Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:48 pm
Yes sterilizing is difficult, but not impossible, even with items in the home. Easy way is the oven through dry heat, 350min with longer time and 400 with much shorter time, will render any surface sterile. With a plate chiller 15 mins when the chiller is completely at 350 not when the oven has been at 350.
Option 2 is any pressure cooker. The difference between a house hold pressure cooker and a small autoclave (commonly seen at places like tatatoo/piercing paroles) is basically gauges and a rack. They both heat water to 250F @15psi. If you go this way 15mins is the norm, but again that's for the temp of the chiller.
The other methods won't work for the chiller(10% bleach microwave).
The nice thing with these methods compared to sanitizers is that even if the surface isn't 100% clean they will work, just will take more time. Plate chillers have been noted to get clogged with hop and break that would leave in sanitized patches and could ruin the beer.
On tap: dunkelwiessen, american brown ale
Fermenting: american barleywine
On deck: ? what ever is next