Foaming issues.

[brewing_brad]

G'day guys,

I've been scouring the forum for info on preventing foaming and I think I found the answer I need, but I just want to clarify something.

Backstory: I recently got an infection in one of my beers, it was a high ABV (around 10%), so I thought, why waste it, so I tipped it all out into a bucket and left it for a week to go flat, stirring daily to help get all the CO2 out. Afer the week was out and there was no bubbles comin' up when I stirred, I poured it all into the boiler and switched it on. Long story cut short, I had a boil over and abandoned the run.

Now, I just read that left over sugars can cause foaming and boil overs. I also read that adding a bit of oil (or even butter) helps prevent foaming and boil overs when distilling molasses.

So the clarification I'm after is this: had I added a splash of veggie oil to the boiler, knowing there may have been unfermented sugars remaining in my beer, would it have helped, or does the oil just counter something in the molasses wash?

Cheers
Guys