Pulled substantial amount of StarSan solution into beer, is it dead?

[aolcot]

Hi All,
Been a while since I made a batch but plenty of time on my hands at the moment.. So I fired up the kit to make a batch of IPA using some cryohops I've had for a while. All going largely to plan until bottling day today. I use a blow off on my fermenter that goes into a jug of StarSan solution and whilst racking the beer into a different barrel that I then prime + bottle from I pulled what I can only estimate to be around 300ml of the StarSan solution (solution was mixed about 3 weeks ago at the recommended rate of 15ml/10L) into pretty much exactly 4 gallons of beer. I'm not mathematician and I can't work out what ratio that then makes the star san in the 4 gallons, but 300ml into 4 gallons sound a lot to me.

So my questions are if anyone can help:
1) Is the batch dead / will the yeast survive that amount of starsan solution mixed in?
2) even if the yeast survive and carbonate the beer, is it actually safe to drink!..

I can deal with slight off flavours, but naturally won't chance it if that ratio really isn't good for us people..

Fingers crossed I won't be de-bottling 4 gallons worth in the weeks ahead.

Thanks for any advice.....

 

[MyQul]

You'll be fine. Someone did exactly the same thing and ask the same question the other week

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/sanitiser-into-fv.86352/#post-892330

 

[aolcot]

You'll be fine. Someone did exactly the same thing and ask the same question the other week

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/sanitiser-into-fv.86352/#post-892330

Thanks!.. that has made me a lot more confident that this batch won't go to waste. Was a silly schoolboy error i shan't be making in a hurry again.

 

[MyQul]

Thanks!.. that has made me a lot more confident that this batch won't go to waste. Was a silly schoolboy error i shan't be making in a hurry again.

Your not the first and you definatly wont be the last to do this

 

[Clint]

At least your pipes will be sterile...

 

[Gerryjo]

Hi All,
Been a while since I made a batch but plenty of time on my hands at the moment.. So I fired up the kit to make a batch of IPA using some cryohops I've had for a while. All going largely to plan until bottling day today. I use a blow off on my fermenter that goes into a jug of StarSan solution and whilst racking the beer into a different barrel that I then prime + bottle from I pulled what I can only estimate to be around 300ml of the StarSan solution (solution was mixed about 3 weeks ago at the recommended rate of 15ml/10L) into pretty much exactly 4 gallons of beer. I'm not mathematician and I can't work out what ratio that then makes the star san in the 4 gallons, but 300ml into 4 gallons sound a lot to me.

So my questions are if anyone can help:
1) Is the batch dead / will the yeast survive that amount of starsan solution mixed in?
2) even if the yeast survive and carbonate the beer, is it actually safe to drink!..

I can deal with slight off flavours, but naturally won't chance it if that ratio really isn't good for us people..

Fingers crossed I won't be de-bottling 4 gallons worth in the weeks ahead.

Thanks for any advice.....

Can I ask how you managed that if you're using a blow off tube and I surmise that you cracked the lid?

 

[Davy6Mac]

The same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago, tasted the finished/conditioned beer at the w/end, tasted all ok to me.

 

[aolcot]

Can I ask how you managed that if you're using a blow off tube and I surmise that you cracked the lid?

Thats exactly what i didn't do.. I have a brewtech BME chronical and a pump so whilst i was pumping the beer into the bottling bucket, the resulting vacuum then pulled the sanitiser through from the blow off.

 

[peebee]

Starsan is a contact killer and works by some sort of interaction between a acid (phosphoric, the same as in Coca Cola) and a surfactant (Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid!). Most bugs don't like acid environments of pH3 or lower (yeast puts up with it) and the surfactant finishes, or is it kicks off, the job.

By over diluting the Starsan you can't get the pH low enough and the surfactant disappears into insignificance concentration. The result is it does pretty much nothing at all!

This from Wikipedia:

Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.

Another surfactant "benzalkonium chloride" supposedly wipes out "that" virus at 0.1% concentration on its own with long enough contact time. New Scientist

 

[aolcot]

The same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago, tasted the finished/conditioned beer at the w/end, tasted all ok to me.

thats really good to know thanks for sharing!.. I did read your thread after @MyQul pointed me to it and was wondering how the beer got on..

 

[Gerryjo]

Thats exactly what i didn't do.. I have a brewtech BME chronical and a pump so whilst i was pumping the beer into the bottling bucket, the resulting vacuum then pulled the sanitiser through from the blow off.

Right see what's happened. Order yourself a check valve and splice the line and fit in line. It's none return so will let the gas out but prevent anything getting drawn back up.

 

[aolcot]

Right see what's happened. Order yourself a check valve and splice the line and fit in line. It's none return so will let the gas out but prevent anything getting drawn back up.

Ah right ok, i've not heard of one of those before.. For sure i'll be adding that to my setup then, sounds like a fairly simple addition (just have to make sure i install the right way around ).. Thanks for the tip

 

[Gerryjo]

They're arrow indicated and easy fitted.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283318275086

 

[aolcot]

@Gerryjo nice thanks for that..

 

[Gerryjo]

@Gerryjo nice thanks for that..

You're welcome