Beer busted through airlock

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by peterpedroson, Mar 13, 2017.

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  1. peterpedroson

    peterpedroson Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2017 California

    Hi all,

    This is my first post as I am brewing only my second batch (a hoppy American brown ale). During the first 24 hours of fermentation in a 6.5 gal carboy (I have about 5.5 gals of wort), the foaming got a little intense and busted through the air lock. Looking through this and other forums, I think it's a combination of too high temperature and not enough space in carboy.

    I've tried getting a hose through the opening of the airlock to mimic a blow off hose, but the hose won't fit (I've tried cutting it and pushing it hard, but it just won't do. I now have the sanitized hose in the carboy, surrounded by aluminum foil, dumping the excess foam into a container filled with sanitizer. It's definitely not airtight as some foam has flowed out from where the hose comes out of the foil.

    Is my beer ruined? Will this aluminum foil thing be ok until the foaming subsides and I can put my airlock back on?

    Thanks!
     
  2. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    Na, your beer shouldn't be ruined. Keep it covered with something sanitized as best you can. Clean the stopper and air lock, and put it back on as soon as you can. Here is how I made mine with a 3/8th double barb, and 3/8th vinyl hose going into a liter bottle. Some people use large vinyl hose that they just jam in the carboy, but that doesn't work for me. The opening in my carboy is too large for that. I haven't had a fermentation that the smaller 3/8 hose couldn't handle so far.

     
    #2 corbmoster, Mar 13, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2017
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  3. peterpedroson

    peterpedroson Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2017 California

    Thanks for the response. I've added the airlock back, and though the fermentation is still super active, no foam is coming out for the time being. Looks like tomorrow's weather will be cooler, so hopefully that slows things down a tad.

    Strong bitter looks great!
     
  4. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    I didn't see the part about temperature. What temp are you fermenting at? Are you controlling the temp with some kind of fridge or freezer? What is the recipe and yeast?
     
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  5. peterpedroson

    peterpedroson Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2017 California

    Just fermenting at room temperature at my place, which was in mid 70s today. Haven't invested in fridge yet since it's only my second brew. I used Nottingham (dry) yeast and quite a bit of extract (11 lbs). I took a class and we brewed this there. I really liked it so I figured I'd try to do it by myself.
     
  6. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    Oh ya, definitely too warm. The recommended max temp of Nottingham is 70. If you don't have a fermometer (adhesive thermometer people put on the side of carboys), you could assume it was fermenting at lease a few degrees warmer than the mid 70's at your place. All may not be lost though, I did this same thing with my first homebrew. 6 month later it turned out pretty good. I bottle carbed / conditioned and just left them be in a closet. The first few were not good. At all. So don't toss it, just be patient. The hop flavor may fade over time as it conditions but oh well. And that's assuming the worst, maybe this turns out great. Try to relax and forget about it for now.

    For future planning; check out craigslist or facebook buy/sell groups near you for used fridge, mini fridge, freezer, deep freeze, etc. They can go pretty cheap. Sometimes they can be had for free.
     
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  7. JackHorzempa

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

    A simple way to cool down fermentation is to place the fermenter in a plastic pan or large bucket, fill it with cold water, and use refreezable ice jugs (e.g., 2 litter bottles) of blue blocks to keep things cooler (if needed). If ice is needed you will need to periodically swap them out as they thaw.

    Alternatively you could use evaporative cooling where you place a T-short or towel around the fermentor to wick up the water. Directing a fan onto it will accelerate the evaporative cooling effect.

    Cheers!
     
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  8. peterpedroson

    peterpedroson Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2017 California

    Thanks these are both very helpful
     
  9. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    If you use a 1" dia hose jammed into the carboy for your blow-off tube, use plastic wrap that has been folded in half 4-5 times and then wrapped around the tube to fill in the excess space between the tube and the carboy's neck. The plastic wrap is more flexible than aluminum foil and seals well against the glass.
     
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