Beer coming up through the airlock

Probably just fermenting harder than your usual beers. Temperature has probably risen above what would be considered ideal, and due to fermentation being exothermic, will continue to rise. Have you made a beer with as high of a gravity before? They tend to go crazy if you don't have temperature control. I only make high gravity beers during the cold weather months due to this, and even then, they need some babysitting.

Best advice I can give is to try to reduce the temperature and clean up as best you can. Also look out for a clogged airlock! I've heard about this blowing off bucket lids, but worst I've gotten is an airlock popping out. It still required cleaning yeast off the ceiling.

 

Be resigned to this beer not being ideal, with too many esters, and a boozy flavor, BTW. Be patient with it, and it may age out.

 

You can put the fermenter in a tub of cold water.

 

Toss in some ice packs or frozen water bottles as well. Rotate them out with fresh as necessary.

Placing an old shirt over the fermenter and turning a fan on it will also help.

 

+1 to ice if needed. But the T-shirt trick may not work very well in humid Florida.

 

I had a similar situation with the first couple of high gravity beers I made. On top of only brewing them in colder months, it helps to use an oversized fermenting vessel. Cleaner fermentation and much less loss.

 

Worth a shot, worked well in Richmond and 2 blocks off the Schuylkill in West Philly, both also very humid.

 

Yes, not uncommon at all. You really want to 1) try and cool it down, and 2) keep that blowoff tube clear . . . if not you'll be mopping the ceiling.

You live in Florida, where the humidity is either high or extremely high. Frozen water is your best bet. If you stick with the hobby you'll find an old fridge converted to a ferm chamber is the way to go.

 

It sounds like you McGyvered a temporary 'fix' for your overflow problem. Google 'blow-off tube' to learn more if you haven't done so already.

If you are using a 3-piece airlock with only quarter-inch tubing attached, take a look at the bottom of the plastic center tube, and if there are plastic cross-hatches there, use whatever tool that you have that can nip those things off. They are the point that the krausen will clog your tube. Or after googling 'blow-off tube you'll learn that the end of the tubing can be placed in a container of water, sanitizer solution, vodka, etc. that sits lower than your fermenter.

 

Used to happen a lot then I split the beer into 2 fer mentors. Perhaps consider this for your next big beer.

For this one the above mentioned advice is very good.

 

I have an oversized spiedel for these issues.

 

Not a bucket, but years ago I had a carboy with a 3 piece airlock that obviously got clogged and exploded. Now I make sure I keep temps low and use a blow off tube for higher gravity brews

 

I've used a keg tub like this before, it's a good diameter and depth

 

Been there, done that, ONCE (which is hopefully the maximum number of times that it happens to anyone). Fortunately mine was in the basement with unfinished walls and ceiling and a tile floor, and those surfaces got to taste a 15% Samichlaus clone. The fermentor was a plastic brew bucket (7 gallons?), and we all know how hard it is to pry off one of those lids. Must have been some terrific pressure!

 

Nawwwww papa, not this guy,, at least 5-6 times, sometimes painted ceiling, sometimes just popped the lid off the bucket enough to allow foam spill all over heating mat. A lovely scent early, but, my better half is not such a fan.