Brewing Master

Question:

I know this has been asked before, but I’ve never seen a definitive answer. I’ve been using Iodophor for years, but I recently decided to try StarSan. I used it on the first batch with my new MiniBrew conical this past weekend. I normally don’t mix up large working solutions of sanitizer, but I wanted to really flush out the 15 gallon conical and had lots of other things that needed sanitizing, so I made a 5 gallon solution. Now, I still have close to 5 gallons of what looks like perfectly clear solution – pH 2.53. What is the best way to store a working solution of StarSan? I left a racking hose in it for a few days by mistake, and now the hose has a greasy feel to it. So it seems like it may react with some plastics over time. Is it safe to store in a corny keg, or will the low pH damage the steel? Is glass a better alternative? Also, at what point (pH or otherwise) should a new solution should be made? Thanks!

Response:

Also, at what point (pH or otherwise) should a new solution should be made?

I believe 3.0 is the magic number, and some say it is fine below that even when cloudy.

Response:

I know this has been asked before, but I’ve never seen a definitive answer. What is the best way to store a working solution of StarSan? I left a racking hose in it for a few days by mistake, and now the hose has a greasy feel to it. So it seems like it may react with some plastics over time. Is it safe to store in a corny keg, or will the low pH damage the steel? Is glass a better alternative?

I keep mine in a covered plastic bucket. The same bucket usually gets reused for a new batch, so in effect, it is storing Star San for months. This last batch went into a different bucket, and after rinsing, there was nothing unusual about the look or feel of the regular Star San bucket. You can still smell the Star San slightly, but I figure this bucket won’t support an infection for decades. Also, at what point (pH or otherwise) should a new solution should be

made? 2.9 is the magic number. Above that, it needs to be replaced. If you sacrifice a big jug of RO water for this, it will stay clear and suitably acidic for ages. Mine never even gets close to the limit. I just change it every couple of months for the heck of it. If you buy the Star San by the gallon jug, it’s dirt cheap, so why not? Brian

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know this has been asked before, but I’ve never seen a definitive answer. What is the best way to store a working solution of StarSan? I left a racking hose in it for a few days by mistake, and now the hose has a greasy feel to it. So it seems like it may react with some plastics over time. Is it safe to store in a corny keg, or will the low pH damage the steel? Is glass a better alternative? I keep mine in a covered plastic bucket. The same bucket usually gets reused for a new batch, so in effect, it is storing Star San for months. This last batch went into a different bucket, and after rinsing, there was nothing unusual about the look or feel of the regular Star San bucket. You can still smell the Star San slightly, but I figure this bucket won’t support an infection for decades. Also, at what point (pH or otherwise) should a new solution should be made? 2.9 is the magic number. Above that, it needs to be replaced. If you sacrifice a big jug of RO water for this, it will stay clear and suitably acidic for ages. Mine never even gets close to the limit. I just change it every couple of months for the heck of it. If you buy the Star San by the gallon jug, it’s dirt cheap, so why not?

Thanks. Who sells it by the gallon? BTW, do you know if it’s safe to store the solution in a corny keg, or will it damage it?

Response:

Thanks. Who sells it by the gallon? BTW, do you know if it’s safe to store the solution in a corny keg, or will it damage it?

I get mine from www.northcountrymalt.com but www.grapeandgranary.com sells it by the gallon. DO NOT STORE UNMIXED STAR SAN IN SS.  I hope I made that clear.  The unmixed StarSan is corrosive to SS, once mixed, it is fine… Cheers, Mike

Response:

Thanks. Who sells it by the gallon? BTW, do you know if it’s safe to store the solution in a corny keg, or will it damage it? I get mine from www.northcountrymalt.com but www.grapeandgranary.com sells it by the gallon. DO NOT STORE UNMIXED STAR SAN IN SS.  I hope I made that clear.  

Yup, you did. The unmixed StarSan is corrosive to SS, once mixed, it is fine…

Is a working solution ok in SS for even long term storage?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks. Who sells it by the gallon? BTW, do you know if it’s safe to store the solution in a corny keg, or will it damage it? I get mine from www.northcountrymalt.com but www.grapeandgranary.com sells it by the gallon. DO NOT STORE UNMIXED STAR SAN IN SS.  I hope I made that clear. Yup, you did. The unmixed StarSan is corrosive to SS, once mixed, it is fine… Is a working solution ok in SS for even long term storage?

Yes.  I don’t save it, but I know folks who do.  I just mix it a gallon at a time and use it around as needed. Cheers, Mike

Response:

Yes.  I don’t save it, but I know folks who do.  I just mix it a gallon at a time and use it around as needed.

I mix it either 1 gallon at a time (1 1/4 teaspoon) or 750 ml at a time (1/4 tsp).

Response:

DO NOT STORE UNMIXED STAR SAN IN SS.  I hope I made that clear. Yup, you did.

I neglected to add that I learned that the hard way…;) Cheers, Mike

Response:

DO NOT STORE UNMIXED STAR SAN IN SS.  I hope I made that clear. Yup, you did. I neglected to add that I learned that the hard way…;)

OK, now you’ll have to tell us about that! Hey, how was your trip? Did you get a chance to stop by Toronado? What other places did you hit?

