StarSan or vodka in airlock?

[fosta]

So I see a mixture of people on here that use Starsan or Vodka in their airlocks. I have been using Starsan in my airlocks and sometimes when prying off the lids I think a little gets sucked in or I tilt the lid sideways over the bucket and some spills out. I know a little Starsan will not hurt the beer but is one better then the other? Why in your opinion?

Thanks

Fosta

 

[Black Island Brewer]

Starsan is cheaper, so starsan it is. I don't put enough in for suck-back to be an issue.

 

[kcmobrewer]

Star San. Cheaper and if it does happen to get sucked in, which has happened to me, it won't do anything to your beer.


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[k1ngl1ves]

I can never waste a good vodka.

I don't waste bad vodka either.

 

[dbcbrews]

What is wrong with using plain water? Assuming of course that you don't have to worry about it getting sucked into the beer due to temperature swings.


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[Goolsbymd]

Star. Vodka is for drinking, if its not good vodka, it's for mixers.

 

[Terek]

I like vodka because during heavy fermentation, star tends to bubble and dissipate. I have come home many a time to an empty airloc due too the star foaming out. I don't drink liqueur very often, and never vodka, so I don't mind. As far as it being cheaper, I can get a locally made vodka for 6$ a bottle. Enough to fill an airloc hundreds of times. I see no cost diff. And I use the vodka for soaking fruit in for ciders, so always have it on hand

 

[RM-MN]

Starsan leaves bubbles in the airlock as indication of past bubbling so I don't have to sit there waiting for the next bubble. Other than that, water works just fine.

 

[brewbama]

...during heavy fermentation, star tends to bubble and dissipate...

...so I use water in a half gallon growler with a blow off tube.

 

[YNOT2K]

Diluted Parcetic Acid.

 

[user 140650]

Vodka. No good reason; just a habit at this point.

 

[Black Island Brewer]

I like vodka because during heavy fermentation, star tends to bubble and dissipate. I have come home many a time to an empty airloc due too the star foaming out. I don't drink liqueur very often, and never vodka, so I don't mind. As far as it being cheaper, I can get a locally made vodka for 6$ a bottle. Enough to fill an airloc hundreds of times. I see no cost diff. And I use the vodka for soaking fruit in for ciders, so always have it on hand

Seriously? No difference in cost? My 5 gallons of StarSan cost me 75 cents.

HOWEVER, I amend my earlier post: I know why I still need to get some vodka: the last lager I did, the freezer took a while to get the beer down to 40F, and the StarSan in the airlock froze before the beer was cooled. I'll use vodka next time, even though 5 gallons would cost $151.42 at $6 a bottle.

 

[MaxStout]

Vodka. The cheapest I can buy--usually around $5/pint in a plastic bottle from Total Wine. If a little gets sucked in the airlock, no biggie.

 

[mrstevenund]

I use the cheapest vodka the liquor store caries. I try to stay away from chemicals where I can. I've had my airlocks sucked dry a couple times when cooling. Also the foaming issue when a very active fermentation mentioned previously.

 

[craigger64]

Vodka. A little for the airlock and a shot for me.......it's how i end my brewday.

 

[Terek]

Seriously? No difference in cost? My 5 gallons of StarSan cost me 75 cents.

HOWEVER, I amend my earlier post: I know why I still need to get some vodka: the last lager I did, the freezer took a while to get the beer down to 40F, and the StarSan in the airlock froze before the beer was cooled. I'll use vodka next time, even though 5 gallons would cost $151.42 at $6 a bottle.

Man, how much liquid do you put in your airloc? Me it's a spoon full. I'm not comparing costs but when it comes to using for airlocs, a 6$ bottle of vodka would fill mine for years, and I can "set it and forget it" no freezing, no foaming, no disapating, doesn't loose it's ph after a month. This is just a personal preference though. I don't like coming home to a empty lock and possible o2 exposure. If you like star, use it. No need to draw pistols over it

 

[kh54s10]

Starsan! I already have it and would have to make a special trip to buy vodka. I can't imagine the cheapest vodka would cost less than Starsan...

I would also rather drink the Vodka!!!

