shady oaks
Member
Has anybody used vodka instead of water for the airlock? Are there pros and cons to doing this, or nothing special?
You can't drink all your starsan and run out.
Buy cheaper vodka. I know that cheap vodka can't possibly be as horrible tasting as gut rot cheap gin... but figure anything for $15 in a half-gallon plastic bottle is going to be sufficiently bad that you'll imbibe mouthwash for the alcohol content before you ever bother trying to move on to THAT stuff.
True, but as it was pointed out to me, 32 oz of Star San is $12.50. It only takes a few drops of Star San to turn one airlock worth of water into sanitizer, so that one bottle will last a long time.
Summary: As with nearly every other Vs. debate in this forum, both work. Use whatever you want.
It only takes a few drops of Star San to turn one airlock worth of water into sanitizer, so that one bottle will last a long time. For me, 1 liter of cheap vodka ... and it won't last even 1/10th as long as a bottle of Star San used for the same purpose.
Vodka in the airlock for me. Its like a little Russian hat for my carboy.
This is slightly on topic but off, but .. ...
The vodka picks up the flavor of the wort as it is fermenting. When it comes time to rack or bottle, drink it, it is very interesting.
This is slightly on topic but off, but .. ...
The vodka picks up the flavor of the wort as it is fermenting. When it comes time to rack or bottle, drink it, it is very interesting.
Quite the resurrection. I've never had an issue with my airlock vodka evaporating before I was done using it. I also sanitize my caps in vodka, haven't had any rust since.
You must never have had a problem with mold then...I don't understand why plain water is insufficient. They brewed beer for centuries without sanitation, and now we're worried about germs getting through the airlock somehow?
I don't understand why plain water is insufficient. They brewed beer for centuries without sanitation, and now we're worried about germs getting through the airlock somehow?
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