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**BraxtonBrewery** · 10-25-2011, 04:39 PM

On Sunday we brewed at 10 gallon all-grain batch of a pale ale. Our fermentation bucket is not airtight - it does not seal. I did go ahead and but an airlock on it anyway just in case. Ive been checking it off and on and it has been an active fermentation.

However I went outside this morning and looked to see how it was going and we had an overflow. A pretty decent sized one. Now most of it looks as if it was the yeast type build up/ sediment. However some beer couldve gotten out as well.

What do I have to worry about? Ive never had this happen before - usually we just do 5 gallon batches. Its our first shot at a 10 gallon batch.

Should do we anything to help this batch? Precautions for the next?

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks

**unionrdr** · 10-25-2011, 04:42 PM

Try a new lid to see if that seals it up. Then use a blow off for the first few days of initial fermentation.

**BraxtonBrewery** · 10-25-2011, 04:44 PM

I don't think there is a different type of lid - I got this at my lhbs and it reminds me of a garbage can.

I just want to make sure my current fermenting batch is not screwed.

**unionrdr** · 10-25-2011, 05:18 PM

With krausen & co2 flowing,probably not.The brewer's best ale pale I bought for my wife has a lid with no sealing ring on it too. But it snaps on really tight. I wondered about those "garbage can" size fermenters. Didn't look like it'd seal real well to me,but I've never tried one.

**BraxtonBrewery** · 10-25-2011, 05:41 PM

I was too. I questioned my lhbs about it but he said it woks really well.

**unionrdr** · 10-25-2011, 05:44 PM

I was just wondering,does it come with any sort of clamps to hold the lid down?

**BraxtonBrewery** · 10-25-2011, 05:54 PM

It did not. But i may go try to find some that will work.

samc · 10-25-2011, 05:54 PM

With that kind of fermenter I'd think about racking it to a secondary after initial ferment has finished (take gravity readings). You could get a sheet of plastic (lexan?), drill a hole for grommet/airlock and weigh it down on top of the fermenter for the future. I'm not a big fan of unsealed fermenters in a home brew environment. I've seen many crawling bugs climbing around licking up that spilled wort.

btw I've seen those fermenters used a lot, but it has always been with wine.

jfr1111 · 10-25-2011, 06:18 PM

Clean the spill to avoid mold and other nasties and stop worrying about it. Unless you're fermenting in a barn or an unfinished basement, the chances of something getting to it are slim to none and not worth the stress.

And next time use a bigger bucket obviously.

**BraxtonBrewery** · 10-25-2011, 07:08 PM

Awesome - glad to hear the good news. Thanks for the responses. Maybe ill order something like this:

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-17007/Drums-And-Pails/15-Gallon-Blue-Closed-Top-Plastic-Drum