Ok I just posted a thread like this a few days ago asking "how important is benzyl alcohol for a brew" and guys basically said you absolutely need it to brew with as it sterilizes everything (I originally had thought the filters did most the sterilizing).

Anyway, BIG MISTAKE. I HAVE the ba, it was actually the benzoate they forgot to pack.
So new question, can I brew w/out the benzoate and just use BA? If the BA sterilizes then what the hell does the benzoate do exactly? Could I get away with not using it? And still be 100% safe or how risky is it? Thanks!


-Bo