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Author Topic: I now know what 'vigorous fermentation' means  (Read 6070 times)

Offline ipaguy

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  • Posts: 179
Re: I now know what 'vigorous fermentation' means
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2011, 07:08:42 am »
I add the Fermcap-S to the boil (not the fermentor)--reduces my worry about boilovers as well as contamination.

The same goes for adding Fermcap-S to the starter wort when boiling/preparing my yeast starter.
My understanding is that adding to the boil still gives you the anti-foam action in the fermentor.  That sounds like the best way to go.  Again, any effect on head retention?
Primary: gotlandsdricke/alt/dunkel hybrid
Secondary: pale barleywine,
Bottled:  Gotlandsdricke
               Oatmeal/blackberry stout
               Honey Kolsch

Offline richardt

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Re: I now know what 'vigorous fermentation' means
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2011, 08:14:22 am »
Absolutely none in my experience.  And I've used it in every all-grain batch and yeast starter I've ever done. 

I poured a couple of my beers (Saison and Stout) over this weekend.  I'd set the glass down to watch the game, picked it up again 20 minutes later, still had foam, gave it a little swirl in the glass and increased the foam height.  Both beers were somewhat overcarbonated (particularly the stout) for style, which may have also contributed.  Regardless, it does not seem that Fermcap-S affects the proteins which contribute to foam nor does it cause it to collapse prematurely.

I don't have a scientific reason why--it does seem counter intuitive, i.e., "if it prevents foaming and boilovers in the yeast starter, boil kettle, or fermentor, then why doesn't it affect beer foam or head retention?"  Maybe that'd be a good question to ask "The Wizard" Ashton Lewis--he is a beer foam expert.  Perhaps the krausen carries it and deposits it along with the trub ring on the top of the fermentation bucket walls so less ends up in the finished beer.  Perhaps the Fermcap-S is temperature-sensitive and drops out with the yeast when crash-chilling the finished beer. 

I do know it works when you want it to, and does not affect the beer foam at all.

Offline ipaguy

  • Assistant Brewer
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  • Posts: 179
Re: I now know what 'vigorous fermentation' means
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2011, 08:49:22 am »
Thanks for the information, richardt.  I'll definitely give it a try next batch.
Primary: gotlandsdricke/alt/dunkel hybrid
Secondary: pale barleywine,
Bottled:  Gotlandsdricke
               Oatmeal/blackberry stout
               Honey Kolsch