You can't use enough Fermcap-S (anti-foam agent)

[WAdamC]

One thing I have learned in the two months and 30 gallons I have brewed. Fermcap is awesome. I boil about 7 gallons in a 7.5 gallon turkey fryer, and I still have to be careful, but there's no way I could do that without it. Be aware, though, of you boil with it, you need to re dose in the primary. I just figured this out now, after losing about a half gallon last batch, and trying it as my aquarium pump foamed out of my carboy. Now I have about 5.75 gallons in a 6gallon carboy, and the foam is at a half inch. What can I say? I hate seeing good wort go to waste!
Edit: I aerate for an hour, so things get kind of messy.

 

[fastricky]

I'd like to start using Fermcap in my fermenter... it does work great in the kettle/flask.

So, is there any risk of infecting wort since the Fermcap hasn't been boiled if you add it to the fermenter?

 

[tasq]

I'd like to start using Fermcap in my fermenter... it does work great in the kettle/flask.

So, is there any risk of infecting wort since the Fermcap hasn't been boiled if you add it to the fermenter?

I am curious about this as well.

 

[WAdamC]

I use it in the fermenter every batch. I've never had a problem.

 

[tasq]

I use it in the fermenter every batch. I've never had a problem.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Homercidal]

Isn't this the same exact stuff as infant gas drops?

It's at least very similar. I bought a small bottle of gas drops and used 3 drops in my yeast starter, and it boiled nicely.

I put about 12 drops in my kettle, which had about 3/4 inch of space, and it boiled nicely.

I've used it a couple of times now and I cannot say my beers have been negatively affected by it. And I figure if it's good enough for babies to ingest, a few drops in 5 gallons of beer is probably ok.

 

[lpdb185]

i've always used this in my boil, but i used it for the first time in the fermenter yesterday. i put the recommended 10 or so drops for the 5g batch.

the result: it didn't work good enough. i think 75% of my yeast came out the blowoff tube. the mason jar i was using for the blowoff now has its own krausen. it went down really quick after i added a few more drops, but i'm retty sure i lost a lot of yeast.

but, at least it works wonders in the boil.

 

[Homercidal]

i've always used this in my boil, but i used it for the first time in the fermenter yesterday. i put the recommended 10 or so drops for the 5g batch.



the result: it didn't work good enough. i think 75% of my yeast came out the blowoff tube. the mason jar i was using for the blowoff now has its own krausen. it went down really quick after i added a few more drops, but i'm retty sure i lost a lot of yeast.

but, at least it works wonders in the boil.

I have never used it in the fermenter, but I would guess that it might be best to add it as soon as the fermentation gets going. It may have settled to the bottom before the yeast really got going. I think that if the yeast is really cooking, their swirling action might help distribute the drops.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Silicone can only do so much. I think the best solution is to use the right sized equipment.

 

[lpdb185]

Silicone can only do so much. I think the best solution is to use the right sized equipment.

yeah, i got ahead of myself and then realized all i had left to use was the 6g better bottle (i guess that means i need you to sell me another ale pale). that's the only reason i gave the fermcap a try, because i knew the better bottle was too small. and i think homercidal is right about waiting till fermentation gets going good before dropping it in. i put a few more drops in it while it was blowing out, and it has now subsided (but still going like a motor boat).

 

[robtotten]

I started using the stuff on my second brew, I'm brewing #11 tomorrow, and #12 will be all grain. I've never even come close to having a boil over since the first brew without the Fermcap.

 

[WAdamC]

You just jinxed yourself. The thing about fermcap, is that it works as long as you don't trust it. Go in and do the dishes=massive boilover. You never have any blowoff if you put a tube on the primary 'just in case'. Put an airlock on after never needing the blowoff tube, though, and you'll be patching the hole in the ceiling. I still use it every batch though. As long as you're within 15 feet of the kettle, and use a blowoff on the primary, fermcap is amazing.

 

[smizak]

I've got a two year old bottle of the stuff sitting in my fridge, never used it. I should have given it away when the "pay it forward" thread was going.

I've never had a boilover as long as I knock it down with a cold water spray bottle. I could care less if I have a blow-off on my primaries, and I use a stir plate and at least 2/3 vessel headspace on my starter, so those will never foam over.

 

[WAdamC]

Cool, you have large equipment. This is why I use it:

 

[crawfman]

For those of you who have good success at it preventing boil overs in 7.5 gal kettles, do you add it before the boil begins to get positive results? My first time using it, I added the dosage on the container once hot break began and still had boil overs like crazy, even after adding more drops.

Just wondering if the trick is to add it before boiling even begins.

 

[shortyjacobs]

I have done it both ways and not noticed a difference. Also, I use fermcap in my keg and carboy washer to prevent the oxiclean from foaming over.

 

[boo boo]

Copied from another forum, and I don't think the author, Denny Conn, would mind me reposting it here.

I've been involved in discussions lately based on FDA warnings about using silicone based Fermcap S in unfiltered beers. While I haven't been able to find the FDA statement, I did fond this from Dana Johnson of Birko. They make a silicone based foam control product similar to Fermcap S. BTW, I've gone to using Fermcap AT, which has no silicone (AFAIK).

"Brewers should not use silicone-containing antifoam for unfiltered beers. The FDA allows active silicone to be used up to 10 parts-per-million (ppm) but stipulates that the silicone must be removed prior to packaging by either filtration or centrifugation. In the case of unfiltered beers, use a food grade, non-silicone antifoam. We sell a food grade, canola oil based antifoam that works well for this purpose and has an added benefit of being yeast-friendly at the same time. Look for my article on antifoams in the brewery in the July/August issue of The New Brewer. Please contact me directly if you would like to discuss this or any other matter further.

Cheers!

Dana Johnson Brewery Technical Representative BIRKO Corporation Henderson, Colorado www.birkocorp.com:

 

[Homercidal]

Copied from another forum, and I don't think the author, Denny Conn, would mind me reposting it here.

I've been involved in discussions lately based on FDA warnings about using silicone based Fermcap S in unfiltered beers. While I haven't been able to find the FDA statement, I did fond this from Dana Johnson of Birko. They make a silicone based foam control product similar to Fermcap S. BTW, I've gone to using Fermcap AT, which has no silicone (AFAIK).

"Brewers should not use silicone-containing antifoam for unfiltered beers. The FDA allows active silicone to be used up to 10 parts-per-million (ppm) but stipulates that the silicone must be removed prior to packaging by either filtration or centrifugation. In the case of unfiltered beers, use a food grade, non-silicone antifoam. We sell a food grade, canola oil based antifoam that works well for this purpose and has an added benefit of being yeast-friendly at the same time. Look for my article on antifoams in the brewery in the July/August issue of The New Brewer. Please contact me directly if you would like to discuss this or any other matter further.

Cheers!

Dana Johnson Brewery Technical Representative BIRKO Corporation Henderson, Colorado www.birkocorp.com:

I'm assuming that since I use Baby Gas drops, it should be FDA approved??

12 drops in 5 gallons during boil. 2-3 drops for starter. I never use it in the primary, because I almost always use a blowoff.