Fermacap to help with Boilovers

I use it for both the boil and to prevent blowoffs in fermentation. Frankly, it's a godsend. The only downside I've seen with it is that it's not as effective with preventing boil overs with beers that have multiple hop additions during the boil.

 

Yep, I always use Fermcap in the boil - I haven't had a boil over or even a scare since I started using it. I sometimes use it during fermentation if the carboy/bucket is especially full or if I'm using S-04 (which takes off like a rocket for me.)

 

I always use it in the boil. Makes boiling a starter in an Erlenmeyer much easier too. Unless I'm making an unusually big batch of hefeweizen, or working with Trappist High Gravity which seems to want to evacuate the fermenter right before it quits working, I don't bother with it in the fermenter.

 

Since I started brewing again a couple of years ago, Fermcap is the best new thing I found. I always use it in the boil. It allows me to walk away from the kettle and get things cleaned up as I go. It's has probably cut 90 minutes out of my brewday. A brewday is a lot more enjoyable than it was 15 years ago.

I haven't had much success with it in the fermenter though.

 

I love fermcap and use it for blowoff control. However, somebody posted some scary stuff about simethecone in higher amounts a while back. That kind of made me want to be a little more reserved with my usage. I'll try and find the post.

Edit: Here it is - http://hbd.org/discus/messages/50162/50540.html?1304008514

Credit to pweis909 for finding this.

 

Only takes a couple ml via pipette and I can boil within about an inch of the kettle lip. It's wonderful

 

I wouldn't be without it. I use it on every starter, and on most boils. Works well, no drawbacks that I am aware of.

 

One thing about that link...the person cited in Denny's post is a representative of a company making a product that they would like to sell to you as a FermCap alternative. Not saying that it's not worth investigating and coming to a conclusion on your own about what you put in your beer, just saying to check the source of information. For me, I use FermCap to prevent boilovers with great success. I'm more inclined to think that the alcohol in my beer is worse for me than the FermCap.

 

Good point. I guess I should clarify that I still use it, but just thinking twice about how liberal I am with it's usage.

 

Definitely...I've found that the 5 drops a gallon that my LHBS puts on the label (seems like they bottle and label it out of a bigger container) is probably overkill. I did that my first time and it was VERY visible on the top of my wort, so I've scaled it back and still had the same results. For boiling starters directly in the flask, just a couple of drops does the trick.

 

Well I have a love hate relationship with Fermcap. It works pretty well, starters in flasks haven't gone out on me and my boilovers are fewer (though they still happen as the fermcap seems to only make the foam more airfilled and less dense).

This week I used it in a large temperature controlled barley wine (1.130) with a gallon of headspace. It blew off a gallon still. That is one of the few times I have been pissed off with it.

 

I thnk the label on the bottle says 1/2 mil per gallon of wort. I wonder how many drops out of the dropper that is.

 

Since the fermcap suppresses foam during the boil and fermentation, does it affect the head of the finished beer?

I've never used the stuff since my pot is large enough to prevent boilovers, but my friend does concentrated partial mash boils on his stovetop. This might be a good suggestion for him since we are constantly removing the pot from the burner while bringing his wort up to boil to avoid a mess.

 

I use it for starter boils and in the fermenter. My 15 gallon pot (for 5 gallon batches) is large enough that I don't need it there. For fermenting I tend to use a bit more than recommended, as I've had beer come out the the fermenter (7 gallon carboy) at the recommended amount. I prefer using it vs dealing with a blow-off tube.

 

yes, it does. might seem counter intuitive, but fermcap improves foam retention. it helps to drop out alot of foam destabilizing particles, if used correctly.

i discovered the stuff about two years ago and it is probably the greatest additive i can think of. big help with kettle boils and simply a miracle with the starter flask.

get it. use it. love it.

 

I have been using it in the boil for the past couple years. I don't get a real vigorous boil on my stove top, but when I add hops, things get a little dicey. A boil over in the kitchen would suck. Fermcap S = Insurance. I no longer stand by the stove with a spray bottle at the ready. The stuff works.

 

I have used Fermcap in the boil kettle and fermenter with good results. One thing I did notice when I used it in the fermenter bucket, it would calm down the blow off and airlock activity so much, you would think nothing was happening. Not that airlock activity is the best way to actually judge fermentation, but when you see nothing, it makes me nervous.

Now unless I am making a bigger beer, bigger than 1.070, I only use it in the kettle.

 

I use this stuff for every boil. The only time I've had to deal with boilovers is after a late hop addition for a very hoppy beer.

 

I started out with two drops per gallon (boil volume) but dropped it to one per gallon and it works just fine. One drop in a starter in a flask has been enough.