Effects of plastics in brewing - mash tuns and fermenters

[bart]

Hi guys,

I am considering the move to a chilli bin mash tun after many brews using a stainless steel stock pot for my mashing and a grain bag for sparging.

I am just wondering if anyone has any info as to the potential effects of the plastic in the chilli bin on the final brew, both from a health and a flavour perspective.

To me it seems undesirable to do brewing in plastic containers. Hot liquids plus plastic just gives me thoughts of all sorts of strange petroleum type chemicals seeping into the wort.

Does anyone know what type of plastic chilli bins are made of and the 'food safetyness' of this?

Also wondering what your perspectives are on fermenters. I have a few of the standard plastic fermenter barrels and one time when I had gone to source my spring water for a brew (from the Speights tap here in Dunedin) and then didn't get around to brewing for a few days, the water had taken on a noticeable plastic taste. I can only assume that this taste is also picked up by the brew during fermentation but is masked by the flavour of the beer.

These days I try to do primary in the plastic and then move to a glass carboy for the rest of fermentation. But I'm just wondering if there are potential health issues with using plastic or if I'm just a hippie or something thinking plastic is bad.

[David Wood]

I've been using an insulated 40L plastic fermenter as my mash tun for months now and have noticed no ill effects. I wouldn't worry about a chilli bin either, you'll be fine.

[JackoNZ]

What David said. I've not noticed any plastic taste or ill effects from fermenting in my plastic fermenter. Nearly everyone I know who brews uses a chilli bin too, again no problems. I use BIAB but I do have a chilli bin that someone gave me so will be giving this a whirl at some point.

[Andrew]

The only thing I would say is if you put some kind of copper pipe or plastic pipe in to use as a lauter make sure it is food grade. Some people use copper pipe with slits in it as I do and solder it; but you need to make sure the solder has no lead or anything hazardous in it. Apart from that all other plastics like a chilli bin or fermenter should be fine.

[bart]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm not necessarily talking about short term effects that you'd notice per-se. I've just heard of plastics and various molecules held within them such as benzene type things, having long-term carcinogenic effects. Will have to look into it more. Knowing what type of plastic a chilli bin is actually made from would be a good start.

[Pilgrim]

I've been brewing for around 47 years and it hasn't affected me yet ;-) But go to Beervanna this year catch up with me there and make your own judgement :-D
I started with a black plastic dustbin, with a bin liner and a damp towel over the top for a fermenter.
Seriously though there are plastics and there are plastics. The HDPE fermenters are pretty safe I think. Also a lot of plastics give off odours when they are new but seem to stop when they are seasoned. I think you'll find most chilli-bins are pretty safe.
I used to have a 60litre stainless steel fermenter but sold it (sound of grown man crying in his beer). One day I might talk the wife into letting me buy a conical.

[Dale]

47 years of brewing, man awesome job Pilgrim!!!!!

[Stu McKinlay]

I've been had plastic mash tun and hot liquor tank for three years - no off flavours or cancer (yet).

The Rubbermaid coolers I use are HDPE, I think, which is type 2 and does not contain the compound that that most of the concern has been about (BPA).


The fermenters are fine too. I'd be more concerned about infection but if you use a soft cloth to clean them, and are very diligent with the cleaning of the taps, then they'll be fine.

Cheers
Stu

[Fairlane]

Yeah that's correct... BPA is a plasticiser that is generally only found in PVC to enable it to be flexible... hence when you buy some rigid stuff for plumbing your house it will say uPVC or un-plasticised.

HDPE is usually 100% polyethylene and no processing aids (just colour additive which is mostly PE as well) and therefore is fine to use.... until you get scratches in it then it becomes difficult to keep it totally sanitised.