If you use fermcap in the boil do you need to put more of it into the fermenter to prevent the blow off or is the amount added to the boil sufficient?
I'm sure there is so much in food and everywhere else that a little more won't mean much. But still........................................................
I have used the five star equivalent of fermcap in my boil kettle, and it really didn't seem to do anything. It still boiled over, or was going to. I didn't notice any difference whatsoever.
I also tried it in my corny keg fermenter and it blew off just the same.
Was mine just defective or what?
Clearly. The stuff I got from Morebeer is like night and day. I can put it in the boil kettle and literally go have a nap. NO chance of boilovers.
Or perhaps you forgot to shake it up REALLY well?
Haven't had a problem yet!
Ghey pic I know... But really, I have noticed no effects to my finished product... I would rather like to see the MSDS sheets of the 400+ products in Budweiser!
A great start would be here:
http://www.brewerssupplygroup.com/brewing_aids/foam_control.php
Any comments on Silicone and/or Propylene Glycol used in the yeast starter or brew kettle?
Actually, it tends to INCREASE head. Read the early parts of the thread to find out why.I wonder it it also decreases head. (NO~!! get your mind out of the gutter NOT THAT KIND OF HEAD~!!!)
If it reduces surface tension leading to lower incidence of boil foam and krausen it's pretty much an obvious a fortori conclusion that it'll carry over into the finished product.
There are lots of people with the same reaction as you. If the added convenience of it (magic stuff) is not enough to outweigh your fear of the product, then obviously there is no reason to use it.I won't use it. I got enough crap in my food and water as it is.
Any comments on Silicone and/or Propylene Glycol used in the yeast starter or brew kettle?
Thanks for your input.
The major cause of foaming prior to the hot break is due to the protein not being fully coagulated. Once the colloidal protein coagulates and drops out in the hot break foaming is less of an issue. Since copper can hasten the process, I simply keep three or four pennies around by kettle. If the foaming becomes too intense I throw the pennies into the boil and watch the foam recede. Works every time and the pennies are reusable.
dimethlypolysiloxane is composed of silicone in some large part
I wonder it it also decreases head. (NO~!! get your mind out of the gutter NOT THAT KIND OF HEAD~!!!)
If it reduces surface tension leading to lower incidence of boil foam and krausen it's pretty much an obvious a fortori conclusion that it'll carry over into the finished product.
I won't use it. I got enough crap in my food and water as it is.
Interesting tip. For any brewers that try this, make sure the pennies are actually copper (1981 or earlier).
Actually, it tends to INCREASE head. Read the early parts of the thread to find out why.
There are lots of people with the same reaction as you. If the added convenience of it (magic stuff) is not enough to outweigh your fear of the product, then obviously there is no reason to use it.
It is actually designed to NOT make it into your beer. This is clever stuff. On its own, it is relatively heavy and does not carry a charge, meaning that it won't dissolve in water. However, with a bit of agitation (e.g., a rolling boil or active fermentation), it gets stirred up and suspends in the wort/beer. That's when it does its magic. When activity calms down, it drops out. When you siphon or rack off your beer or wort, it stays behind in the trub.
No, it is NEVER soluble in water. It can only be held in water by suspension.So it's miscible in water, but not soluble? And heavier than water so it precipitates out of solution?
But after that they were copper coated, right? So it should still work.
The inside of them is zinc. I don't think you would want to get any of that in your brew. Cut one open on a hack saw.
I've been having some vicious blowoffs recently...well ever since I got my stirplate.
And you say this will help me?
I fill a 6G BB with 5.25G of wort. (I Really want a 7G BB)
I've read this will make my final more bitter...thoughts?