 

[IJesusChrist]

Diluted Parcetic Acid.

peracetic?

 

[hunter_le five]

Cheap vodka.

It's cheap, sanitary, and if it gets sucked back into the fermenter or spills into it, no harm done.

I find it funny that people are worried about "wasting" a couple tablespoons of vodka. I'm not going sweat a shot of something I wouldn't drink anyway.


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[Terek]

Cheap vodka.

It's cheap, sanitary, and if it gets sucked back into the fermenter or spills into it, no harm done.

I find it funny that people are worried about "wasting" a couple tablespoons of vodka. I'm not going sweat a shot of something I wouldn't drink anyway.


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So true people are debating there hearts out over a few cents of something nasty

 

[Black Island Brewer]

If you like star, use it. No need to draw pistols over it

Not pistols, pencils. Virtually free vs. not at all free. It's cool that cost is no matter to you, but kindly understand that there really is a difference in cost, and it matters to some.

 

[Sbarnard80]

Starsan for me. It's already out from prepping my primary so it's already been used too. I don't cold crash so never had an issue with sucking dry.

 

[BigPerm]

Over the short term, it really doesn't matter. I usually use star-san, bc I have it around, but I'll use water or vodka in a pinch too. For bulk aging, it depends on the conditions, but I usually use vodka because it doesn't lose its potency over time. Same if cold crashing, bc id rather vodka get in than star san. But really, 1 oz of anything (0.1% of a 5 gal batch), provided its sterile, wont affect flavor and, generally, is fine.

 

[Terek]

Not pistols, pencils. Virtually free vs. not at all free. It's cool that cost is no matter to you, but kindly understand that there really is a difference in cost, and it matters to some.

So I did the math, tablespoon to fill airloc, 15 milliliters to a tablespoon, 750 milliliters to a bottle, 750 divided by 15 is 50, 50 divided by 6$ is 14 cents, so it costs me 14 cents to fill my airloc with vodka. Now cost does matter to me, a lot. But 14 cents for piece of mind, common now. Having something that WILL NOT loose it's sanitation properties, or foam out and leave my airloc dry, is worth 14 cents to me.

Now, starsan after the end of brew day is free. But what if you come home and it's dry? Now you have to blend up another batch. I used to keep it pre mixed, and a lot of people do, but I'm a perinoid freak, and don't trust it. So I don't keep it pre mixed any more.

Once again, it comes down to personal preference. I prefer vodka, you prefer starsan. Now, if I really wanted to, I could drive half a block to my mother in laws (or walk) and fill my airloc from her VERY big liqueur cabinet for free, and she would not care. Now it's free but, I always have vodka on hand, because I use it to soak fruit in before pitching into my ciders (I always have a cider going) so I wouldn't go over there because I'm somewhat lazy. So I guess I could fill my airloc from my soaked fruit jar if I really needed to as well.

 

[atoughram]

Water....

Relax. Don't worry, have a homebrew...

 

[seabass07]

What is wrong with using plain water? Assuming of course that you don't have to worry about it getting sucked into the beer due to temperature swings.


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The problem with plain water is that it is sitting there during the bulk of fermentation collecting anything that falls in. Standing water is a great place for bacteria to hang out. Then you lift up your bucket or the temp drops and it sucks in that infected water. Most of the time you won't have a problem, but the reason most people use starsan or vodka is that it will remain sanitary while it's in there.

 

[atoughram]

Most of the time you won't have a problem

I've never had a problem, ever... since 1994

But your results may vary.

 

[rskelhorn]

I use water, never had a problem.

I try to stay away from drinking chemicals, regardless if it is advertised as ok to drink/no rinse.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

cheapest rotgut vodka I can get my hands on. The last time I bought a handle was 3 years ago, still going strong.

 

[copyright1997]

I bought a bunch of cheap vodka many, many years ago by the gallon. I've had it in multiple houses over the years, and started using it when I re-started brewing a few years ago. I will never drink it as my body is a temple (so I only drink Grey Goose or Chiroc or a few other vokda's straight/on ice ). Since I usually wash then clean the airlock with Starsan, I usually spray some Starsan inside before I put vodka in it...so I still get some of the Star San bubbles.