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Author Topic: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.  (Read 6398 times)

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #15 on: April 02, 2011, 03:50:48 PM »
I know what you mean, but we don't know if it is plugged in the boil or if it gets plugged when you pull it out and it starts to drain.
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Offline denny

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #16 on: April 02, 2011, 03:52:38 PM »
Quote from: tubercle on April 02, 2011, 01:03:33 PM
I'm too lazy pragmatic to go through all of the draining.

Well the lesson you have learned (imagine Yoda voice).
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Offline denny

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #17 on: April 02, 2011, 03:53:38 PM »
Quote from: oscarvan on April 02, 2011, 01:39:13 PM
Not worried about the last drop either. What I am worried about is the bag being sealed and thus my hop utilization going south, or at least become an unknown.... I mean, when the water won't drain out, that means it doesn't recirculate either.

Maybe you just need bags that have a more open weave to them.
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Offline tubercle

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #18 on: April 02, 2011, 03:55:09 PM »
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Offline maxieboy

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #19 on: April 02, 2011, 05:38:41 PM »
I ditched the bags. Got one of these , (except when I bought mine they were $22!) wrapped it with fairly stiff SS screen(thanks TimO). Voila, "hop taco" on steroids! 225 sq. in. of straining area. Use an oz of whole hops to help out and you're golden. Gonna have to rustle up a pic...
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Offline euge

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #20 on: April 02, 2011, 05:45:44 PM »
Quote from: ccarlson on April 02, 2011, 01:21:05 AM
I don't know what to say. I used the required amount and it boiled over. I then added more and it still boiled over.

Are you sure it was used correctly? You add the drops as the foam starts to rise in the kettle. It knocks it right out and the foam doesn't reappear.

I'm sure it is the same technique for fermenters and krausen.
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Offline denny

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #21 on: April 02, 2011, 06:06:28 PM »
Quote from: euge on April 02, 2011, 05:45:44 PM
Quote from: ccarlson on April 02, 2011, 01:21:05 AM
I don't know what to say. I used the required amount and it boiled over. I then added more and it still boiled over.

Are you sure it was used correctly? You add the drops as the foam starts to rise in the kettle. It knocks it right out and the foam doesn't reappear.

I'm sure it is the same technique for fermenters and krausen.

Actually, it is possible to have your boil turned up so high that not even Fermcap can help.  If you use a little caution, it works great.  If you assume it makes it so you absolutely can't boil over, you'll be in trouble.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #22 on: April 02, 2011, 06:33:34 PM »
I have a false bottom in the kettle.  I use freely roaming hops (no bags to fence them in), and the fermcap-s has been no problem.
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Offline blatz

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #23 on: April 02, 2011, 06:43:17 PM »
Quote from: hopfenundmalz on April 02, 2011, 12:02:54 AM
Quote from: oscarvan on April 01, 2011, 11:57:01 PM
Learning is taking place. Fermcap stays, FWH goes.
I have a false bottom, why use a bag?

With pellets or whole leaf?  That may be the difference?
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Offline euge

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #24 on: April 02, 2011, 06:45:43 PM »
Quote from: denny on April 02, 2011, 06:06:28 PM
Actually, it is possible to have your boil turned up so high that not even Fermcap can help.  If you use a little caution, it works great.  If you assume it makes it so you absolutely can't boil over, you'll be in trouble.

Jeez! I've never had a problem with it failing in the boil. If someone is boiling that hard- then it's an additional issue. AFAIK that isn't great for the end product.
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Offline oscarvan

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #25 on: April 02, 2011, 10:01:05 PM »
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Offline The Professor

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #26 on: April 02, 2011, 10:44:23 PM »
Quote from: blatz on April 02, 2011, 06:43:17 PM
Quote from: hopfenundmalz on April 02, 2011, 12:02:54 AM
Quote from: oscarvan on April 01, 2011, 11:57:01 PM
Learning is taking place. Fermcap stays, FWH goes.
I have a false bottom, why use a bag?

With pellets or whole leaf?  That may be the difference?

I use a false bottom in my boiler as well, these days mainly with pellet hops...no problems at all and no schmutz going into the fermenter either..
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Offline blatz

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #27 on: April 02, 2011, 11:48:29 PM »
Quote from: The Professor on April 02, 2011, 10:44:23 PM

I use a false bottom in my boiler as well, these days mainly with pellet hops...no problems at all and no schmutz going into the fermenter either..

So free floating pellets?  If so what kind of kettle do u have and who made the false bottom
?

I've not tried pellets only in years; I recently switched to a false bottom from a screen, but I've been skirred to try pellets not in a bag because of the horror stories.

I stock mostly whole leaf but if I could use pellets without bags that would be sweet!
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Offline maxieboy

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #28 on: April 03, 2011, 12:03:28 AM »
I've always used 1 oz leaf for insurance. Works very well. Maybe one day I'll try all pellet. Or maybe not.   :P

hopfenundmalz and Professor: which FBs are you guys using? I'm using an ABT wrapped in SS screen suspended to give me the extra straining area.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Fermcap-S The good and the bad.
« Reply #29 on: April 03, 2011, 12:06:13 AM »
I can use around 8 oz max pellet hops without problems for 10 gallons.  Over that I should have a dose of whole hops in there to help keep some of the spooge above the false bottom.  I can use over a pound of whole hops with no worries.

Right now the boil kettle has a Sabco false bottom, SS screens with round holes.  The mash uses a pico-brewing false bottom, slotted copper. 
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