over night. Usually does the trick. Sometimes I have to do it twice or use a brush just on the area where the ring was.

Do you have hard water? If so, it might be a hard water deposit. Starsan or any other acid sanitizer should bust it up. Try dipping a bottle brush in diluted sanitizer, scrubbing the rim, waiting 5 minutes, and rinsing.

Beer_Baron wrote:Do you have hard water? If so, it might be a hard water deposit. Starsan or any other acid sanitizer should bust it up. Try dipping a bottle brush in diluted sanitizer, scrubbing the rim, waiting 5 minutes, and rinsing.

My water at my apartment was damn near R.O. & it still does it. It's just something PBW does when you leave it in there for a month.. or longer . Acid may still clean it up, but after it's been sitting that long I still like to give it another 'quick' soak anyways.

Vinegar will also take that ring out.

So it sounds like the Army is telling me that I need an acid to break up this PBW ring. I dumped a bit of star san into each carboy, shook them up, and scrubbed lightly with my carboy brush. After a couple hot water rinses they are as good as new again! thanks for the tips BN crew!