C-brite Vs. StarSan

[kgaugler]

Sorry if this question has been asked before. What would be the pros and cons of switching from C-brite to StarSan for sanitizing? I currently use C-brite but often time I need to rinse anyway because I can smell chlorine or it hasn't completely dried by the time I need the fementer. Is the StarSan a true no-rinse sanitizer or does it still have to dry completely? Any other trade-offs?

[fuji6100]

I just add my 2 cents that since switching to star san, I haven't even looked back. And yes, it is a no rinse sanitizer and even when there is "foam" left in the carboy, it doesn't affect the taste of the beer one iota.

If you do a search under star san, you should get several good threads discussing the various sanitizers, and you can choose for yourself. After many many recommendations from members of this board, I made the switch and I'm glad I did.

[kgaugler]

Thanks for the input Fuji. From what I have read, that is where I want to be. I was looking for someone with personal experience and not the mfg.'s suggestion.

[Payson]

I'd agree w/ Fuji. Star-San is great. My girlfriend loves cleansers in general so she won't give up the C-Brite but in my opinion Star-San would be all you need. I love the fact that it's no rinse, makes me more confident that it's clean. No trouble with it yet.

[mmmBeer...]

StarSan is the way to go! I love he stuff and will never...ever...go back:o

[brewmonkey]

Star San hands down is the best chemical sani on the market for homebrewers.

[DreamWeaver]

I have used both & others as well. I don't know if it is my water or what but I found some residue in all of them, so I still & until further notice will do a hot water rinse on all sanitized equipment.

[Payson]

Dreamweaver, have you ever seen inside a hot water heater and questioned the sanitation of the water that comes out of it? Makes no rinse far more appealing..... Just something to think about.

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by DreamWeaver
I have used both & others as well. I don't know if it is my water or what but I found some residue in all of them, so I still & until further notice will do a hot water rinse on all sanitized equipment.

You are rinsing away all the sani properties of the Star San. I have been using it for several years in the brewery and have not had one single problem because of it (or it's close cousin Sani-Clean) and we are talking about several hundred batches. Rinsing is a not needed, I understand the compulsion to do so but you are putting your beers at risk.

[toneyc]

A couple of the reasons I like Star-San:

1) The bottle has a built-in measuring device,
2) Its not purple, no purple stains on everything!
3) It works as good or better than the purple stuff,
4) And BrewMonkey says the purple stuff is bad.

:)
Toney.

[brewmonkey]

Damn skippy the purple stuff is bad.

Please make the bad stuff stop...............

[fretlessman71]

Just go to your happy place, brewmonkey, and all will be well... :D

I've gotten one step with my kits and it seems to work ok (when I remember to use it, dummy!), but the guy at my LHBS said that StarSan killed 3 more contaminants than the OneStep did. Anyone know more about this?

And yes, all I have to do is look at my faucet (that our cats drink from whenever they can) to know not to bother rinsing out my stuff. I just get it as air dry as I can and off I go!

[chris1kanobi]

I argue with several other brewers about this topic all of the time. My point is that Star-San is a brewing sanitizer. It is made just for brewing, and it is tested and certified by the FDA as a no-rinse food grade sanitizer. One-Step and C-brite cannot make that claim. Star-San uses a blend of phosphoric acid and 'hard' sulfonic acid (dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid) that sanitizes in only 30 sec. and it creates a film on the treated equiptment that lasts for hours. It is safe, no-rinse, re-useable and it's not purple. :D