Starsan--have I got this right?

[guypettigrew]

I've just bought some Starsan, having been attracted by the idea of not rinsing. However, I'm not sure I understand!

I've now got 1 litre made up at the correct dilution in a spray bottle. Can I really just spray some onto the inside of my FV (for example), tip out any excess, then run the wort in and add the yeast? Or, similarly, put some into my King Keg, swirl it around, empty it and then run the beer into it to condition and mature?

If Starsan kills the nasties which could infect the beer, why doesn't it also kill the yeast which gets pitched into the FV or the yeast in the beer when it goes into the keg? What's different about brewing yeast from anything else which the Starsan kills?

Apologies if I'm being extremely dim, but I can't understand why it doesn't need rinsing out.

Guy

[masterosouffle]

Yep, that's about it. Make sure it's clean first, it will only sanitise, and make sure you are using water that is soft or it won't work.
The main thing to remember is 'don't fear the foam' the yeast will actually feed on it!

[jmc]

I've just bought some Starsan, having been attracted by the idea of not rinsing. However, I'm not sure I understand!

I've now got 1 litre made up at the correct dilution in a spray bottle. Can I really just spray some onto the inside of my FV (for example), tip out any excess, then run the wort in and add the yeast? Or, similarly, put some into my King Keg, swirl it around, empty it and then run the beer into it to condition and mature?

If Starsan kills the nasties which could infect the beer, why doesn't it also kill the yeast which gets pitched into the FV or the yeast in the beer when it goes into the keg? What's different about brewing yeast from anything else which the Starsan kills?

Apologies if I'm being extremely dim, but I can't understand why it doesn't need rinsing out.

Guy

As long as vessel is fully cleaned before you sanitise then that's it. 60 secs contact time recommended but 30secs is probably enough.

One of the main ingedients is phosphoric acid which kills nearly everything. When the brew enters the barrel / FV etc the acidity is diluted / lowered to a level that doesn't affect the yeast. The yeast uses the phosphates produced as food.

[Goulders]

so if you have hard water, is it best using cool boiled or bottle water?

[jmc]

I've got really hard water so I use 5L bottles of still Ashbeck water from Tescos
about £1.10 for 5L. Just add 8cc of starsan to it & you have 5L of sanitiser.

[Goulders]

thanks

[JABB]

I've just bought some Starsan, having been attracted by the idea of not rinsing. However, I'm not sure I understand!

I've now got 1 litre made up at the correct dilution in a spray bottle. Can I really just spray some onto the inside of my FV (for example), tip out any excess, then run the wort in and add the yeast? Or, similarly, put some into my King Keg, swirl it around, empty it and then run the beer into it to condition and mature?

If Starsan kills the nasties which could infect the beer, why doesn't it also kill the yeast which gets pitched into the FV or the yeast in the beer when it goes into the keg? What's different about brewing yeast from anything else which the Starsan kills?

Apologies if I'm being extremely dim, but I can't understand why it doesn't need rinsing out.

Guy

What ratio do you use starsan to water?

[captain wassname]

I use Tesco Ashbeck in 5 l.bottles I pour 500ml. into a spray bottle to use on tools and FV,s
For kegs I pour whats in the big bottle into the keg shake it about and then syphon it back ito its bottle.This ensures that your syphon is sanitised.The water goes cloudy when the solution is nackered. Never had any problem putting beer on top of the foam.You can stick your finger ito the foam and lick it No taste.

Jim

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Mines been cloudy for ages, probably about the last year, I must go buy some new water. I must have been lucky lately as have escaped any infections.

[jmc]

I've just bought some Starsan, having been attracted by the idea of not rinsing. However, I'm not sure I understand!

I've now got 1 litre made up at the correct dilution in a spray bottle. Can I really just spray some onto the inside of my FV (for example), tip out any excess, then run the wort in and add the yeast? Or, similarly, put some into my King Keg, swirl it around, empty it and then run the beer into it to condition and mature?

If Starsan kills the nasties which could infect the beer, why doesn't it also kill the yeast which gets pitched into the FV or the yeast in the beer when it goes into the keg? What's different about brewing yeast from anything else which the Starsan kills?

Apologies if I'm being extremely dim, but I can't understand why it doesn't need rinsing out.

Guy

What ratio do you use starsan to water?

1.6 cc per Litre of water.
8cc for a 5L bottle of water.

[jmc]

I use Tesco Ashbeck in 5 l.bottles I pour 500ml. into a spray bottle to use on tools and FV,s
For kegs I pour whats in the big bottle into the keg shake it about and then syphon it back ito its bottle.This ensures that your syphon is sanitised.The water goes cloudy when the solution is nackered. Never had any problem putting beer on top of the foam.You can stick your finger ito the foam and lick it No taste.

Jim

Unfortunately I have to wear gloves with it as it makes skin on my fingers crack. I hear this is rare though.

Worth it though as its really effective and speeds everything up.

[orlando]

I make up 5 gallons at a time and store in a document box. I can then soak equipment in there prior to use or pour into an FV or keg knowing that all the surfaces are thoroughly wetted. I also use spray bottles for spraying into emptied bottles after rinsing and for quick sanitising jobs. I leave my "wine thief" for taking hydrometer samples in there so it is immediately ready when I want to test the SG.

[guypettigrew]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I used 2.5 litres of de ionised water from Tesco and added 4ml of Starsan. Then poured 1 litre into a spray bottle.

Thanks especially to jmc and mastersouffle for the detailed info about why Starsan won't kill my yeast off. Fascinating. Isn't it clever stuff?

There's a mash underway at the moment (4.7Kg MO, 300g Caragold) so I'll follow all the advice once I get to the stage of needing to sanitise my FV.

Thanks again.

Guy

[Underscore]

I've just bought some Starsan, having been attracted by the idea of not rinsing. However, I'm not sure I understand!

I've now got 1 litre made up at the correct dilution in a spray bottle. Can I really just spray some onto the inside of my FV (for example), tip out any excess, then run the wort in and add the yeast? Or, similarly, put some into my King Keg, swirl it around, empty it and then run the beer into it to condition and mature?

If Starsan kills the nasties which could infect the beer, why doesn't it also kill the yeast which gets pitched into the FV or the yeast in the beer when it goes into the keg? What's different about brewing yeast from anything else which the Starsan kills?

Apologies if I'm being extremely dim, but I can't understand why it doesn't need rinsing out.

Guy

What ratio do you use starsan to water?

1.6 cc per Litre of water.
8cc for a 5L bottle of water.

Having just bought some Starsan but not having used it (nor made any up) yet, I thought that it states 300:1 dilution - which would be about 3.3ml per litre rather than 1.6... Have I got it wrong?

_

[orlando]

I found a handy Excel spreadsheet that calculates the right amounts based on a conversation with Starsan themselves. http://community.mrbeer.com/media/kunen ... _San_B.xls Now if some bright spark can make a metric version we're all in business.