Alright, really, no rinsing of Star San foam?

CallMeZoot · 12-09-2007, 07:22 PM

I've recently started using Star San based on recommendations here, and even after reading thousands of posts about not having to rinse, I just can't convince myself to leave the foam.

When I sanitize my primary or secondary fermenter, it's just FULL of bubbles. Even after I dump them, there is still lots of foam all around the insides of the bucket/carboy.

There's a little devil on one shoulder saying "come one, the HBT guys say just dump your wort in there, it won't effect the taste and it will turn into nutrients for your yeast.... leave the foam, I dare you, dump on top of it, what are you, chicken?"

There's a little angel on the other shoulder saying "that's a lot of gunk, it can't be good for you, I mean you wouldn't drink the Star San solution straight out of the bucket, so why would you want to drink it in your beer?"

So far the angel always wins out and I always rinse until I see no more foam. Then I feel dirty and ashamed for not listening to the experts here.

Is it really, really ok to dump my wort into a primary and/or secondary full of bubbles? Can I leave a full bucket's worth of foam or should I at least flip the bucket and let gravity take some of it out?

chris.

Funkenjaeger · 12-09-2007, 07:24 PM

Don't Fear The Foam!

Seriously. You're worse off rinsing it - the foam is sanitary, tap water used to rinse it off isn't. It's not a huge deal, but there's really no reason to rinse.

There's no harm in pouring out the majority of the foam, at least as much as comes out easily on its own, but don't worry about getting all of it. Whenever I fill a carboy there is always enough foam that it gets pushed out the top as the wort level rises, and then the foam climbs several feet up the siphon tubing.

**Chris_Dog** · 12-09-2007, 07:29 PM

I am with you man. I dry my bottles, buckets, & carboys upside down until most if not all the foam is gone.

**Chairman Cheyco** · 12-09-2007, 07:29 PM

+1 for keeping the foam.

It also dissociates into yeast nutrient when the pH gets above 3.5! Embrace the foam!!!

Nate · 12-09-2007, 07:32 PM

Even though they say the foam is fine, I roll StarSan around in my kegs and fermentor which produces little or no foam. Shaking the stuff really makes it foam.

**bradsul** · 12-09-2007, 07:38 PM

+1 Leave the foam!

If you're going to rinse it you may as well not waste the money on the starsan! If you really can't stand the foam, put it in a spray bottle and just spray it on.

**Yuri_Rage** · 12-09-2007, 07:40 PM

Foam is your friend. A layer of foam is like a layer of protection against things you REALLY don't want in your beer. There's nothing wrong with dumping most of it out, but it WON'T hurt your beer, even if there's quite a bit remaining.

**Chairman Cheyco** · 12-09-2007, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuri_Rage

even if there's quite a bit remaining.

Yep, there are even legends recounting tales of people racking onto an inch of Starsan in the bottom of a fermentor with no ill effects.

Chello · 12-09-2007, 08:33 PM

yet if its ingested i'm supposed to call poison control...

adx · 12-09-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chello

yet if its ingested i'm supposed to call poison control...

That's only the concentrated form. Once it's diluted it's perfectly safe.

If you're worried about the foam just take a taste of it. It really tastes like nothing. It's mostly air anyway.