Stop Putting Airlocks on Your Starters! - Page 3

Evan! · 02-20-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

What about that comforting "bloop, bloop, bloop" that helps me sleep at night

Here's an idea: record the sound, then play it in your bedside radio. You could even market it, like those "sounds of the ocean" CD's. "Sounds of the Brewery".

Brew-Happy · 02-20-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyangler18

Pseudochef,

I've heard snippets here and there regarding the effects of CO2 pressure on yeast health; thanks for sharing that. I've not actually done any experiments regarding attenuation and pressure, but I'd be interested in those who have.

slightly
flyangler

I had a thought about this recently.

Has anyone tried to use an old propane tank to seal in a yeast and sugar water? Then watch the pressure regulator to see how high a yeast can go within a pressurized system. I figure at some point the yeast will not be able to over come the tank pressure to continue working.

Then increase the amount of sugar and yeast count to see if the final pressure increases.

Plus you could use the built up CO2 to carb a keg or something similar.

Ryan_PA · 02-20-2009, 01:29 PM

I'm sold. new process change going forward.

**big supper** · 02-20-2009, 01:29 PM

I know people who use saran wrap on their primaries as well...

polecreek · 02-20-2009, 01:31 PM

I am thinking about using a cornie for a primary this weekend. Should I just pull off the gas in connector and put foil over the hole?

**conpewter** · 02-20-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brew-Happy

slightly
flyangler

I had a thought about this recently.

Has anyone tried to use an old propane tank to seal in a yeast and sugar water? Then watch the pressure regulator to see how high a yeast can go within a pressurized system. I figure at some point the yeast will not be able to over come the tank pressure to continue working.

Then increase the amount of sugar and yeast count to see if the final pressure increases.

Plus you could use the built up CO2 to carb a keg or something similar.

huge thread about that
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/closed-system-pressurized-fermentation-technique-44344/

**shecky** · 02-20-2009, 01:34 PM

Good job, flyangler. I was thinking about this a couple days ago when I dropped my airlock and it cracked. I just tossed the pail top on and covered the grommet with foil. Now I know I could have just covered the whole thing with foil.

But you know, with advice like this, threads like these http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/rubber-seal-fell-fermenter-104477/ will disappear.

flyangler18 · 02-20-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shecky

I just tossed the pail top on and covered the grommet with foil. Now I know I could have just covered the whole thing with foil.

Even better, get a sheet of plexiglass cut slightly larger than the footprint of the ale pail. Sanitize and set it on top. No need to snap those PITA lids into place, either.

**shecky** · 02-20-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyangler18

Even better, get a sheet of plexiglass cut slightly larger than the footprint of the ale pail. Sanitize and set it on top. No need to snap those PITA lids into place, either.

That, too. I'm curious, though. What if you get a violent ferment? I suppose it doesn't matter, what with all that positive pressure making it impossible for anything to fall in. You would, however, have a big ol, mess. (speaking for those of us who do most of our primaries in buckets).

EDIT: Duh, could just put the bucket in a larger bin to catch everything. Coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

PseudoChef · 02-20-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrojanMan

What are the environmental concerns associated with just using foil?

Certainly you're not going to have vigorous mixing through the foil, though there will be some exchange. Proper pitching rates should give the yeast a serious leg up on any airborne bugs and the hops should help out as well, but...

You've gone through all the trouble to sanitize your gear and keep everything clean, and now you're not going to seal the easiest thing to seal? A lot of folks would say that's counterintuitive.

Moreover, we don't all have ideal brew spaces. I ferment in an unfinished basement. It's not nasty or anything, but a concrete floor and walls with the laundry and a woodworking bench nearby isn't nearly as sanitary a proper brewhouse should be. Moreover, most of us leave our starters on the kitchen counter or similar. There's a lot of nasty airborne stuff in the kitchen, just given vapors from cooking.

Sterile cotton plugs for the paranoid?

Walk into most science labs that work with sterile media and cultures and just look at all the foil covering the tops of their flasks.