Fermcap-S in a Starter

[TheDarkSide]

Last time I used the anti-foam agent, Fermcap-S in my starter, I got no krausen at all. I'm not entirely sure if that was the cause. Actually the starter looked pretty dead ( White Labs vial shipped during the summer )

For those who do it, how many drops of the anti-foam do you put in a starter, say 1.5 L?

Thanks.

PS. This stuff is great in the brew kettle...don't know how I lived without it before.

[ddgbrewing]

I use a few drops when I boil the starter... no boil overs anymore.

[Blowmax10]

I can tell you that i just did a 800ml starter with two drops and didn't notice any difference with the krausen in my carboy

Did notice a huge difference in boil over in my starter though

[Oktober]

I've been using Foam Control in all my starters (3-4 drops for 1-2L) and I really don't get much of a krauzen when its on the stir plate - just very think layer of bubbles at most, which is usually my sign that things are cranking under the surface.

When Ipitch the starter into the full batch, I haven't seen any negative effects on the carboy's krauzen. In fact, Foam Control also goes into the boil kettler too (4 drops per gallon) to keep from boiling over. Seems to work just fine for me.

-Okt

[jwatkins56550]

It's possible, as stated at http://www.brewingscience.com/ in the abnormal fermentation section of the troubleshooting category, that too much anti foam(as well as trub) can clog the yeast cell membrane, so I guess your starter could have been dead, although I doubt it. I use a few drops in my starters.

[andy77]

I use 1, or two, sometimes three drops in a 1L starter. I don't really stress about it, and have had no issues so far.

[Steelers&Beer]

i just used this stuff for the first time....f*ckin awesome! i had a 1.5L starter at a rolling boil on the stove and just nothing as far as a boilover which wasn't always the case...used it in the kettle the next day...same thing...this stuff is just great! 2 thumbs up!

[CaskAle13c]

One drop has always been enough to prevent even the appearance of a boilover in my 1.5L starters.