Would you use this?

[Brews Lee]

Hi all,
I have just opened some StarSan I bought from an Aussie supplier on ebay (suppliers name withheld until I receive a response from them).
I have attached photos showing the condition of the just-opened bottle and while I am very unimpressed with the mouldy caps, corroded seals and melted plastic rim, do you think the contents, being a sanitizer, are safe to use? I assume this sort of damage must take time so is there a shelf-life for this stuff? I don't want to ruin my next brew at bottling stage due to dodgy StarSan.
Also, who do you guys buy StarSan from? I live in rural Northern NSW and my LHBS doesn't stock StarSan.

Thanks in advance for your advice.


This doesn't look right!


Yeast good, gunky mould bad!


Very poor! Now won't seal properly either.

 

[luggy]

The stars an itself looks ok but I'd be looking for a refund. Craftbrewer sell it

 

[Brews Lee]

Cheers luggy,
I've contacted the seller this morning. I'll post their reply as advice for others. Gonna contact Craftbrewer now

 

[mofox1]

Is it actually mould, or an incorrect cap lining that has melted/reacted with the starsan? Like the ones you might get in juice bottles, not the thin bit of blue plastic in coke / PET bottles.

Either way, it's not good. Certainly hope mould can't grow in starsan, that's for sure!!

 

[Brews Lee]

Hi Mofox, you're right mate, having had a very close (and sticky) look it seems to be more likely the corroded seal has reacted and gone rank. I was tempted to use the stuff anyway but when I found bits floating in the liquid I thought I should ask the pros.

appreciate all responses from the great AHB community :chug:

 

[Trevandjo]

Mine doesn't seal at that point either.
But mine was caused by me getting a bit too heavy handed with tightening. As far as I can tell the star San still is working a treat.

That being said, if it arrived like that I'd be asking for a refund.

 

[Feldon]

I think the manufacturer in the US would be interested in knowing how some of their product is reaching the end consumer after transit and storage.

You might even score a replacement from Star San HQ.

 

[Cervantes]

I believe that you can test the diluted Starsan by taking pH reading.

If I recall correctly under three it's okay and still works.

Plenty on YouTube regarding this.

 

[fraser_john]

My original star-san lids, bought when living in the US back in 2002, went the same way after a few years. I just ended up replacing them with coke lids. Still using it to this day 12 years later......no issues.

 

[shaunous]

i'd send it back also, but just to ease your discomfort, mine has had a hole in the lid for over 2 years now, hasnt evaporated and still works as its supposed to when mixed at manufacturers dosage rate.

 

[earle]

Like a few others here both my lids have cracked from overnightning. Good to know that you can replace with coke lids. If they can withstand coke they'll withstand anything I suppose.

 

[Grott]

I believe that you can test the diluted Starsan by taking pH reading.

correct, 1 to 3. I get test strips from ebay (80/pack) for $1 each including postage!!!!

Coke lids or Coopers PET lids work fine

 

[Brews Lee]

Huge thanks to you all for your great advice.

The seller has agreed this is unusual and is sending another bottle as a replacement so I'm happy with that.

pH test was fine but with bits of the lid floating in the liquid and an eerie streak of blue something bobbing just below the surface, I think I'll drop it off at the chem recycle centre in town!

I doff my cap to all, with thanks :icon_cheers: :icon_cheers: