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View Poll Results: What do you think of Foam Control/Fermcap Drops?
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I've tried it -- love the stuff!
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280 |
30.01% |
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I've tried it -- meh.
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36 |
3.86% |
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I haven't tried it, but mean to.
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408 |
43.73% |
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I haven't even heard of this before.
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114 |
12.22% |
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Don't put that in my beer -- Reinheitsgebot baby!
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95 |
10.18% |
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03-18-2008, 02:08 PM
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#21
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Look under the recliner
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: State College, PA
Posts: 2,572
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I love the stuff too - I think. I've been using it on all of my recent brews. Unfortunately, they are all lagers and are aging away as we speak so I can't yet comment on any affect on head retention. I do like not having to mess with a blow off.
__________________
On Tap: Ger Pils, Pale Ale, Bitters, Session IPA
Kegged and Aging/Lagering: Imperial Alt, Belgian dark strong, Orange Kitty Zoom (std. Amer. Lager) Czech Pilsner II, CAP, Kolsch, Rye lager, CZ pils, Lite lager, Alt
Secondary:
Primary:CZ pils, OKZ
Brewing soon:,IPA
Recently kicked : ( : Porter, Saison, Belg. IPA
Pilsner Urquell Master Homebrewer (NYC 2011)
P U crowns winners in its inaugural master HB competition
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03-18-2008, 03:07 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 854
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I have used Fermcap, Fermcap S, Birko's Anti-Foam, 5-Star's Kettle Defoamer (10% Silicone) and 5-Star's Fermentation Defoamer.
They are all good and all work well for their intended purpose.
The 5-Star Kettle Defoamer is perfect for use in the kettle to brevent boilers. The silicone increases the surface tension and pretty much just rides on the surface of the wort. It stays behind when you transfer the beer to fermenters.
The Fermentation Defoamer is veg. oil based and works fantastic in blow off buckets.
Someone should give Charlie a call and see if they can package these items in small enough containers that homebrewers can use them.
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03-18-2008, 03:33 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Union City, CA
Posts: 2,818
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Ok, so now ya'll have sparked my interest. So, this stuff goes in the boiling kettle and it'll work all the way through to the fermenter or do you have to add more to the fermenter? I'll be brewing a Oatmeal Stout on a yeast cake this week and I'd be interested in experimenting with the stuff.
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03-18-2008, 03:38 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 3,619
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When I have added it to my boil, I have not had to add it to my fermenter. But YMMV. If you leave a lot of break material behind in the kettle, you will probably leave the foam control behind, too. You could always add a bit more to the fermenter, especially if you see that it is starting to krausen up and a blow-off is imminent.
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03-18-2008, 03:41 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 1,637
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Brewing Clamper
So, this stuff goes in the boiling kettle and it'll work all the way through to the fermenter or do you have to add more to the fermenter?
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In my experience, it doesn't seem to carry over from boil to fermentation, at least not fully. Generally if I want its effect in both places, I have to add it in both places separately.
With that said, I suspect the carry-over has to do with it getting stuck in the cold break. I have recently upgraded to a keggle with a dip tube that lets me get every last drop out after the boil, including cold break, whereas previously cold break was left behind, and I have not used foam control with it enough times yet to judge if the effect is carrying over now or not - so maybe (depending on your setup) you only need to add it once, as FlyGuy says.
Last edited by Funkenjaeger; 03-18-2008 at 03:43 PM.
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03-18-2008, 05:15 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Posts: 8,388
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I only used it in the boil (so far) and I still had a 1 inch krausen but that is way less than I normally have so I think it had an effect. This is the first brew I will not be soaking and struggling to clean a blowoff tube in a long time. I am vary happy with Fermcap-S!
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03-18-2008, 10:18 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 6,887
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my LHBS has never heard of it. He's got some powdered crap you can add to primary, but no liquids.
what's a good online vendor to order it from??
__________________
Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10
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03-18-2008, 10:39 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Reed City, MI
Posts: 15,578
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This stuff might be the bees knees, but aren't you guys afraid of becoming brewing WUSSIES for using it??  |
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03-18-2008, 11:53 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Posts: 8,388
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Not afraid of brew wussiness at all! I have a 6.5% Smoked porter on tap right now that could rabbit maul a grown ape!
Malkore - I got mine from northern brewer.
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03-19-2008, 03:45 AM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 892
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so this has been asked a few times so far with no response, but how much do you add to a 5 gal batch? 1 drop? 1 oz?
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