Fermcap-S The good and the bad.

General Homebrew Discussion
1

The good, NO BOILOVER… full throttle to a rolling boil…turn it down and maintain. SWEET.

The Bad. Big ol’ paint strainer hop bag sealed. As in hang it above the kettle and it takes 1/2 hour to drain. The two don’t work together apparently. Unless there’s another reason for that. Which there may be… Against the rule of never changing more than one thing at a time I also hung the bag in there before boil (for FWH). But, this means there was a serious hot break inside the bag as well…

I’m hoping I got proper hop utilization… :-[ It tasted bitter enough so I am optimistic.

Thoughts?

2

I doubt it’s the fermcap, but it wouldn’t be the first time I was wrong.  Hot break makes more sense though.

3

Its hot break. Tubercle don’t chuck in the strainer bag until the break has settled and no problems. On the occasion where FWH is done, the bag is full of break material.

Been there.

4

Learning is taking place. Fermcap stays, FWH goes.

5

I have a false bottom, why use a bag?

6

FWH is ok just don’t boil the bag. It’s already done it’s work AFAIK.

7

Fermcap was the worst brewing purchase I think I ever made. It didn’t work for me. Save your money.

8

FWH need to stay in through the boil.  I use both Fermcap and FWH in a bag and haven’t experienced the problem Oscar has.

9

Hmmmm…tell me more.  Works like a charm for me so maybe we can figure out why it didn’t work for you.

10

I don’t know what to say. I used the required amount and it boiled over. I then added more and it still boiled over.

11

I have used Fermcap-S in 50 batches of beer, and have never had any problems with it.  In fact, it’s the same bottle that has lasted for 50 batches, and may well last for 50 more.

I only recently started using it in the boil (last 20 batches or so) and was pleased to find that it was doubly useful.  I’ve also had success using Fermcap-S to knock down the foam when making maple syrup, although I had to add it several times.

I really like the product, and highly recommend it to anybody out there.  It works great in wine, too!

12

Take it out right before the boil starts, drain and put it back in after the break. Why not? A modified FWH. I bet no-one could tell the difference.

13

Ah, I didn’t understand that’s what you were doing.  Nuthin wrong with that.

14

I don’t actually “experience” the problem either because I don’t go through a long drain time with the bag, I just squish to against the side of the kettle with a slotted spoon and I’m done. I’m too lazy pragmatic to go through all of the draining.

I have noticed break material inside the bag though that stops up the weave in FWH (my preferred method) vs throwing in the bag after the break has settled. To me there is not enough wort in the hops to drain every little bit. Just squeeze and go.

15

Not worried about the last drop either. What I am worried about is the bag being sealed and thus my hop utilization going south, or at least become an unknown… I mean, when the water won’t drain out, that means it doesn’t recirculate either.

16

I know what you mean, but we don’t know if it is plugged in the boil or if it gets plugged when you pull it out and it starts to drain.

17

Well the lesson you have learned (imagine Yoda voice).

18

Maybe you just need bags that have a more open weave to them.

19

Maybe one of these will help your situation.

20

I ditched the bags. Got one of [u]these[/u] , (except when I bought mine they were $22!) wrapped it with fairly stiff SS screen(thanks TimO). Voila, “hop taco” on steroids! 225 sq. in. of straining area. Use an oz of whole hops to help out and you’re golden. Gonna have to rustle up a pic…