Perasan

[Paul_tripple_B]

Well, any tips on the use of preasan as a sterilizer/cleaning agent. What mix should be used, what should be avoided?

[masterbrewer]

(16-12-2009 10:48 PM)Paul_tripple_B Wrote:  Well, any tips on the use of preasan as a sterilizer/cleaning agent. What mix should be used, what should be avoided?

Hi Paul,

First, Perasan is neither a sterilizer nor a cleaning agent. It is only a sanitizer. To sanitize is to kill MOST fungi and bacteria (acceptable in most brewing processes), while to sterilize is to kill ALL fungi, bacteria, viruses and also bacterial spores. To sterilize you need to expose to temperatures of higher than 121C for longer than 15 minutes (only used in brewing when doing yeast cultivation).

Perasan is pretty aggressive in its undiluted form. I use 3ml per 1L water with 5 minute contact time. Some literature suggests that Perasan is a no-rinse sanitizer, but I prefer to do a rinse with HLT water.

For cleaning I use a hot caustic soda solution.

Hope this helps,

[Paul_tripple_B]

Thanks. I have been using it for a few months. I dont think i have ever had any noticeable contaimnation with or without the use of perasan as I take as much precausion as i can.

Basically I'm looking for direction in the use of perasan. Like you say some mention it as a non rinse, which is how i have treated it in many situations. I did a brew today and used it in my FV and didn't do a rinse. Now what concerns me is what will it do to the wort before the yeast kicks in?...in the end i suppose it is as someone once said(read it somewhere and can't remember where), "with homebrewing it is a situation of minimizing the effects of contamination as for most of us we don't have the means or knowhow to effectivly sterilize".

[Jeremy Wallis]

I agree with Andre's comments ... and in addition ...

I have used Perisan for many years but have always treated it as a "must rinse" sanitiser.

Its ... something like ... peri-oxy-acetic acid ... which is a powerful oxidising agent, in contact with beer it can make your beer develop oxidised flavours very quickly.

My use has been on equipment starting with the counter-flow chiller, through to the fermentor, bottles & kegs. I have always soaked a 0.5% solution (i.e. 5 ml in 1 litre of water) for 5 minutes, then rinsed with cold tap water out the tap and not experienced noticeable oxidation flavours or infections. Many people say I take a risk with using cold Pretoria tap water to rinse it off but after some 13 years of kegging beer this way I have yet to have a problem.

Jeremy.

[Paul_tripple_B]

Thanks for your advise. I have used it as a rinse solution and never had a problem either. I read something and maybe you could give your input (presuming all "perasan" is one and the same). http://www.envirotech.com/pdf/Sanitation%20with%20PERASAN%20(PAA)%20(182k).pdf Page 13 is what is of interest to me.

Have you ever used it as a non-rinse, or know any one that has, and had a problem?

[tweedronk]

My perasan ran out about 3 years ago. Were can i get some more?

[Paul_tripple_B]

I got mine from thebeerkeg.co.za

[tweedronk]

I need some other goodies from them too for the summer beer festival.

[CalmYourself]

(20-12-2009 06:52 PM)Paul_tripple_B Wrote:  Thanks for your advise. I have used it as a rinse solution and never had a problem either. I read something and maybe you could give your input (presuming all "perasan" is one and the same). http://www.envirotech.com/pdf/Sanitation%20with%20PERASAN%20(PAA)%20(182k).pdf Page 13 is what is of interest to me.

Have you ever used it as a non-rinse, or know any one that has, and had a problem?

Jeremy also has a presentation on the worthogs website where he says you can let Perasan drip dry without rinsing. But this may be a specific instance related to kegging though.

Can you weigh in here Jeremy?