DME foam up???

[neckbone]

Is it me, or does DME foam up more than LME? I had a heck of a time keeping the DME from foaming over yesterday. Haven't had near that much trouble with the three LME batches. Or, was it the amount? 8lbs? What's the best way to add it? Just pour it right in like LME? Just trying to see if there's an easier way.

 

[davidr2340]

I am a real NEWBIE, but I keep a spray bottle with water in it. When it starts to foam up... spray it!
I boiled over my first batch, but I wasn't paying attention. Batch #2 had zero boil overs!!!

 

[bradsul]

Are you removing the kettle from the heat before you start adding the DME? If not I would give that a try, keep it off the heat and stir it in until it is all dissolved and then get it back on the heat.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I haven't noticed that problem, but as bradsul said, make sure you keep it off the heat when you are adding the DME, then return it to boil.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I remove my pot from the heat and add the DME a pound at a time to give it time to dissolve before adding the next pound.

If you want to lighten the color of your brew add it the last 15 mins.

I've even brewed just adding it and steeping for 15 mins. I've made beers almost as light in color as Buttwiper with DME.

 

[Ol' Grog]

Take it off the heat and then add slowly, as you would with LME's. I've found that getting the malt extracts not to foam over is not too hard. But when I add the bittering hops, ka-blooey, that's when the foaming begins. You have to find that happy medium where it will look like it will boil over, but doesn't quite make it.

 

[sirsloop]

lol... the hops are kinda sorta boil over bombs Good thing is you are right there when you toss them in.

 

[neckbone]

Yeah, I did remove it from the heat, and still got the boil overs. I did add all 8lbs at once, which I won't do in the future, b/c it's pretty hard to make sure all of it is disolved. I'll add it 1-2 lbs at a time from now on.

 

[uwmgdman]

Yeah, I did remove it from the heat, and still got the boil overs. I did add all 8lbs at once, which I won't do in the future, b/c it's pretty hard to make sure all of it is disolved. I'll add it 1-2 lbs at a time from now on.

That and the spray bottle are my suggestions, FWIW.

 

[neckbone]

I'll remember the spray bottle next time. I didn't have it handy, so I just splashed some water from a pot w/ my hand. Seemed to work a little, but a spray bottle will work so much better. Thanks for that advice.

 

[EvilTOJ]

A small fan blowing over the pot also helps keep the bubbles down.