Let's talk about Foam Control drops (aka Fermcap)

[munklunk]

Well I'm sold! I'll take 3 of your largest Better Beer fermenters, Forrest.

 

[tomwirsing]

20 drops in the boil? I've been using like... maybe three drops, maybe four, and it works perfect. Able to maintain a nice, rolling boil without any hint of a boilover.

Pretty sure you have to re-add it if you want to use it in the fermenter, though. As was said earlier, it might precipitate out with the cold break when you're chilling. I'd try again, just add a couple drops to the fermenters and see if it helps. I *know* you don't need twenty drops, though!

20 drops was per the instructions on the label of 2 drops per gallon. I've learned more about how it works since then and it makes sense that it would need to be re-added to the fermentor. I'll cut my usage and see how much I really need.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Spoken like a true salesman!

And I think you should ALWAYS shoot for a healthy fermentation!

Not trying to sell you anything except the idea that you should use the right sized fermenter for the batch you are making. Most batches with a healthy fermentation need more than 6.5 gallons of space.

Almost every homebrew store sells you a 6.5 gallon bucket or carboy. They are too small (imho). Since there are no 8 gallon glass carboys we have an 8 gallon bucket with our equipment kit.

Forrest

 

[FlyGuy]

Not trying to sell you anything except the idea that you should use the right sized fermenter for the batch you are making. Most batches with a healthy fermentation need more than 6.5 gallons of space.

Almost every homebrew store sells you a 6.5 gallon bucket or carboy. They are too small (imho). Since there are no 8 gallon glass carboys we have an 8 gallon bucket with our equipment kit.

Forrest

And here I thought you were trying to sell 8 gallon buckets!



OK, sorry Forrest -- couldn't resist!

 

[pauswa]

I used this product when I put 2½ gallons of wort in a 3-gallon glass carboy. I used a 7 gram packet of Coopers dry yeast, which always makes a huge krauesen. The Fermcap appeared to work because the krauesen never got bigger than about 2 or 3 inches, whereas many times it has climbed up right out of the carboy! However, this particular batch was gross so it was dumped. It was Magic Hat #9 clone from the book Clonebrews. I guess the apricot flavor was just gross to me. But the drops were great and I don't intend to put 2½ gallons of wort in a 3-gallon carboy without using them or I'd be asking for trouble. Haha.

 

[pauswa]

Think if I used some Fermcap-S in the fermenter I could have avoided this?

Hahahaha! Fun with brewing.

 

[shmEk]

I always get a massive foam over with my stir plate starters, and I've been meaning to give this stuff a try.

I'm with Yuri, even though I'm about 4 years behind on the post

*Just placed some drops on the formation of my next supply list to order before coming here to read.

Or you can avoid all of the silicone in your beer and have a large enough fermenter for the batch you are making. When considering the size, please note that occasionally you will have a healthy fermentation, so make it even larger.

Forrest

Thank you Forrest. I came here to confirm that this stuff was silicone. I was really wondering if it was or not based on what I knew about defoamers from mechanic work. Additionally, thanks out loud for your services. I've greatly appreciated your shop, but most of all your service on an order I placed a long time back - put my yeast on ice at no charge to make sure it arrived in good condition. Still a green brewer here, so thanks for the help.

 

[1MadScientist]

I've seen it work for the first time at a club brew, in a members' 8 gal boil pot in 2007.

I use it now for pressure fermenting in a 5 gal corny, I fill my wort right up to the 5 gal mark (at the seam), add 10 drops and set the spunding valve at 12.5 psig. I have NO blow off coming out on the gas side, except off gasing. :rockin:

 

[Yambor44]

I just tried the baby gas drops in the boil kettle today. Didn't work for me.

I shook it well.
Added 2 drops per gallon at 205 degrees (just before boil as i have read).

I am downloading a very short video right now and will post it here when it finishes.

Anyone have any thoughts on when I added it? Too soon? Too Late?

Thanks.

 

[rico567]

I use 6 drops of Fermcap- S in a full 6.5 gal boil. I add just as it comes onto the boil, and it works like a charm, every time. Hard to say what's going on with your baby drops, as I've always heard it's the same stuff.

 

[Yambor44]

Too aggressive?

 

[Satisfaction]

Anti-Foam Recipe:

80 Part Food Grade Hydrophobic Silica
20 Part Food Grade Silicone Oil
0.1 Part Food Grade Surfactant

Stir it up and it will turn into a thick paste.


I make it at my work and it is amazing.

For 4L starters, barely stick the end of the clean stirring spoon in the paste and swirl it around the Erlenmeyer flask. After that you can boil all day long.

 

[Stankonia]

Has anyone used this:

Dow Corning FG-10 Anti-Foam emulsion in powder form

It's the only thing my LHBS store has for foam control..I've never used any kind before and was hoping they had FermCap since that's the only kind I've ever heard of.

I need some as I want to ferment about 4.5gal in a 5gallon slim keg.

 

[shmEk]

Summary: Fermcap = excellent foam control

Story: Finally gave some Fermcap a try today. Yesterday my beginnings of a 3L starter blew the aluminum foil off and flowed over top of 4L flask with only 2L of wort (without the stirplate on). Added 2 drops into the overflow which made it's way to the bottom through the huge bubbles 10 mins later I was able to crank up my stirplate without a problem. Today added another L to the starter and ran the stirplate pleasantly and it'll go until brew tomorrow.

