Star San- who uses it?

[Nate Diggler]

Just bought some StarSan for the first time... I haven't had sanitation issues before (using just B-Brite on everything), but after realizing that B-Brite is just a cleanser and not a sanitizer, I'm a convert. I've seen other people use it, and I have to admit that the foam made me have reservations, but as long as it's safe for yeast (and even good for them), my mind is more at ease. I'll give it the trial run at my club's Big Brew next weekend.

[brewinhard]

I will definitely start using this with my next order of specialty ingredients. I can't believe I just found out that one-step was a cleanser and not a specified sanitizer. What a crock! I keep hearing that it is "good for the yeast" and provides "nutrients for yeast". Does anyone really know how? Always curious....

[Conroe]

Starsan is hard on my hands. I prefer Iodopher when I have to dip my hands into it. The foam makes it hard to see when bottles are full and I hate the spill overs, and worse my dry hops ride out on the freaking foam too. I fear that creatures that can handle that low of pH (like wild yeast) may survive it. I do like having a spray bottle of it handy to quickly sanitize things.

[BDawg]

So, say I was sanitizing a plastic fermenter. Can you just spray it on the inside and wait 30 seconds or is it wiser to fill the whole fermenter?

Make just a pint or so and shake and swirl it around in your fermenter so it hits everything. It doesn't take much.

[bcmaui]

I use it and the tap water here is pretty soft (my water system is from surface water), so stored in a covered container it lasts quite a long time. I like the visual indicator as well - if it gets cloudy, time to toss it. I like that it and PWD is safe for dumping on the plants or lawn without ill effects. I go through a lot more PWD than Star San.

[seanhagerty]

So, say I was sanitizing a plastic fermenter. Can you just spray it on the inside and wait 30 seconds or is it wiser to fill the whole fermenter?

well for a fermenter, I find it easy just to put in a small amount of the proper ratio mix of SS and shake it up (lid on loosely to let the SS penetrate everywhere).

But I agree with Chupa LaHomebrew, using a spray bottle is the shiznit when it comes to Star San. I find it handy for almost anything...I take off an airlock and want to put it down for a second on a questionably clean surface...spritz! no worries. Or if I drop something on the floor I'm about to use... spritz!

btw, SS is so damn efficient, it can make mixing a small amount a bit tricky if you want the perfect "no-rinse" ratio. According to my calculations: for a 500ml spray bottle, you want about .7ml SS. For 1L, about 1.5ml SS. etc etc. knowing one ounce or 30ml per 5 gallons is great and all, but sometimes 40 lbs of water isn't easy to move around. For properly dosing a spray bottle, get one of those eye dropper style childrens' medicine droppers from the drugstore. makes counting milliliters actually possible

6mL for one gallon of RO water is the easiest for me to use. I called and talked to the starsan folks and they agree, this is the proper mix.

[brewinhard]

Lovin the shit! Can't say enough about its ease of use, especially with a large batch made up and chilling in a bucket for a moments use. +1 for the spray bottle as well...Gotta have it!