Foam During Top Off

[kyoun1e]

So I've done two brews and each time I've topped off my carboy to 5 gallons there's been a TON of foam. I've sanitized in starsan and after I dump it out there's a ton of the foam in there which I know is not a big deal, but when the wort/foam/water start to interact it's like a volcano up through my funnel.

The foam also made my gravity reading difficult. I couldn't see the reading through a bit of foam.

One thing I know I can do: Get a bigger carboy for more headspace. Check on that for next time.


Outside of that, anything else I can do? It's not catastrophic by any means but it's a tad annoying.

Thanks

 

[Jwin]

Sanitize earlier and cap the fermentor until you are ready to fill it. Give the foam time to subside

 

[Smellyglove]

Sanitize maybe half an hour before the carboy will be used, after you've emptied the StarSan, and the foam is left, keep it upside down in some container without the mouth touching the container, a lot of foam will drip out this way. I use buckets and place the lid on the bucket and turn it upside down for maybe 20 min or so before it will be used, and just toss out the foam which has gathered on the inside of the lid, and there's just minimal foam left in the bucket.

 

[Brownalemikie]

When filling my carboy with Starsan, I siphon it in rather than pour it in. Pouring creates foam.....siphoning doesn't. Takes a little longer but no foam. Same with removing Starsan from carboy....siphon instead of pouring.

 

[Smellyglove]

When filling my carboy with Starsan, I siphon it in rather than pour it in. Pouring creates foam.....siphoning doesn't. Takes a little longer but no foam. Same with removing Starsan from carboy....siphon instead of pouring.

But then you'd need to fill the entire carboy if you don't shake it afterwords, which creates foam..? Instead of using just a little StarSan?

 

[Brownalemikie]

But then you'd need to fill the entire carboy if you don't shake it afterwords, which creates foam..? Instead of using just a little StarSan?

I mix 3 gallons of Starsan every bottling day to submerse bottles in before filling them with beer, then use it the next day when brewing to sanitize carboy and everything else. 32 oz of concentrate lasts 7 months or more. No big deal....$18 per quart.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I have a spray bottle full of star san near by and will "spray back" the foam. You can spray it, swirl around and dump. Rinse and repeat several times and you can get most of the foam out that way

 

[Smellyglove]

I mix 3 gallons of Starsan every bottling day to submerse bottles in before filling them with beer, then use it the next day when brewing to sanitize carboy and everything else. 32 oz of concentrate lasts 7 months or more. No big deal....$18 per quart.

Ah. Fair enough. But as a tip, check this one out https://cdn.mystore4.no/cdn/450_352/maltmons2/31103_Flaskeskyller_1.jpg

You just pump the starsan into the bottles, instead of submerging them.

Two pumps into each bottle, and store the bottle upside down in a crate or whatever. Uses far less star san and water, and is way less labor-intensive. This piece is gold during bottling day.

 

[65C]

are you sure you got the starsan mix right?

I get foam but not excessive - also how much are you putting in?

 

[kyoun1e]

Sanitize earlier and cap the fermentor until you are ready to fill it. Give the foam time to subside

You know, I did just that. Then, about 15 minutes before the wort was finished cooling I got nudgey and decided why not give the carboy another stansar rinsing right before pouring it in.

 

[kyoun1e]

Sanitize maybe half an hour before the carboy will be used, after you've emptied the StarSan, and the foam is left, keep it upside down in some container without the mouth touching the container, a lot of foam will drip out this way. I use buckets and place the lid on the bucket and turn it upside down for maybe 20 min or so before it will be used, and just toss out the foam which has gathered on the inside of the lid, and there's just minimal foam left in the bucket.

Brilliant. Turning it upside down. That seems simple enough.

I also think I need a bigger carboy. Maybe 7.5 gallons for a 5 gallon batch. Seems silly not to just have more room.

 

[Jwin]

Or just get a couple spray bottles(chemical resistant) and use distilled water. Lasts for months. A few squirts and a swirl and your done.