Too aggressive?
...youtube video

I am truely sorry about the boil over. Wish you didn't have to post that bad news at all. What a PITA.... BUT... your video has be BUSTING up here!!! That was friggin HILARIOUS and useful knowledge growth at the same time. Again sorry for your pain, but thanks so much for sharing.

 

[CaptainBrew]

Used Fermcap for the first time today. Just as my 2000mL starter was beginning its volcano impression out of the Erlenmeyer, I put 1 drop in and I felt like a 5 year old that just saw David Copperfield for the first time. Magic.....the foam disappeared!!!!

I'm all for BAM (Big A$$ Mess) prevention as the cleanup is one of my least favorite pastimes.

 

[mxstar21]

I started using Fermcap about a year ago when I picked it up on the mainland. Used it ever since. Even convinced the LHBS here on Oahu to carry it when I took it to our AHA Big Brew Day.

 

[Yambor44]

Used the baby gas drops again on past two brews. Brew 1 - 21 drops at 190F, did fair. No boil over but hop additions caused a good rise I had to throttle back.

Brew#2 - 2 droppers worth (about 2/3 full each) at 205 degrees, worked perfect.

 

[Randar]

Used Fermcap for the first time today. Just as my 2000mL starter was beginning its volcano impression out of the Erlenmeyer, I put 1 drop in and I felt like a 5 year old that just saw David Copperfield for the first time. Magic.....the foam disappeared!!!!

I'm all for BAM (Big A$$ Mess) prevention as the cleanup is one of my least favorite pastimes.

I only use it on my starters... boiling a 4-5L starter in a 5L erlenmeyer flask is a perilous venture without them.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

Got some today, my LHBS is finally carrying it. Although, they had it on a shelf, not refrigerated...

 

[StMarcos]

I use it for boiling. Shouldn't be in the final product as I get great head retention. Wouldn't use it for ferm though, but only because I don't trust that my 2 year old bottle in the fridge is sanitary. Also don't really need it in ferm anyway. Not too difficult to slowly get yer hot break to happen in the boil, and then it's a non issue, but I would never give the stuff up for starters in flasks. Fantastic.

 

[KaSaBiS]

I should probably call the manufacturer about this, has anyone not kept fermcap refrigerated. the bottle I have been leaving out and using for a year now says keep refridgerated. I wonder if I should wait to drink until after im done brewing..... Wait I would rather lose a bottle of fermcap then be stupid. I needs me some dranks! My boss wont let me drink on the job so I might as well when Im working around the house

Edit: fail, simple search says each bottle says differently.

 

[bphelan]

I just tried the baby gas drops in the boil kettle today. Didn't work for me.

I shook it well.
Added 2 drops per gallon at 205 degrees (just before boil as i have read).

I am downloading a very short video right now and will post it here when it finishes.

Anyone have any thoughts on when I added it? Too soon? Too Late?

Thanks.

Try using more, I've always used the baby drops as opposed to Fermcap, because my LHBS never has fermcap and I rarely order online so its not worth the shipping for a little bottle. I usually add about two dropper fulls (~2 mL) per 5 gallon batch to start with right before the boil as you did. I would just add more next time.

Edit: You figured it out, I should read the thread better

 

[Revvy]

I should probably call the manufacturer about this, has anyone not kept fermcap refrigerated. the bottle I have been leaving out and using for a year now says keep refridgerated. I wonder if I should wait to drink until after im done brewing..... Wait I would rather lose a bottle of fermcap then be stupid. I needs me some dranks! My boss wont let me drink on the job so I might as well when Im working around the house

Edit: fail, simple search says each bottle says differently.

Yeah, I stopped chilling mine years ago. I forgot it more if it was in the fridge, as opposed to in my brewing gear.

 

[kh54s10]

There is no choice for my situation. I have it I have used it a lot in the past. Then I found out it was silicone so I now use it very sparingly, sometimes not at all. I am looking to get a natural version.

 

[ResumeMan]

I don't refrigerate mine, though where I keep my brewing stuff is usually fairly cool, <70. I bought my vial about 8-9 mos ago, and it still seems to work fine.

 

[Dan]

I stick with my vote. No Way - Never.

My wort can be an a-hole
But I use temp control
To keep it in line
Because it is mine
I guard it
All of the time!

 

[johngaltsmotor]

so when you use it in a starter it's better to have a stirplate to keep it agitated? I put a drop in the 2nd batch of wort and loved it in the boil. Then I read here it doesn't transfer to fermenter - okay, added a drop and took out the head from the 1st yeast doubling. A few hours later it was foamy so I turned off the stir plate. BAD MOVE. A few hours later I was cleaning up the flask. I added another drop and things went away. The fact that it settles out helps justify this - don't let it settle.

So in a full size batch fermentation, should you slosh the fermenter once it kicks off to ensure the Fermcap gets resuspended and doesn't just sit on the bottom?

 

[rockfish42]

I stick with my vote. No Way - Never.

My wort can be an a-hole
But I use temp control
To keep it in line
Because it is mine
I guard it
All of the time!

Burma Shave!

 

[DeafSmith]

Burma Shave!

Ha, ha! I'm actually old enough to remember seeing Burma Shave signs by the side of the road when I was a boy.

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/burma1.htm

 

[BassBeer]

After reading this thread I plan on grabbing some from my LHBS or Morebeer tomorrow.

Think I can pull off 9 gallons in a 10 gallon kettle?