alan_marks wrote:iluvclacker wrote:brewinhard wrote:The easiest solution with the least amount of work (of which I am a true fan) is to purchase some ferm-cap S foam inhibitor. It only costs a few bucks and I have had my last vial for over 1.5 years and use it ALL the time. A few drops in the fermenter will easily control any crazy krausen from foaming up out of your fermenters. It does not impair any head retention in future brews or the reuse of yeast for future brews either. It can also be used to stop boilovers in the kettle and for yeast starters threatening to boil over. A serious must have for the avid brewer.
For some unknown reason, I just don't trust that product. There's no logical reason for my distrust, it's just something about not getting that big boil over or foam build up in the fermentor that seems unnatural and, therefore, detrimental. I need to get over it and just start using the bottle of it I have in the fridge. Gotta start trusting the head over the gut...even though the gut is markedly bigger than the head.
Dude, get over it!
Fermcap-S, the S is for simethicone, the same stuff in Maalox to stop you from getting gas!
Trust us, it works! Right now I'm doing 2L starters and partial boils on my kitchen stove, with out this I'd be screwed. Add 2 drops per gallon in your fermenter and you'll wish you always used it. I'm about to bottle an honey ESB and without this I'd have spew all over the basement floor.
All it does is prevent the surface tension that causes bubbles in the first place. After packaging, it claims to increase head retention. This stuff definitely works for me!
Alright alright, you've convinced me! Now that I know it's in Maalox, next brew day I'll add two drops to the boil and two drops to my mouth for good measure.
