Home Distiller

I have a conical fermenter and I did not remove the airlock prior to taking a sample from one of the valves and it ended up sucking the water/starsan solution from the airlock into the wash. Initial thoughts were not to drink the distillate once I've run it, but wanted to get some opinions first. It was a very diluted and small sample.

Star San isn't toxic and doesn't taste bad in small concentrations, though I wouldn't chug the bottle. I spray fermenters with it and rack in the wash without rinsing for beer and spirits. If it tastes ok, run it. FYI, Star San will make a lot of foam in a bubbler if the ferment is vigorous.

Good advise from heartcut. Used according to the directions given, not a problem. srs

Use heads for your airlock, easy solution.

I use it about the same as Heartcut and have had no problems .

Why not use water?
Putting chemicals in a clear plastic thingibob will fog it up. Does it keep the buggies out?
I use the S shaped ones mainly because they look cool when they bubble but always used bottled water. I cut a piece of panty hose ( postage stamp size) and slip it over the top opening before installing the cap. Then the no see ums cant get in.

We have a dog lot right beside the shed and them little bastard knats are all over my stuff. I got me one of them electric fly swatters from Wall Mart and we chase them around like kamakazi fighter planes. ...snap.. pop

rantings of an old person

SoMo wrote:Use heads for your airlock, easy solution.

+1. I use diluted heads.

And heartcut is right, StarSan is a 'no rinse' sanitizer (if diluted properly). For a little suck in the airlock, I'm sure you're OK.

But next time save the heads and dilute to 25-40% and use those. Also great for cleaning and sanitizing your corny keg fittings when serving your beer.

ss

Star San is a food grade acid sanitizer. It uses high ph to sanitize. It is a no rinse sanitizer used in bars and breweries all over the place. If diluted it won't hurt you. I have seen people drink the stuff.

As a brewer and avid user of StarSan, we say, "Never fear the Foam". I would say my 5 gallon better bottles have at least an airlock full of StarSan in them just prior to racking the wort into them, whether its the 1st rack or 2nd. Never once have I had problem with it, and it has no taste.

BentJar wrote:Why not use water?

Bent as far as I'm aware, the whole idea using feints/vodka in airlocks is to avoid the very unlikely event that someone's tap water is sucked into the wash, contains bacteria of some sort and infects the wash...I've used both, never had suck back anyway. Rarely even use air locks now