starsan vs iodophor

[Yankeehillbrewer]

FDA doesn't want to? You have a source for that?

On the issue of iodophor flavor in beer: read this experiment

That was a good read, Thanks for the link.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Starsan will be tough to find outside of a brewing store, you will have to use the interwebs. Iodophore can be found at any farm supply store. It is simply an iodine sanitizer, just dilute properly and you are all set.

I use both Iodophore and Starsan. Both have worked great. The foam goes neutral when it is dissolved in the pH of the wort and is eaten by the yeast. This is why you do not need to fear the foam.

 

[Revvy]

FDA doesn't want to? You have a source for that?

It's NOT that the FDA won't approve it, it's that the makers of Onestep won't go through the hurdles to get it approved (for whatever reason) they claim they don't want to pay the money for it....Which I think is odd, because they don't seem to be hurting for money for their product...they have exclusive deals with Mr Beer, and just about every online or retail brewing kit manufacturer to have it included in their starter sets (and in the case of mr beer every ingredient kit as well iirc)...so they must be making a good chunk of change on their product...

So if they can't be bothered to actually spend their money to get it approved like Btf-Iodophor, and Star San...I can't be bothered to spend my hard earned money on it...nor will I risk my beer (which again is a reflection of my time and money.) And nor will I champion their product like I do the other two.

I use both...Starsan and bulk iodine from TSC...and I alternate using it...funny on a recent Basic Brewing Podcast Chris Colby the Editor of BYO magazine mentioned alternating or switching between sanitizers....I have been listenning to the Aussie Craftbrewer's podcasts (they have 60 years of brewing know how between them, and 10 years of radio and podcasts, and Palmer used t listen to them BEFORE he wrote HTB, he used to send them emails, before anyone knew who he was) THEY were talking about "House Germs" and "House Mouth" and how over time bugs in our brewery adapt to our sanitization regimen (like antibiotics and infections.)

So afterhaving some late summer issues, and switching to starsan for a few brews, I've been swapping back and forth to keep my germs at bay...sometimes even use both on the same batch of beer....Sanitizing during brewing with iodophor, and at bottling with starsan, or vice versa.

Colby makes the comment about alternating here..

January 15, 2009 - Fermenting in a Keg
Chris Colby, editor of Brew Your Own magazine, tells us how to ferment in Corny kegs . . . and why.
http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr01-15-09kegferment.mp3

 

[dazed]

Just want to add some more points for star-san....This is from an email that Charlie Taley from Five-Star Chemicals wrote to me several years ago before he retired...

"When I ran the bacteria tests 30 years ago I always had kill within 30
seconds. What EPA will not let tell people is that I also ran tests where
items like milk, cola, wine, beer, and other food items were in the
bacterial test as well. These items when introduced into a test will
normally cause the test to fail. This is exactly what happens when iodine
or chlorine are tested. The Star San passed! It not only passed it had
99.99999 (7 log reduction) in one minute! That is why I tell people it is a
stone killer>

As for the residual yes it will keep organisms from growing as long as it
doesn't come into contact with moisture for about one week. At least that
is what my non-EPA tests have proven."

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I use both...Starsan and bulk iodine from TSC...and I alternate using it...funny on a recent Basic Brewing Podcast Chris Colby the Editor of BYO magazine mentioned alternating or switching between sanitizers....I have been listenning to the Aussie Craftbrewer's podcasts (they have 60 years of brewing know how between them, and 10 years of radio and podcasts, and Palmer used t listen to them BEFORE he wrote HTB, he used to send them emails, before anyone knew who he was) THEY were talking about "House Germs" and "House Mouth" and how over time bugs in our brewery adapt to our sanitization regimen (like antibiotics and infections.)

I always used bleach up through the fermentation and Amberdyne for the kegs but recently thought that maybe I should switch things up occasionally for exactly this reason. So I'll be giving StarSan a debut this weekend.

One thing I learned already:
Pro: When you spill a little StarSan it doesn't stain.
Con: That 'portioning' container seems more likely to leak. Don't ask me how I know this...it was a brand new container too.

