Do you fear the Foam?

[alanywiseman.]

I have just started using Star San. It is making life a hell of a lot easier but i have a fear of the foam. I know that it is a non rinse but i can not stop myself from rinsing the bottles after steralising.

Am I the only one that fears the foam or are there others?

 

[BeerEagle]

Do not rinse, you could just be negating the effects of the Starsan.

Embrace the foam! Check out on YouTube for some videos where there's a guy filling his already-foam-filled cornie with beer. A giant sausage of foam emerges like a cobra out of a basket.

And the yeasties will feast on any Starsan left behind.

 

[alanywiseman.]

I will try and embrace the foam. It just seems backwards after using VWP.

How do the yeast use up the Star San? I thought it was acid and could it cause my corks on my wine to pop :shock:

 

[BeerEagle]

Here's an interview with the guy who makes Starsan. Tells you all you need to know.

http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr03-29-07.mp3

The bit on Starsan starts about 28 minutes in, but the whole programme is a very informative piece on general cleaning and sanitisation.

 

[BeerEagle]

How do the yeast use up the Star San?

Apparently any residue is a yeast nutrient, many people report a faster starting fermentation in the presence of this stuff

I thought it was acid and could it cause my corks on my wine to pop :shock:

The foam is caused by the fact that it's a detergent (I know it sounds wrong). It doesn't produce any gas that will pressurise your bottles.

Have a listen to the interview above.

 

[Darcey]

I always get the foam worm when filling cornies. I have read somewhere that its good for fermentation (in foam form) so dont worry too much about it in FV's. Its still worth upending kegs for afew mins before filling to get as much liquid out as poss.

D

Here's an interview with the guy who makes Starsan. Tells you all you need to know.

http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr03-29-07.mp3

The bit on Starsan starts about 28 minutes in, but the whole programme is a very informative piece on general cleaning and sanitisation.

Nice one been looking for that!

D

 

[tazuk]

where do you guys get star san from and wot does it cost is it better than viadine ?????????? :thumb:

 

[Darcey]

Its more expensive than Viadine but I prefer it. The foam is useful because it means that the acid is active where ever the foam touches so not just the liquid at the bottom of an FV for example.

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Star_San_8oz_227g.html

There is loads of stuff on there about the pros/cons of using it.
D

 

[abeyptfc]

where do you guys get star san from and wot does it cost is it better than viadine ?????????? :thumb:

the link above for the homebrew company sell it, also the-home-brew-shop.co.uk .bought from both of them, quick delivery, both highly recommended. im sure they do a low foam version by star san called saniclean which leaves virtually no foam, i use it for the cornies and never had any infections, it can be used loads of times aswell, just keep it in a spare fv.

 

[tazuk]

sweet cheers for that lads :thumb:

 

[alanywiseman.]

Here's an interview with the guy who makes Starsan. Tells you all you need to know.

http://media.libsyn.com/media/basicbrewing/bbr03-29-07.mp3

The bit on Starsan starts about 28 minutes in, but the whole programme is a very informative piece on general cleaning and sanitisation.

Thanks for the link BeerEagle. :thumb:

It is an interesting listen. It has made me get some pH papers to make sure that my stored star San stays below 3.5.