Star San in fermenter

[guvner77]

First Brew I believe I have messed up. I added undiluted Star San to the fermenter prior to adding wort. Does this mean my brew is no good.
Approx 3 caps, enough to coat the inside of fermenter.

 

[Hello]

3 caps? Undiluted Starsan is said to have the power to etch glass. I suppose the wort would have diluted it. The best you can do is taste it.

 

[guvner77]

It has fermented well, 13 days.

 

[Brewskii]

It won't kill you and it won't hurt your equipment.

It will ferment out if pitched and you could safely drink the resultant.

...and, most importantly; it's too late to be good beer. It wont be normal or typical in any regard beyond this point. sorry to say it but, I'd re-set and do-over when you get a better grip on your sanitation practices. Life's too short to drink bad beer.

...my $0.02

 

[guvner77]

Pour it down the drain??

 

[unionrdr]

Ok,the thing is you are not supposed to use starsan undiluted in anything. You're supposed to mix it 1oz per 5 gallons of water throught the lil box measure on one side of the bottle. Or measure 3/4's of the way up to the 1/4oz line for one gallon of water to store in a jug. You then sanitize with the diluted sanitizer. Never,never use it full strength!

 

[patthebrewer]

I have heard that yeast actually like star san, and it is a yeast nutrient. Not sure if that is true or not but if your not comfortable with the idea of star san in your beer dump it. That being said I actually sanitize my stainless fermenters with star san, and there is usually star san foam left in the fermenter when I dump the wort in. Star San is designed for food grade applications after all

 

[flars]

Pour it down the drain??

Do not pour it down the drain. Let it finish. Taste your hydrometer samples as the beer goes to completion. Each one will taste better than the previous. I'll bet after three weeks in the primary you will have good beer.

 

[unionrdr]

I have heard that yeast actually like star san, and it is a yeast nutrient. Not sure if that is true or not but if your not comfortable with the idea of star san in your beer dump it. That being said I actually sanitize my stainless fermenters with star san, and there is usually star san foam left in the fermenter when I dump the wort in. Star San is designed for food grade applications after all

Do not pour it down the drain. Let it finish. Taste your hydrometer samples as the beer goes to completion. Each one will taste better than the previous. I'll bet after three weeks in the primary you will have good beer.

Y'all DID read that he poured in 3 cap fulls FULL STRENGTH?? That's about enough or more than is needed to make 2.5 gallons of Starsan solution! Likely a bit much in 5 gallons of beer. That much Starsan won't leave a great beer. Maybe drinkable?...

 

[ballsy]

Ok,the thing is you are not supposed to use starsan undiluted in anything. You're supposed to mix it 1oz per 5 gallons of water throught the lil box measure on one side of the bottle. Or measure 3/4's of the way up to the 1/4oz line for one gallon of water to store in a jug. You then sanitize with the diluted sanitizer. Never,never use it full strength!

+1...you used enough to treat 15 gallons of water...and essentially used straight star san as your brewing water by adding the 5 gallons wort to it. It ferments out when used normally meaning residual wetness in fermenter and or bottles after excess poured out. I wouldn't think that much concentrated star san can be fermented out completely, if it were me I would toss it. That's just a rediculous amt. Read this post, producer of star san says anything concentrated at 1oz/3 gal or more NEEDS to be rinsed out (AFTER drained) due to unsafe levels. You did 3oz/ 5gal straight (not dumped b/c ur wort was the 5gal "water") which is even more concentrated. Dump it dude...sorry.
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71076

 

[flars]

Y'all DID read that he poured in 3 cap fulls FULL STRENGTH?? That's about enough or more than is needed to make 2.5 gallons of Starsan solution! Likely a bit much in 5 gallons of beer. That much Starsan won't leave a great beer. Maybe drinkable?...

I had second thoughts. I roughly measured a cap full. The 8 oz bottle cap will hold about a quarter ounce, counting the amount that doesn't readily drip out. The 32 oz bottle cap will hold over one-half ounce. The outcome of the beer is really questionable if the cap used to measure was from the 32 ounce bottle.

If the small bottle was used and the fermentor is not needed, let it ferment. The money has alreaady been spent.

Thanks for getting my brain working uniondr.

 

[guvner77]

I had second thoughts. I roughly measured a cap full. The 8 oz bottle cap will hold about a quarter ounce, counting the amount that doesn't readily drip out. The 32 oz bottle cap will hold over one-half ounce. The outcome of the beer is really questionable if the cap used to measure was from the 32 ounce bottle.

If the small bottle was used and the fermentor is not needed, let it ferment. The money has alreaady been spent.

Thanks for getting my brain working uniondr.

16 OZ Bottle.

 

[unionrdr]

I've been working on the 8oz bottle for a couple years. 3 cap fulls from the 16oz is def questionable,as that amount of Starsan won't all ferment out/neutralise. No sweat flars.

 

[flars]

Can this brew be an experiment to balance the pH?

 

[guvner77]

Can this brew be an experiment to balance the pH?

Took a hydrometer reading. 1.012 currently. Tasted it. Smells great but taste is not good at all.

 

[unionrdr]

As far as PH is concerned,that's more critical in PM or AG beers,as it has to do with the mash water & volume. Extracts,not so much. And you wouldn't use Starsan to adjust PH. They have other things for that,like these;
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/calcium-chloride.html
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/5-2-mash-stabilizer.html
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/lactic-acid-4-oz.html

 

[Brewskii]

Yes, to the hole.

