Do your starters foam really bad?

[Sleepy_D]

I have a 3.5 liter starter going in a 4 liter flask and it’s is foaming out really bad, even with the stir plate off. Is this normal? Next time I guess I’ll need to oversized the flask to the volume or add defoamer or both. What do you do to control this?

 

[VikeMan]

It's normal. But it also depends on things like yeast strain, temperature, and starter method.

I tend to use even more headspace (proportionally) in a starter than in a main batch. Defoamer (Fermcap) also works.

 

[Spartan1979]

I always use FermCap in mine. That's the only place I use it anymore.

 

[day_trippr]

When I'm pressed for headroom I use a couple of drops of Fermcap.

btw, if you leave the stir plate off for long during peak krausen be very careful about turning it back on.
I once had a bar get tossed and when I found out perhaps hours later and got the bar spinning again there was a volcanic reaction

Cheers!

 

[Sleepy_D]

I always use FermCap in mine. That's the only place I use it anymore.

How much foam do you get when you use that? Do you just use a drop or two?

 

[Sleepy_D]

When I'm pressed for headroom I use a couple of drops of Fermcap.

btw, if you leave the stir plate off for long during peak krausen be very careful about turning it back on.
I once had a bar get tossed and when I found out perhaps hours later and got the bar spinning again there was a volcanic reaction

Cheers!

When I turn it on right now you can hear all the carbonation leaving at once and the foil lifts up off the top like it’s blasting off lol

 

[day_trippr]

Yeah, that'd be about right

Cheers!

 

[Spartan1979]

How much foam do you get when you use that? Do you just use a drop or two?

I rarely get more than 1/2 inch of foam. I use it it more for when I'm boiling the starter. 2-3 drops. I do use a stir plate.