BeerBorg

Hey guys. I just finished fermenting a Bewitched amber ale in which I added pumpkin and pumpkin spices. After a thorough cleaning with free and clear dish soap and hot water, the LBK still has a strong smell of the spices that I used. I don't want that to affect the taste/aroma of my next batch which is probably going to be an IPA. Any tips for getting that smell out of the LBK?

Thanks

It's too late now, but the hot water may have sealed your fate so to speak. Hot water bakes in the odor, while warm/cool water does not. I'd suggest you fill it with cold water, to the top, and let it sit a day or two. Then, empty it and let it air dry and see.

If you still have a faint smell, it's likely fine. Mine smell like beer.

What I have done recently which seemed to help was a rinse with white distilled vinegar and water. I haven't really done testing to find a best method but what I did was about 2oz of distilled white vinegar with about a gallon of cold tap water. Slosh it around good then let it sit about 5 mins, slosh again, let sit another 5 then slosh it around and dump. Then rinse with cold water a time or 2 and it seemd to really help. Not sure if maybe filling it all the way and letting it sit overnight would be better, but might be worth a try. Another thing I remember my grandmother doing with tupperware was filling it with crumpled newspaper and putting the lid on for a couple days to remove odors. I haven't tried this with the LBK but it's another option.

Try soaking the LBK overnight with a solution of water and baking soda. It may take a couple of times. That is what we do at work.

Then... once you've done any of the above since your next beer will be an IPA just dry hop the heck out of it.

Well, i did the cold water and baking soda thing which helped, but then I decided to just brew more beer in it! This I've decided might be the answer for most of life's problems.

Ibasterd wrote: but then I decided to just brew more beer in it! This I've decided might be the answer for most of life's problems.

You sir are Brilliant!

Ibasterd wrote:Well, i did the cold water and baking soda thing which helped, but then I decided to just brew more beer in it! This I've decided might be the answer for most of life's problems.

Nothing like that 'new beer smell'!

One note is that you should never use hot water in the LBK or PET bottles as it could cause them to deform and become unusable.