um...about this "don't fear the foam" thing

[ohiobrewtus]

I realize that I'm member of the vast minority on this topic, but I fear the foam. I don't care how many people tell me that they use it, I'm not racking my beer into that.

 

[ArcaneXor]

So, has anyone used 5 gallons of StarSan instead of water to brew with? I wonder what that would taste like?

 

[Revvy]

So, has anyone used 5 gallons of StarSan instead of water to brew with? I wonder what that would taste like?

I think Jamil brewed with at least a gallon of starsan in his carboy, once.


A couple of people here have drank it....

 

[BlindLemonLars]

I realize that I'm member of the vast minority on this topic, but I fear the foam. I don't care how many people tell me that they use it, I'm not racking my beer into that.

Oh man...there's one in every crowd.

I luv me some foam.

 

[FlyGuy]

I realize that I'm member of the vast minority on this topic, but I fear the foam. I don't care how many people tell me that they use it, I'm not racking my beer into that.

Do you have a reason, or is it just an irrational fear?

 

[Desert_Sky]

I'll admit it, I fear the foam. I tried, I really did but just couldnt get over racking onto foam. So for everything fermentation and kegging wise I still use iodophor. On brewday the foam is nice though. You can clean fittings and leave a big ball of foam on that fitting and have some piece of mind from that.

I know its in my head, but those pictures of your beer in the secondary with foam on top just drive me crazy.

 

[Revvy]

I don't fear the foam, but I use Iodophor....I got started with it, then I discovered buying a version of it bulk at tractor supply for 20 bucks a gallon (it's a dairy sanitizer.) So now I have a huge amount of it...maybe when it runs out in 5 years I'll give starsan a try (lord knows I've done enough research on it.) They're both great products.

The biggest difference between the dairy and iodophor, besides the cost, is it doesn't have an anti-foaming agent...so MY iodophor foams up pretty fine..though not like starsan.)

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Do you have a reason, or is it just an irrational fear?

I started with OneStep and Iodophor and I continue keep both and use whichever one I happen to grab first. Call it irrational if you like, it's just not for me. I get everything sanitized without foam and I'm ok with that.

 

[friscobrewer]

I am a new convert to Star San. First time I used it I didn't see much foam. Then I shook it up a bit and Holy Foam!! I racked right onto the foam...it felt really weird to do so, but I went slow, cause it was my first time

 

[SavageSteve]

I don't fear the foam, but I am exceedingly wary of it. I have a hard time leaving something that might affect the flavor of my beer.

So I'm going to try an experiment the next time I bottle-- I'll rinse like I normally do, but I'll leave all the glorious foam in two bottles, let them drain and dry naturally, then fill 'em.

I'll do a blind taste test to see if I can tell any difference.

I will say, though, that I've started to rinse less than I used to, so perhaps I'm just taking my time in losing my fear.

 

[Saccharomyces]

Recently switched to Star San. Before racking onto it I ate some foam to see if it had a noticeable taste. It didn't. The foam overflowed the carboy, which was a little weird. But I love this stuff. Easier than One Step and it lasts for a week in the bucket for taking samples etc.

- Eric

 

[Trencher]

Okay, I'm convinced. Been using StarSan for a while, but letting carboys and bottles sit inverted for hours or even overnight while the foam drained, or rinsing them lightly. I switched to StarSan because of some infection issues but have still had a few bad batches with the StarSan. Now I suspect those may have been because of equipment sitting too long after sanitation, or contamination from tap water used to rinse.

If I could get a thick column of the foam pouring out of the neck of my carboy I'd feel much safer about the entire carboy being sanitized. Plus it looks really cool!

Should I still leave carboys inverted so that the foam collects in the neck, or just let it settle in the bottom and rack beer or wort into it? Does anyone have a preference?

 

[BADS197]

I don't fear the foam but my gf does.

 

[Brocster]

When I rack into a carboy, sometimes the foam comes out in a cylinder that gets almost 2ft high before falling over!!! Star san is all I have ever used and I love it. I keep a spray bottle handy and right before I slide my racking cane into my beer, I give it a quick spritz.

+1 on the Spray bottle. I keep one full at all times.

I also keep an extra keg partially full at pressurized at all times. I can use this a number of ways. Mostly, it is an awesome way to work with beer serving lines. I keep picnic tap lines and even fridge tap lines filled with Star-San until I use them again.

 

[Arkador]

The foam does make it hard to tell when the keg is full though. I ended up beer on the floor on time. Now whe I think 'm close I start scooping out the foam until I can find the beer and know where it's at.

first time I didn't rinse the foam out of my keg before filling, this happened to me...... had i not lost it, I probably could have filled a 6pack from what ended up on the floor, or removed from the keg, because my gas in tube was buried under the beer....

I don't fear the foam, but will continue to rince my kegs because of this.

 

[springer]

first time I didn't rinse the foam out of my keg before filling, this happened to me...... had i not lost it, I probably could have filled a 6pack from what ended up on the floor, or removed from the keg, because my gas in tube was buried under the beer....

I don't fear the foam, but will continue to rince my kegs because of this.

what do you use to rinse? Seems like defeating the purpose of the no rinse sanitizer.

 

[BlindLemonLars]

what do you use to rinse? Seems like defeating the purpose of the no rinse sanitizer.

No doubt...I'd fear the rinse water, unless it's been boiled.

Arkador, you can avoid this problem by not creating too much foam in your keg. Just carefully pour in a pint or two of Starsan, and gently turn/rock the keg to make sure all internal surfaces have been coated. Then slightly pressurize the keg and drain the Starsan with a picnic tap, to ensure the dip tube is sanitized. (I recover it right back into the jugs I store it in.) Purge, re-pressurize and purge again. When you pop the lid your keg will be sanitized, full of Co2 (to prevent oxidation while racking) and have just a tiny bit of foam.