shady oaks

Recipes 

Have to ask, because if i don't, i'll surely do it wrong! When putting the airlock in, bubbler style, do i leave the top on the airlock or take it off? I would think leaving it off is the whole purpose of the airlock with, in this case, vodka in it.
Also, just looking at now, I noticed that most of the vodka has transferred to one bubble, or side. I have plenty more to post from this first brew today, but that's for a different subject.

ArcaneXor

Recipes 

You mean the little plastic screen? Leave it on. It keeps most bugs and dust from crawling/falling into it.

The "bubble" is just a sign that you have positive pressure in the fermenter, and a good seal. Those are good things.

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The Fiesty(sic) Goat Brewery est. 2007 & Clusterfuggle Experimental Ales est. 2009
Planned: Fat Man Brown Porter (Pro-Am #2), WLP 351 Hefeweizen, WLP 860 Munich Helles
Primary: Centennial Falcon IPA (Pro-Am #1), sLambic I
Secondary: Flanders Red
Kegged:Himmel un Ääd Kölsch #8, Farmhouse Session Saison Pilot Batch, Chocolate Milk Stout, Pale Ale, Chili Smoked Porter, Berliner Weisse w/ Brett #3

MacBruver

Recipes 

Yeah, leave it on. it has holes in it to let the gas out, but it will keep junk out of the liquid.

When there's positive pressure behind it, all of the liquid will be in the second bubble. As fermentation slows, it will fall back a bit, and only get forced back into the second bubble when there's enough pressure. This style of airlock is actually good in that respect, as you can really closely monitor what it is doing.

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Primary:
Secondary: Bee Cave Robust Porter (with coconut)
Kegged: Cascade/Citra Amber Ale

Nurmey

Recipes 

Cap should be on but it's not a big deal if it isn't. As stated, it's to keep bugs out of the liquid. The CO2 creeps out from under the lid.

Vodka to pushed to one side is good.

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Batch 1 Brewing
The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

shady oaks

Recipes 

It's not so much a screen, as it a solid cap on top of the unit.

I went ahead and placed it on there. Thanks for the input.

Corkster

Recipes 

hummm.. should be a solid cap with a buncha little tiny holes in it... ermm.. like a screen.....

If it's solid without holes.. then you'd better leave it off.... no sense makin airlock missiles!

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Give a man a beer and he'll drink for a minute. Teach a man to brew beer and you've created a monster.

Nurmey

Recipes 

Some of them are just plastic caps (usually red) that sit on the airlock. The CO2 can get out just fine with the lid on.

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Batch 1 Brewing
The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

aubrey

Recipes 

yea there are little 'feet' in the bottom of the cap that keep it spaced from the column. Its not like the 3-piece ones with the holes in the clear/white cap.

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Elkins Creek Brewing Company
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Primary: Air
Secondary: Bavarian Hefewizen (extract)
Bottle: Blue Moon clone, Sam Adams Boston Ale Clone, Christmas Chocolate Stout (All Grain)
Keg: AHS West Coast Pale Ale, BierMuncher's Centennial Blonde (All Grain)

Corkster

Recipes 

Well I'll be diggered! I've never seen those.... well as long as gas gets out then it's a great thing!

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Give a man a beer and he'll drink for a minute. Teach a man to brew beer and you've created a monster.

Vic_Sinclair

Recipes 

I use vodka in my airlocks and have noticed it doesn't evaporate as quickly if I put the airlock lid on. Another plus.