Cleaning Lines and Fittings in a Pinch

In this tutorial video, we show you how to clean fittings and tap lines that are used for serving beer at home using a very quick method. Clean and sterile equipment is essential to making and serving good homebrew beer. If you ever leave a picnic tap line sitting around with beer in it, follow these simple steps to learn how to clean it out and make it ready to serve beer for friends, family, and yourself. The most essential part of this process is a soft pipe cleaner brush that isn't too brittle. Fortunately, tap line is so cheap that it's sometimes best to just buy more than spend time cleaning out old beer. Check out the resources below for brewing equipment and an informative article that teaches you how to clean your draft lines for a home kegerator setup.

[ClawhammerSupply]

FYI: The brush we used was a soft bristle brush bought from Kegworks for cleaning tap lines. Also, we generally throw lines and fittings like this in a kettle with PBW and let it soak, but as we mentioned in the video, we needed to use the line to serve some beer ASAP. Also, as we mentioned, tap line is cheap and it's generally best to replace it if possible.

[urbanchimp]

Good to have regular content back, always a hard period when you guys go on break So Kyle can go and shoot another season of Its Always Sunny.

[elitenOb]

A lot of the comments point out the right stuff. Don't use brush on soft tubing. If anything, you're also using too little or too wide tubing on your picnic set for what's best.
In addition, use the formulated color-changing cleaner. It's both caustic and chlorinated, and indicates when the lines are surface-clean. Star san doesn't sterilize; it doesn't even disinfect, it just sanitizes.

[niklevin]

So does this mean more videos coming???

[Grumskiz]

A tip on how to reduce the amount of manual cleaning: use one of your pumps to recirculate the cleaning solution through the line. If you experience a build up of gunk you can look for rubber balls that you insert on one end and then push through with the pump. Unlike the brush there's absolutely no metal that could pinch into the material :)

[XkannsenX]

I just rince a lot before it's dry and sanitize with oxi. I never had any issue....

[ModernGameChangers]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but you shouldn't need to use the pipe cleaner. As long as the PBW is in contact with the surface it should be able to break down any organic matter, and using abrasive things would actually make that more difficult. If you have a hot PBW solution I just let everything soak for an hour or so, then rinse several times with equally hot water. It has always worked for me. Not saying this is wrong to do, but I think you might be able to save some effort.

[chetgreenwood]

Hey Kyle, I like that shirt... does it come in men’s sizes too?

[cheezits]

I enjoy your guys videos and the style in which they are filmed/ edited. I'm sorry for all these "expert" reviews. I always learn new tips when I watch your videos. Keep up the good work! Cheers!

[christertrasti]

Yeah so those quick cuts are just idiotic. It's not funny.