It's about beer! ...or more specifically, about my beer jug

Two beer related things have made my summer especially joyful. A new brewer opened up next to the place where I buy my chicken feed. Now I can buy yummies for the critters and stop in for a sample of beer on my way home. What's more, I discovered growlers! Reusable, half gallon jugs that you put beer into. Sure, growlers are said to be eco friendly and all that jazz, but what's really awesome about them is that you get fresh beer right out of the brew room, kept at ideal temperature, and pumped directly into your growler. Fresh beer, kept well, makes for the most delicious pint.

Then trouble happened.

I introduce a friend to the beer and they decided to take some home for the family. Only they didn't want to commit to the growler - so they borrowed one of mine. A few weeks later they returned it, all wet inside. When I opened it up I saw black mold growing inside the jug! I don't imagine that black mold is very tasty. But how to get rid of it? (I don't know if it's actually THE black mold, but it's mold of a black colour)

Can the growler be saved? Any tips for salvaging this - or is it time to dig the bleach out of storage?




Anyone else here do the growler thing? Shall we talk about how awesome it is and maybe some tips and tricks for keeping our growlers clean? I would love to learn of any innovative growler carrying ideas you might have.

Growler's? Sounds like a sports team name.
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I did a little search on cleaning black mold naturally, and up came a great information page. http://www.howtoremoveblackmold.com/how-to-kill-black-mold.html
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White distilled vinegar, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide are some of the products used. There were others that had toxins like Borax or tea tree oil, but I would go read up at that site.

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P.S. Did you inquire with the brewers when you could stop to collect their grains after they are ready to throw them away? I'm not trying to give you more reasons to drink but I have heard this is good chicken feed.

Hey, are you taking home the spent grain from the brewery?
Should be cheap, or free, unless someone else is already getting it.

Maybe Ranson can sweeten the deal with fresh organic chickens in trade...holy buckets I may be sued for creating an alcoholic.

Thanks for hte link.

Mike Feddersen wrote:
P.S. Did you inquire with the brewers when you could stop to collect their grains after they are ready to throw them away? I'm not trying to give you more reasons to drink but I have heard this is good chicken feed.

There's already a farmer who picks up the grain for their pigs. Although, I've been thinking of mentioning to them how awesome spent grain bread is - maybe there is a local bakery who would take their grain and make awesome Barley Beer Bread.