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Message |
    
Connie
Senior Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 1325
Registered: 10-2000
Posted From: 76.17.52.96
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 01:23 am: | 
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I picked up a couple 1/2 ounce containers of anti foam solution (crosby & baker) at my lhbs today....no directions of any kind and I was to busy visiting to notice/ask about it. Any suggestions on how much to use?
Thanks. |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 6485
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 74.83.191.159
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 01:59 am: |
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Mere drops are effective for both boil and fermentation. |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2064
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 04:13 am: |
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Connie, I have Fermcap S and the directions I have say 2 drops per gallon at the start of fermentation.
I hate using the stuff, but with some of my ale fermentations I just have to sometimes (I don't do blowoff tubes.) It does work extremely well. |
Connie
Senior Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 1326
Registered: 10-2000
Posted From: 76.17.52.96
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 05:18 am: |
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Thank you Dan and Graham. I don't want to use it either, but when pumping to the fermenter, I use a Ventura pipe, the foam builds up sometimes a foot or more...in a 6- 6 1/2 gallon carboy that's a problem. |
Pete Mazurowski
Intermediate Member
Username: Pete_maz
Post Number: 360
Registered: 07-2003
Posted From: 67.72.98.116
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 01:30 pm: |
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Why don't you guys want to use it? Concerns about foam stability?
I've been using the Fermcap S for about 18 mos, and must say I've had no problems at all. I use it everywhere - starter, boil, ferment. I love the stuff. I can honestly say I'm surprised that it doesn't pass from the fermenter to the keg and cause issues, but it doesn't seem to. |
Dave Witt
Senior Member
Username: Davew
Post Number: 1242
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 68.57.245.38
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 02:31 pm: |
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"I've been using the Fermcap S for about 18 mos, and must say I've had no problems at all. I use it everywhere - starter, boil, ferment. I love the stuff. I can honestly say I'm surprised that it doesn't pass from the fermenter to the keg and cause issues, but it doesn't seem to."
Yes, and they claim it actually helps head retention by not allowing head forming components to escape in the blow-off. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 9884
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.150.192.193
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 03:23 pm: |
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Apparently alcohol breaks down the components in the anti-foam agent so there are no problems post-fermentation. |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 6488
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 74.83.191.159
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 03:44 pm: |
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I believe that the anti foam agents just fall out of solution by gravity and get harmlessly entrained in the yeast. Once the active rolling is over, it has no effect. |
Joakim Ruud
Senior Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 1311
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.208.79.179
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 03:52 pm: |
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What kinds of different anti foam agents are there? I believe Foam Control is a silicone product. What is Fermcap? Are there other types? |
Richard Nye
Senior Member
Username: Yeasty_boy
Post Number: 2200
Registered: 01-2004
Posted From: 68.111.68.20
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 04:26 pm: |
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I love the stuff too (I bought mine from B3 and there is no label on it). I use it for yeast starters which allows me to use smaller erlenmeyer flasks for a given size starter. |
Tom Gardner
Senior Member
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1153
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 71.56.208.229
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 06:01 pm: |
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FiveStar has a vegetable oil-based fermentation defoamer and silicone-based boil defoamer. Anyone use these? |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2065
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 06:17 pm: |
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"Why don't you guys want to use it? Concerns about foam stability?"
No, Pete, I just don't like putting anything into my beer that doesn't need to be there. I don't recall silicon being listed as an acceptable ingredient in the Reinheitsgebot.  |
Joakim Ruud
Senior Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 1314
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.208.79.179
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 06:36 pm: |
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Neither are unmalted wheat, coriander, vanilla beans, bourbon, oak cubes, yeast nutrients, StarSan, roast barley (unmalted barley), corn, sugars, or salt additions  |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 6491
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 65.29.223.32
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 06:40 pm: |
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If it drops out like Irish moss, it is Rheinheitsgebot. |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2066
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 06:48 pm: |
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Look, it's a philosophical objection, and I don't feel particularly obligated to defend it.
I use it reluctantly, and then only when I have to. |
Joakim Ruud
Senior Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 1316
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.208.79.179
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 07:38 pm: |
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Oh, I agree. I don't like it myself, but sometimes you have to use it. |
Pete Mazurowski
Intermediate Member
Username: Pete_maz
Post Number: 361
Registered: 07-2003
Posted From: 67.72.98.112
| | Posted on Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 09:06 pm: |
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Look, it's a philosophical objection
Works for me. I just wasn't sure if there were other concerns that I had overlooked. I seldom use finings for the same reason. |
ScottDeW
Advanced Member
Username: Scott
Post Number: 566
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 99.7.211.20
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 - 12:22 am: |
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I find it comes in real handy when I've a very full kettle and little room for boil-over errors.
And when cooking up starters in flasks. Little in my brewing history has been as impressive to me while being equally unimpressive to the wife as the geyser that was my first starter in a flask on the kitchen stove.
Good times. Good times.
Scott
http://texanbrew.com |
Joakim Ruud
Senior Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 1317
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 84.208.79.179
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 - 08:54 am: |
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You think _that_ geyser was impressive, try chucking a tablespoon of yeast nutrient into a flask with boiling wort.
Second degree burns on my right hand that still itch now and again. |
Greg Rosace
New Member
Username: Rosace
Post Number: 18
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 71.180.94.247
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 - 04:57 pm: |
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I've done that once... |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2067
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 - 05:02 pm: |
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A wooden spoon inserted into an almost-boiling flask will quickly and decisively get rid of the "almost" part. Really, really bad move! |
Pete Mazurowski
Intermediate Member
Username: Pete_maz
Post Number: 362
Registered: 07-2003
Posted From: 12.173.222.115
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 - 08:28 pm: |
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That wooden spoon trick happened to me with 7.5 gals boiling in a converted 15.5 gal keg. Good thing for me I was outside when it happened. Unfortunately I was on my brand new, unsealed wooden deck. The stain eventually went away somehow. |
PaulK
Advanced Member
Username: Paulk
Post Number: 751
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 68.63.203.31
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 01:59 am: |
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I objected to using anti-foam for years but have been using it for several years now in my starters and in the boil. I can't believe I objected for so long. It's a beautiful thing not getting boilovers especially from an Erlenmeyer flask on the kitchen stove. I haven't found a need for it yet in the fermenter. |
Paul Hayslett
Senior Member
Username: Paulhayslett
Post Number: 2045
Registered: 02-2002
Posted From: 71.234.46.245
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 02:54 am: |
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I have used anti-foam religiously ever since the time when I got major overflow from 1qt starter in a 2qt growler. The growler was on top of the fridge, so beer flowed down the back and onto the floor under it. Cleanup was WAY too much work. Anti-foam is easier. |
Brews and Views Archive 2009 
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