Beer and Brewer Australia

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HBG
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Bleach v Sodium Met - 2007/05/30 17:04 Below is a copy of a message I sent to the Editors.

Hi, I love the look of the magazine, and the layout. However, as a long term Beer lover and home brewer, I was amazed/stunned/bewildered to read Commandment #1 on Page 58. There was no mention of Sodium Metabisulphate. It is without a doubt, the best sterilizer available, and is cheap. What's more, it is quick to use as the items are sterile in 30 minutes.
Apparently the Sodium Percarbonate made by Coopers, needs to be soaked for 2 hours.
What was even more horifying was the mention of the word Bleach, which I have only seen in "Homebrewing for Dummies". There is no way I would put a Bleach mix in my fermenter/bottles, and even by rinsing the fermenter/bottles out means that it is most likely no longer sterile.
I am sure that Sodium Met is a lot safer for human consumption than Bleach.
Other than that, his advice has been good, but I would like to see more emphasis on the good products that Coopers make, which is the Thomas Coopers range Black label range. This is far better than the run of the mill stuff commonly found on your Supermarket shelf.

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tommo
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Re:Bleach v Sodium Met - 2007/06/07 05:42 Forget the kit beers and go All Grain, you won't look back my friend, back to sanitisers, Iodophor imho is a much better alternative to either of the sanitisersmentioned.

tommo

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HBG
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Re:Bleach v Sodium Met - 2007/06/07 16:08 If I had the time, I would, plus I do 2 different beers at the one time.

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mick6669
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Re:Bleach v Sodium Met - vs. nothing - 2007/08/31 09:15 Why the heck you would put bloody preservatives into your beer-(bottles/fermenters)?

Have you ever tried it with boiling water and a basic degree of hygien?

Good brews & Cheers
Mick

Post edited by: mick6669, at: 2007/08/31 11:45

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mick6669
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Re:Bleach v Sodium Met - 2007/08/31 11:36 As already mentioned the use of preservatives like sodium/potassium meta bisulfite should be left for the big guys which are using it to make their beer stable up to 9 months.

For those who want to treat their home brews like the industry it is still not recommendable as it releases SO2 which is not too pleasant.

The use of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is about to replace it in most of the food industries for sterilising as it is very effective and odourless.

By the way:
Only to clarify the confusion with Na2S2O5 (sulfite) and Na2S2O6 (sulfate) this link could be quite useful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_metabisulfite
Unfortunately even the supplier-catalogues fail in using the right term which definitely is Sodium metabisulfite!

Cheers,
Mick

Post edited by: mick6669, at: 2007/08/31 11:43

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HBG
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Re:Bleach v Sodium Met - 2007/08/31 20:22 Coopers have an extremeley ordinary name in the homebrew industry amongst beerlovers.

They have these great valued kits at Fathers day, and Xmas, with no bottle brush, bottle wash or sanitizer. $73.55 at Big W.

These starte kits are a RipOff.

Regrettably, Coopers, Tooheys & Brewiser give the industry a dubious name, and back it up with plastic bottles. When was the last time you purchased a great tasting commercial beer in a Plastic Bottle?

These people continue to return to supermarkets, and buy their 10.22 Coopers, or 9.53 at the ones that have their rent subserdised bt the stores arond them, like my nearest Big W. Unfortunately, I cannot sell you Tampons.

My customers did not believe this about rent subsidies, and they did not believe me about Andrew Johns taking recreational pills.

If you want good advice goto a homebrew shop.
If you want good Coopers products, goto a Homebrew shop.

Anything off a supermarket shelf may seem cheap, but is not good value for money.

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