 

[Revvy]

I always used bleach up through the fermentation and Amberdyne for the kegs but recently thought that maybe I should switch things up occasionally for exactly this reason. So I'll be giving StarSan a debut this weekend.

One thing I learned already:
Pro: When you spill a little StarSan it doesn't stain.
Con: That 'portioning' container seems more likely to leak. Don't ask me how I know this...it was a brand new container too.

Actually Starsan will stain lineloium counter tops...maybe not so much stain but eat through the surface layer...There are a few "My wife is gonna be pi@@ed threads" on here with pictures.

Dilluted it can eat the paint of Stone and some Redstripe bottles, so a few undilluted drops on counters and floors is not a good idea.

I've never had a problem with the portioning container leaking, but I betcha if you squeezed hard on the bottle, you could ruin the seal on the cap making it pretty easy to have leak later.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Wow, thanks for the heads-up on the aggressiveness of StarSan. This leak was in the bag when I drove home from the LHBS so it didn't really get on anything outside of the bag.

I've had one of those exact same portioning bottles of gas treatment (or oil for a 2-stroke) leak out of the lid. I dunno why they don't close both lids more securely.

BTW Revvy...you're missing one in your sig:
StarSan vs. Iodophor...both work.

 

[conpewter]

StarSan can do some damage (I've read) if left long enough. On the other hand I sanitize my hands in it all the time, and my wife now has a spray bottle to sanitize the counter tops after cleaning them. I also use it to sanitize the water bottles we re-use.

Oh and I've also tasted it (diluted, not concentrated) and it does have a bit of a bite, but just as much as orange juice I'd say.

 

[Brew-Happy]

I use both...Starsan and bulk iodine from TSC...

Revvy,

What product on you using from TSC?

I found a product on TSC's website that is much cheaper than Idophor and would be interested in it for $ sake.

Thanks.

 

[Revvy]

Revvy,

What product on you using from TSC?

I found a product on TSC's website that is much cheaper than Idophor and would be interested in it for $ sake.

Thanks.

I bought this. Dionne Gentle Iodine...

Tractor Supply Company - Dionne Gentle Iodine 1%, 1 gal

 

[Brew-Happy]

I bought this. Dionne Gentle Iodine...

Tractor Supply Company - Dionne Gentle Iodine 1%, 1 gal

Thanks!

Do you dilute it and if so by what factor?

Not highjacking just increasing the general knowledge

 

[Revvy]

Thanks!

Do you dilute it and if so by what factor?

Not highjacking just increasing the general knowledge

I use roughly 1.5 tbs/5 gallons.

 

[GAbrewer]

Am I the only one that thinks the title of this thread sounds like a bad Japanese monster movie?

But seriously, I've tried iodophor and had no complaints at all about the results. I usually just shake off the extra water and don't worry about it. I haven't tried starsan yet, but I almost certainly will.

 

[Brew-Happy]

I use roughly 1.5 tbs/5 gallons.

Much appreciated!

 

[jgardner6]

I use both Iodophor and Sanstar. Iodophor for my kegging lines because it seems to dry faster. Not only that but once the Sanstar didn't dry all the way and I could taste it in my beer. Never had that problem with Iodphor.

Primary: Cream Ale
Secondary: Weissbeir
Secondary: Cream Ale
Keg: B's Honey Blonde Ale
Keg: Cream Ale

 

[Hegh]

I use both, but I prefer Star-San. The Iodophor came with my brewing kit, but the first time I used it my tubing got stained yellow.

So I use the Iodophor for large-volume sanitizing to try and get rid of it, and I use the Star-San for small-volume (like a measuring-cup full to keep my bottle caps in while bottling).

I may switch tactics and simply alternate between the two as I make each batch, to keep my equipment from developing a house bug.

I love the no-rinse, though, and the spray-bottle of Star-San (in distilled water so it never goes bad) is awesome. I spray everything that's going to get near the beer.