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I neglected to add that I learned that the hard way…;) OK, now you’ll have to tell us about that!

I purchased a case (4 gallons) of StarSan and the one I took home had a slight leak.  I placed it on the infamous bottle cooler and noticed a green foam on the top of the cooler.  I then realized the leak and cleaned it up with water ASAP and just a little discoloration.  I decided to put the StarSan in a milk jug.  Turns out that was a bad idea as well.  It leaked in a very short period of time, same thing, on the bottle cooler, cleaned it up with water and buffed it out some.  Still is a little discolored.  Anyway, I finally put it in a gallon glass wine jug… Hey, how was your trip? Did you get a chance to stop by Toronado? What other places did you hit?

You asked…;) I did indeed make it by the Toronado.  I think I described it best in an e-mail to a friend when I said… "I parked about 2 blocks West and 1 block North.  It looked like nice condo’s to me.  Turns out it was the projects.  Only bar I ever went to where you can just walk next door for a Sausage (a good one at that), and down the street near where the rental car was for any drug you can imagine, or a nice Crack Whore to kill a little time with.  I only saw 4 falling down drunks at 11:30am, and about 8 drug dealers.  One was on a Skateboard.  He would wait for a car to pull over and fly down the hill and stop beside to make the deal." Anyway, I had a Full Sail Wreck the Halls http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/, an Alskan Smoked Porter http://www.alaskanbeer.com/ with my Rosamunde Smoked Lamb sausage from next door, and a Moonlight Brewing Twist of Fate handpull http://www.moonlightbrewing.com/.  Also met one of our RCB’ers there.  We had a great time, and the beers were great.  They were out of many brews however, I really wanted that Kwak… Then when I got to Fresno that night, I took more advice I got from here and went to Butterfield’s Bar and Grill http://www.butterfield-brewing.com/about.html.  I found the beers to all be good, but screaming for more aromatics on each one. The Blonde was a little too bitter for a Blonde, the Pale Ale was pretty good, the Red Ale needed a little more body, the IPA was pretty good, the Kolsch was so-so, and the Barleywine reminded me of Bigfoot’s little brother. I will say the soup was top notch, and the steak was good too, and my server was excellent.  I’d stop by again… The next night I met another RCB’er at Trials in San Jose http://www.trialspub.com/index.html The beer selection was standard pub, but they had three handpulled beers I had never tasted.  The beers were English Ales Brewery.  The ones I had were their Penny Black Porter (though I was told by the Trials folks it was a stout), the Fat Lip Ale, and the Pendragon Strong Ale.  The porter was pretty good (now that I know it was truly a porter), and the other two were on their last legs as far as cask beers, but still tasty.  They also were not really high in alcohol which would have spelled the kiss of death for me that night. It was a whirlwind, I flew into San Jose, drove to San Francisco, then down to Fresno by nightime Monday, met the folks in Fresno and headed to Hanford, then had business below Tulare in Porterville, then drove back to San Jose on Tuesday, and flew out on Wed morning to arrive back in NC on Wed night… Cheers, Mike

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They were out of many brews however, I really wanted that Kwak…

Couldn’t you just have asked one of the kwak whores. There’s pwenty of kwak in that neighborhood

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Mike, I think some friends and I finished off that Kwak at the Toronado.  Sorry. Damn good stuff, but I don’t remember a lot about how I got home that night . . . Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I did indeed make it by the Toronado.  I think I described it best in an e-mail to a friend when I said… "I parked about 2 blocks West and 1 block North.  It looked like nice condo’s to me.  Turns out it was the projects.  Only bar I ever went to where you can just walk next door for a Sausage (a good one at that), and down the street near where the rental car was for any drug you can imagine, or a nice Crack Whore to kill a little time with.  I only saw 4 falling down drunks at 11:30am, and about 8 drug dealers.  One was on a Skateboard.  He would wait for a car to pull over and fly down the hill and stop beside to make the deal."

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I think some friends and I finished off that Kwak at the Toronado.  Sorry. Damn good stuff, but I don’t remember a lot about how I got home that night . . .

You suck….;) I got a bottle at the house, but I though it would be nice to have it draft. BTW, Steven told me he was getting ready to tap a De Dolle keg… Cheers, Mike

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Even when I had the stuff near the source, it was worlds better having it on draft rather than in the bottle.  Did they have any of the Tripel Karmeliet left?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think some friends and I finished off that Kwak at the Toronado. Sorry. Damn good stuff, but I don’t remember a lot about how I got home that night . . . You suck….;) I got a bottle at the house, but I though it would be nice to have it draft. BTW, Steven told me he was getting ready to tap a De Dolle keg… Cheers, Mike

Response:

Even when I had the stuff near the source, it was worlds better having it on draft rather than in the bottle.  Did they have any of the Tripel Karmeliet left?

I don’t think they did.  Of course I have a bottle of that at home as well…;) Cheers, Mike

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