About to finish an AG batch

[NorsemenRugby58]

So I've used chlorine in my sanitizing process ever since I began brewing in 2007. A close friend who enjoys my brews has told me that there is a certain "twang" to my brews all the time. I recently decided to get to the bottom of this issue and found out that it is the bleach ive been using all along. I decided to buy Star-San.

It says no rinse, but I am super paranoid about that stuff hitting my beer. Too paranoid? Is it really no-rinse or will a quick hit with water to my carboy be ok?

Thanks

 

[Hammy71]

A quick hit with water will just undo everything you just did with the sanitizer. I've used StarSan for years and the foam is a none issue.....

 

[NorsemenRugby58]

great thats all I needed to hear, how should I sanitize my carboy? I was thinking to put the star-san in first.....then add 5gal water

 

[NorsemenRugby58]

A quick hit with water will just undo everything you just did with the sanitizer. I've used StarSan for years and the foam is a none issue.....

so pouring my wort all over the sanitizing foam will do absolutely nothing to the beer?

 

[pstrohs]

so pouring my wort all over the sanitizing foam will do absolutely nothing to the beer?

Yup. Don't fear the foam.

 

[AKbrewer]

The first time I used StarSan the foam kind of freaked me out but its true..."Dont fear the foam"

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I mix Starsan up a gallon at a time and use it in a spray bottle. No need to make a full 5 gallons of it for a carboy. Just liberally spray the inside of it.

 

[McNulty]

+1 on not fearing foam (long-time chlorine & rinse fan). I now use StarSan for everything in the home brewery and in the airlock in case I get suckback, which has happened, and not ruined my brew. Thanks to the forum for putting our minds at ease on the StarSan issue. :
mug:

 

[NorsemenRugby58]

thanks everyone for the replies. Just seems so counter intuitive from a person who has never used any other method than bleach. I rinsed it out a little bit because there was a TON of foam...now there some white spots on the inside of my glass. Should I be worried? Could mold have developed within hours?

 

[Frodo]

White spots? When sanitizing with starsan it only takes something like 30 seconds to 1 minute to sanitize, and letting it sit actually lets the starsan dry, and when it dries the surface you sanitized will then become available to bugs again... so don't let it dry for so long that white spots develop. Spray or give a shot of starsan solution only a few minutes before you need any particular thing being sanitized. And yes there's foam when you use starsan... don't fear the foam for god's sake! There's no need to rinse the foam! If you don't listen to what others on this forum are saying (multiple people saying the same thing), then why do you even bother using this forum?

 

[NorsemenRugby58]

I didn't check back...I didnt totally rinse the foam out I guess I should have been more clear. I used way to much Star-San 1oz in my 6 gallon carboy filled to 5 gallons.....so I had a HUGE mass of foam while I shook out a bit with some water and then I let the foam+water do its magic for another minute and then put my wort in.

 

[kanzimonson]

I make a 5gal batch of starsan in a 5gal paint bucket and just have it around for a month. A quart here and there to sanitize a carboy or a keg, plus I can dip bottles in it before filling. It's very satisfying to be able to quickly and easily drench something in starsan when you're working.

 

[Keith_Mahoney]

I make a 5gal batch of starsan in a 5gal paint bucket and just have it around for a month. A quart here and there to sanitize a carboy or a keg, plus I can dip bottles in it before filling. It's very satisfying to be able to quickly and easily drench something in starsan when you're working.

yep, I even go so far as to dip my hands in it before working with anything in my fermentation chamber.