Airlock/Stopper fell off post-fermentation

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by craftbeerdesign, May 11, 2015.

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  1. craftbeerdesign

    craftbeerdesign Aspirant (271) Jun 16, 2009 Colorado
    Trader

    I brewed a base beer for a sour (pitched Lambic blend and 1056) 5 weeks ago and the stopper/airlock of my better bottle primary fermenter got knocked off yesterday. I believe it was off for around 5 hours before I saw it lying on the floor. I sanitized the stopper and put it back on. Unfortunately the fermenter is under an air vent.

    Is the beer likely to be infected or at this point is there enough alcohol (6%) to prohibit any infection? Also worried about too much acetobacter.

    I was going to rack this and the other fermenter into an 8G barrel but am now unsure about this. I don't want to risk ruining my barrel with an infected beer.

    Thoughts?
     
    #1 craftbeerdesign, May 11, 2015
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    It's more than likely okay from an infection perspective.
    .
     
    #2 VikeMan, May 11, 2015
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  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “Unfortunately the fermenter is under an air vent.” Was your HVAC running during the suspected 5 hour timeframe the airlock was missing from your fermenter?

    Do you by any chance have a very tight filter for your HVAC system?

    Cheers!
     
    #3 JackHorzempa, May 11, 2015
  4. craftbeerdesign

    craftbeerdesign Aspirant (271) Jun 16, 2009 Colorado
    Trader

    It probably ran a few times during those 5 hours. The HVAC filter is new and fits well.
     
    #4 craftbeerdesign, May 11, 2015
  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Then you might be OK? One of the biggest 'vectors' for microorganisms is dust and if you have new and tight filter hopefully not too many dust particles got into your beer?

    Is there a set time period where you have to rack your beers to the barrel? If you could let this beer sit for a while (e.g., a few weeks) and then check for off flavors that might be prudent. If a few weeks from now you don't recognize any signs of infection then you could rack to the barrel with less concern.

    Cheers!
     
    #5 JackHorzempa, May 11, 2015
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  6. craftbeerdesign

    craftbeerdesign Aspirant (271) Jun 16, 2009 Colorado
    Trader

    Hopefully so. No, I don't have to rack it into the barrel at any certain point. I'll probably rack it into a secondary and let it sit for a month and see how it is.

    Cheers!
     
    #6 craftbeerdesign, May 11, 2015
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