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

[SuperiorBrew]

Suggested useage is 2 drops per gallon, you can usually get by with 1/2 that.

 

[SuperiorBrew]

my LHBS has never heard of it. He's got some powdered crap you can add to primary, but no liquids.

what's a good online vendor to order it from??

I know NB carries it, I think Midwest does as well.

 

[FlyGuy]

I bought mine from morebeer.com. Austin homebrew has it to. Pretty much any large HBS seems to carry it now.

 

[Kai]

You said that, when used for fermentation control, it stays in the trub. Does this affect yeast washing, or will it settle out then as well?

 

[mot]

midwest does have it i live about 20 minutes from there and picked some up last time I was there

 

[FlyGuy]

You said that, when used for fermentation control, it stays in the trub. Does this affect yeast washing, or will it settle out then as well?

It should mostly settle out. Even if it didn't I can't see how it would hurt anything. The stuff is quite inert, so it shouldn't harm your stored yeast.

 

[mew]

So I wanted to see how expensive this would be. For the $6.99 fermcap stuff (4 fl oz) at NB:

(1 batch/10 drops) x (1 drop/0.05 mL) x (1 mL/0.03381 fl oz) x (4 fl oz/1 bottle) =

236.6 batches per bottle. Sounds good to me.

 

[Kai]

So, it was suggested earlier that head-building proteins get stuck in the krausen, and can be lost through blow-off. I don't think I can get fermcap quickly enough for the weizen I want to brew today, but 3068 is a notorious blower-off (and I'll be fermenting 5G+ in a 6G BB ). So basically, as I watch the krausen fly out the blowoff tube, should I be kissing my head retention goodbye on this batch? Or is the difference between blown-off and not-~ negligible?

Kai

 

[mr x]

You'll still get good head retention, even with the blowoff. Been there, done that. Keep your ferm temp low and it will help. I think it also makes a better beer fermenting at 62 f.

 

[Kai]

You'll still get good head retention, even with the blowoff. Been there, done that. Keep your ferm temp low and it will help. I think it also makes a better beer fermenting at 62 f.

Yeah, I just listened to the Jamil Show on Bavarian Weizen, and he was really pushing the cool fermentation for this. 62˚. I'm also stoked because he convinced me to try a decoction, although I think I'm going to just decoct for the mashout. I'm really excited for this beer.

 

[Arneba28]

I added 7 drops of Anti-foam to my last batch right at boil start and it completely stopped a boil over. I also thought that this would stop any blowoff or at the least keep it in control. I have never had so much blowoff. the beer is a pale ale with 1056 which I have had great results with before. I usually only have maybe a cup worth of blow off foam. With this batch I had constant blow off for 3 days.

 

[TexLaw]

Personally, I will kiss the bared ass of the guy that invented foam control!

Hear, hear! I've been using Fermcap-S for years and years and swear by it. I used to only put it in my primary, but I've also put it in my kettle for the last few batches, and it is wonderful. I have never had a problem with head retention, off flavors, or anything else i could attribute to Fermcap-S.

Do be aware that this stuff can get old on you, although it takes a while. I used a very old bottle in a batch one time and still got some blowoff. However, I never kept that bottle in the refrigerator, and the stuff in it has separated. This bottle was at least a few years old, though. I found it in some of my other stuff and thought I would give it a try.

Also, I understand that using it does not violate the Reinheitsgebot, either, as it comes completely out of the beer. I have never actually confirmed that, not that it makes much difference, unless you are brewing in Germany for the German market.


TL

 

[BREW N QUE]

I can't believe I waited so long to try this stuff. I put 7 drops in my boil tonight and had no problem boiling 7 gallons in a 30 quart pot. The wort was about an inch from the top of the pot and didn't boil over. I will use this in evey batch until I can get a bigger boil kettle.

 

[Ryanh1801]

Not going in my beer...

 

[S0meB0dy]

I just tried this product yesterday and I have to say it worked like a charm. Never once had to worry about a boilover even with the burner turned all the way up.

 

[TexLaw]

I am quite excited, as my LHBS is looking at options to start carrying it. I've had to mail order it before.


TL

 

[chillHayze]

Ordered! Next brew session will tell.

 

[uuurang]

Fantastic stuff! I love using it in my starters. No more burned hand, peeling skin, from boil overs.

I dump whole starter into wort so I think I do get carryover to fermentation and I don't get nearly the blow off I would get without fermcap. Good bye blow off hose! Yee Haaa!

 

[JVD_X]

It works well for taking gravity samples as well... get rid of the head real fast. Just put a drop in your sample tub, shake it around and wait for 20 seconds. No head and a much better reading.

 

[BlindLemonLars]

Last weekend I tried it for the first time, in both my starter and the boil. Both were a pleasure, with virtually NO chance of boilover. Boiling wort in an erlenmeyer flask is usually a very fiddly procedure, but just one drop took all the risk out of it. Plus, I was able to get a much more active boil going in my 7.5 gallon pot, which has got to be a good thing.

 

[FlyGuy]

It works well for taking gravity samples as well... get rid of the head real fast. Just put a drop in your sample tub, shake it around and wait for 20 seconds. No head and a much better reading.

Now that's a great idea! Gotta try that. Thanks.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

how about: 6. haven't tried it, but why should I?

 

[FlyGuy]

how about: 6. haven't tried it, but why should I?

I am guessing you haven't read this thread? If not, the answer to 'why should I' is there.

 

[chillHayze]

Tried this last Monday. I usually have to worry about regulating the burner at boilover time, but not with this stuff! I just let it run and it saved me probably 10 min of messing w/ the gas, waiting until the hot break fell. Now, the true test in about 4 weeks as to wether my beer tastes like a rubber hose. I don't think it will as I thought I read the silicate precipitates out.

 

[ArcaneXor]

The foam control powder AHS sells also works great.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I'm getting fired up to use this stuff. Some things I have noted through research; It is also used in cosmetic surgery, especially breast implants (when they used to use silicon). I have also found studies that show that elevated blood levels of silicon have been shown to prevent arterial plaques (heart disease). Silicon also binds with Aluminum in the body, and has been suggested as an anti-Alzheimer's agent. On the down side, the MSDS states that at temps above 150F, the compund can release formaldehyde vapors. http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:_5lGXEwc2goJ:www.brewerssupplygroup.com/pdf/brewing_aids/foam_control/FermCap%2520S%25205D01530%2520MSDS%2520Apr07%2520Update.pdf+fermcap-s&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us FWIW, this is a very similar compound to Gas-X, Mylicon, etc. (simethicone is the true name). You could probably put a few drops of Gas-X in the BK or fermenter and get the same effect.

 

[mew]

I just bought some foam control from morebeer.com because of this thread, but now I wondering how to store it. Should I put it in the fridge?

 

[bighandsray]

I bought some Fermcap-S from Midwest this week. I took it out of the box and stuck it with my other ingredients on the counter. So yesterday I am going to brew up an American-ish Honey wheat and I finally get around to taking the bubble wrap off the bottle of Fermcap and it says "keep refridgerated"...Doh! So I am 1 inch from a big boil over and I put a few drop into the boil and instantly the foam goes totally away. Amazing. So now I have it in the fridge, but not having mine chilled for 5 days did nothing to harm it apparently.

 

[Redweasel]

Just tried Fermcap-S last week. Wonderfull product! Never thought I could ferment in a five gallon carboy without a blow off tube. Now I can.

 

[Alemental]

I just bought some foam control from morebeer.com because of this thread, but now I wondering how to store it. Should I put it in the fridge?

Absolutely! You definitely want to store it in the fridge.