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**Revvy** · 01-09-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drf4th

make sure not to use too much or it will add a chemical flavor to the aftertaste of your beer. Yuck!

Never had that issue at all....are you sure your "chemical flavor and aftertaste" is a result of that? Starsan, at proper dillution breaks down and is eaten by the yeast, it shouldn't and doesn't affect the taste of our beer.....

Hence all these pictures by us in this thread, "Stupid Starsan Tricks" or why you shouldn't fear the foam...

I've never had any issues like that.....

drf4th · 01-09-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

Never had that issue at all....are you sure your "chemical flavor and aftertaste" is a result of that? Starsan, at proper dillution breaks down and is eaten by the yeast, it shouldn't and doesn't affect the taste of our beer.....

Hence all these pictures by us in this thread, "Stupid Starsan Tricks" or why you shouldn't fear the foam...

I've never had any issues like that.....

I used the wrong terminology. I should have said, "make sure you have the appropriate dillution." I cannot tell you definitively that Starsan was the root of the aftertaste but the flavor was extremely similar to the smell of Starsan.

mattd2 · 01-09-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewham

I mix it in a spray bottle using distilled water and spray everything. Much more efficient than trying to make up a gallon of the stuff to soak something in. I spray the inside of my buckets, in the lip of the top, bottle caps, tubing, airlocks etc. A quart of sanitizer will last for several brew sessions and an 8 oz bottle of concentrate will last a really long time. Very economical that way.

Exactly how I use it, much easier and efficient! I still have over 8 oz in my 8 oz bottle (after a 4-5 brewdays!)

**MaxSpang** · 01-09-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewham

I mix it in a spray bottle using distilled water and spray everything. Much more efficient than trying to make up a gallon of the stuff to soak something in. I spray the inside of my buckets, in the lip of the top, bottle caps, tubing, airlocks etc. A quart of sanitizer will last for several brew sessions and an 8 oz bottle of concentrate will last a really long time. Very economical that way.

Do you let the spray sit on the materials for awhile? Or do you spray and rinse right away? (Or do you even rinse at all?)

I just got Star San after using Bleach once (never again!). Not exactly sure the "proper" way to use the stuff, either!

**Revvy** · 01-09-2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxSpang

Do you let the spray sit on the materials for awhile? Or do you spray and rinse right away? (Or do you even rinse at all?)

I just got Star San after using Bleach once (never again!). Not exactly sure the "proper" way to use the stuff, either!

Most of the sanitzers we use, especially Starsan and iodophor are No rinse/wet contact sanitizers. They are literally double edged swords. They kill two ways. They kill everything on the object prior to sanitizing, and then as long as they are still wet they form a sanitizer barrier that kills everything that comes into contact with object.

If you let the sanitizer dry any micro organism that comes in contact with the sanitized object, rather than being killed by it, makes the object no longer sanitzed.

If you let it dry you are reducing it's efficacy by 50%

You really want to sanitize right at the time you are using the thing you are sanitizing. And let the wort/beer flow on top of it.

I put a lot of good info and tips of effectively using sanitizers in here. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/sanitizer-question-54932/[/QUOTE]

In starsan's case it becomes yeastfood which is really good for fermentation.

**h22lude** · 01-09-2011, 10:39 PM

Thanks Revvy.

I just finished a batch of Golden Ale that I will make into a blueberry beer. I used Star San. It was really easy (once I found out from you guys that foam is ok). Spray it and use it. Much easier than using a rinse sanitizer.

Half way through me pouring my wort into my fermenting bucket using a funnel, I realized I forgot to sanitize my funnel (i did clean it though). I stopped and sprayed Star San on it and continued pouring the rest of the wort into the funnel. Would the Star San I sprayed on the funnel half way through, protect the first half of the wort that went through the unsanitized funnel?

I'm thinking it's ok anyway because I sanitized the funnel a week ago and it has been in my sanitized pot inside a rubber bin. I did also clean it tonight with Oxyclean.

**MaxSpang** · 01-10-2011, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

Most of the sanitzers we use, especially Starsan and iodophor are No rinse/wet contact sanitizers. They are literally double edged swords. They kill two ways. They kill everything on the object prior to sanitizing, and then as long as they are still wet they form a sanitizer barrier that kills everything that comes into contact with object.

If you let the sanitizer dry any micro organism that comes in contact with the sanitized object, rather than being killed by it, makes the object no longer sanitzed.

If you let it dry you are reducing it's efficacy by 50%

You really want to sanitize right at the time you are using the thing you are sanitizing. And let the wort/beer flow on top of it.

I put a lot of good info and tips of effectively using sanitizers in here. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/sanitizer-question-54932/

In starsan's case it becomes yeastfood which is really good for fermentation.

Thanks! Great info, and great thread.

After reading through it, it looks like if you are using Iodophor or starsan you wanna either spray the solution on or "dunk" it in the solution and wait 30 seconds (keeping it wet) before having any contact with the wort. I am assuming the same is true for bottling

Gman2 · 01-12-2011, 04:15 PM

I have had a chemical taste with a few beers and was told at the LHBS that people sometimes complain of that from star san. I have tried everything but changing from star san (because of these threads) but on my next brew I am going to go with one step to see if that changes the after taste (and chemical burps).

Not to diasgree with everyone, but I have tried everything and hope this will solve it.

**Homercidal** · 01-12-2011, 04:49 PM

With star san, the objective is to not rinse. The stuff will kill in as little as 30 seconds, although the bottle says something like 3 minutes, but that is due to regulations. The maker said in a podcast that it's virtually done it's job in 30 seconds.

If you dip your part in star san and let it sit, it will most likely be fine to let it dry, as long as it's protected from getting bacteria on it again. But the point about using it wet is that it's going to be protected as long as it's still wet. So the best course of action is to coat the part with star san, wait at least 30 seconds, then use the part.

Consider Revvy's image. The starsan foamed up (which helped it get into nooks and crannies) and got pushed out the top by the beer. Looks strange, but in fact star san is fine with beer. The PH effectively kills the killing power of the star san and breaks it down into components that are metabolized by the yeast.

In fact, you could drink a mouthfull of star san that has been diluted to proper strength. (It doesn't taste great, BTW).

You can hear the podcast with Charlie from Five-Star at The Brewing Network. Interesting interview.

**JonW** · 01-12-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h22lude

I sprayed another fermenting bucket and lid and used a sponge to move the star san to cover it all. I used a paper towel to dry it a little and then let that sit and air dry.

I would not use a sponge at all - they harbor more bacteria than anything!