Keep the starsan out of the fermenter when your filling it. And fermenting it.

Fill, shake, and DRAIN your CLEAN Carboy with a gallon of StarSan (diluted to manufacturers instructions) prior to filling it with your wort from your next beer and you will have an infinitely better chance at making a good beer.

Don't fear the foam (the foam of diluted star San is allegedly metabolized by yeast).

Keep the starsan you used to sanitize your fermenter in a spray bottle and use it to mist clean tools and equipment that contacts your beer after kettle boil... It's still good to use as long as the pH is within the manufacturers recommendations

Have fun and don't get discouraged. You shouldn't have to drink it if it's not going to taste good...but, again, it won't hurt you.

 

[E_Marquez]

I have heard that yeast actually like star san, and it is a yeast nutrient. Not sure if that is true or not but if your not comfortable with the idea of star san in your beer dump it. That being said I actually sanitize my stainless fermenters with star san, and there is usually star san foam left in the fermenter when I dump the wort in. Star San is designed for food grade applications after all

Yes but not three caps of undiluted starsan in 5 gal of wort.

I just measured.. three cap fulls is approximately enough starsan for 2.5 gal of water. So while a coating of properly diluted starsan and some foam from that level of dilution is very acceptable on / in some equipment.. Would you want 2.5 gal worth of starsan in your 5 gals of beer

No idea what upper level of dilution is before bad things happen
http://www.jstrack.org/brewing/msds/starsan.pdf

Me I'd dump..... it sucks.... but having been the victim of food poising more then once...... Im not purposely ingesting something I KNOW is poisoned

I guess this will take someone to try it if not already been done and in the forums reported on someplace... I did a quick search and did not find a thread .. so thats leaves the try it out method... YOU FIRST

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah,I knew 2.5G worth of concentrate wasn't going away. Might as well dump it rather than?...!

 

[PastorofMuppets]

I wouldnt hesitate a minute to dump the whole batch and count it as a learning experience.

 

[ballsy]

Yes, to the hole.

Keep the starsan out of the fermenter when your filling it. And fermenting it.

Fill, shake, and DRAIN your CLEAN Carboy with a gallon of StarSan (diluted to manufacturers instructions) prior to filling it with your wort from your next beer and you will have an infinitely better chance at making a good beer.

Don't fear the foam (the foam of diluted star San is allegedly metabolized by yeast).

Keep the starsan you used to sanitize your fermenter in a spray bottle and use it to mist clean tools and equipment that contacts your beer after kettle boil... It's still good to use as long as the pH is within the manufacturers recommendations

Have fun and don't get discouraged. You shouldn't have to drink it if it's not going to taste good...but, again, it won't hurt you.

Did you read the article I linked? The quote from manufacturer of star san said anything greater than 1oz per 3 gal of water HAS to be rinsed afterwards due to unsafe levels....the OP (whether 1 cap or 3 caps...) put concentrate then just filled with wort? How do you know it "won't hurt" them?

 

[Brewskii]

Because, as i understand it he has diluted it beyond the manufacturers recommendation with this wort and then fermented it which will further deplete the chemical concentration.

 

[unionrdr]

1oz is the amount used in 5 gallons. 3 gallons isn't off by much. and 3 cap fulls is relative th the size of Starsan container he bought. not to mention,measuring exactly how much 3 of his size capfulls really is. Basically,it seems like he added enough for 2.5 gallons of Starsan solution. The 5 gallons of wort diluting it by about 50% more than the proer amount of water to make a solution of regular strength.

 

[ballsy]

1oz is the amount used in 5 gallons. 3 gallons isn't off by much. and 3 cap fulls is relative th the size of Starsan container he bought. not to mention,measuring exactly how much 3 of his size capfulls really is. Basically,it seems like he added enough for 2.5 gallons of Starsan solution. The 5 gallons of wort diluting it by about 50% more than the proer amount of water to make a solution of regular strength.

Ahhhh gotcha. I was under impression it was 3 oz's worth. I guess I thought most people squeeze to the 1oz line in top off bottle dispenser then pour it out...

 

[The_Cosworth]

I dont even trust that they say that you dont NEED to rinse it under the 1oz per 3 Gal. I may be a little over the top with my cleaning but I bleach, let everything sit for 30 minutes, wipe down everything while there is still water in it with a paper towel. Then repeat with Star-San. I always rinse until there are no more bubbles.

I cant imagine undiluted into the wort.

OP, what did you even do?

 

[E_Marquez]

I always rinse until there are no more bubbles.

Your defeating the whole purpose to sanitizing.

Rinsing with un sanitized water, AFTER sanitizing is counterproductive

 

[The_Cosworth]

Your defeating the whole purpose to sanitizing.

Rinsing with un sanitized water, AFTER sanitizing is counterproductive

Never thought of that to be honest. Do you just dump it upside down and leave it for a while to 'drip' out?

 

[E_Marquez]

Never thought of that to be honest. Do you just dump it upside down and leave it for a while to 'drip' out?

Pert much

 

[Brewskii]

I Pour the liquid into a secondary container and set the Carboy on one of these;

http://cdn.nexternal.com/hombre/images/carboy_drier2.jpg

Until its time to fill. What's left foam -wise is of no consequence to me.