Mustangj

Recipes 

The gases released by fermentation

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"If my mother was tied up and held ransom, I might think about making a light beer."Greg Koch
Stone Brewing

Michigan Mashers
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/michigan-mashers/

Zamial

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CO2 is escaping pretty much constantly applying positive pressure until it slows to a trickle/none. So there never is negative pressure.

HOWEVER

Temp changes CAN create "suck back". I personally have NEVER had a violent enough temp/barometer swing to cause one, but I use glass carboys to ferment in.

The most common cause of "suck back" is useing a plastic bucket/ale pail with the lid. When the bucket is lifted, the bottom sags just a little bit causing the suck back. This is SUPER easy to avoid, just simply take off the tube or airlock prior to lifting it.

When I use the airlock I fill mine with whiskey because if a little whiskey gets in my brew...who cares? It will simulate aging in a whiskey barrel if you can taste it at all...

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“I'm not drunk, I'm from Wisconsin.”
We have been out drinking your state since 1848!

nutty_gnome

Recipes 

MustangJ - Are you getting suckback from temp changes since you put it so high over the top of the bucket?

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N_G
It could be worse.

Mustangj

Recipes 

That's just a picture I grabbed off the net. I alway put my overflow on the floor.

This is what mine looks like(I forgot I had this pic).

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"If my mother was tied up and held ransom, I might think about making a light beer."Greg Koch
Stone Brewing

Michigan Mashers
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/michigan-mashers/

Zamial

Recipes 

Not directed at me but I also did put my buckets on top of my Ale Pails and they sit on top or high up near the top of my carboys.

The temp change comment is just to be accurate. It would require the fermentor to get COLDER while everything else got hotter. Can it happen? Yes. Is it probable? Not really...

Suck back happens easier with an airlock than with a tube BECAUSE of the distance the fluid has to travel. The blowoff tube is NOT full of liquid normally.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Take an empty Ale Pail and fill it 1/2 way with some tap water. Put an air lock on it like you normally would. Fill the air lock with water like normal. Then press down on the center of the bucket lid (creating positive pressure + bubbles in the airlock) then release the lid (creating negative pressure + suck back) then do the same with a blow off tube and report back if you were able to get any water from the blow off bucket to go into the Ale Pale.

__________________
“I'm not drunk, I'm from Wisconsin.”
We have been out drinking your state since 1848!

jdlev

Recipes 

A) The s type airlocks do indeed suck. It was hard as heck to clean. So I took the opportunity to swap my 3 piece lock and my s between the carboy and fermenter
B) I've never heard of using vodka in the air locks. Seems like a pretty smart idear so I did it this time around. I've always just used tap water with a few sprays of star san. I've only done a few batches, and haven't had any issues with that way, but the vodka seems like it would work a little better with an airlock...thoughts?

Zamial

Recipes 

Yes, vodka is just fine. Whiskey IMO is better but that is just me.
(I have whiskey on hand and not a drop of vodka in the house.) There are even a few people that will drink the "airlock shot" after the fermentation is complete, claiming it "picks up flavors". I have done this, It did not kill me but was a little scary, I did note the flavors did change a tiny bit.

__________________
“I'm not drunk, I'm from Wisconsin.”
We have been out drinking your state since 1848!

Lodovico

Recipes 

Off topic but where did you get that fermenter? I like the looks of that thing.

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Lodovico Brewing Co.




On Draft: Mild
On Draft: IPA
On Draft: Belgian Pale Ale
In Bottle: Brett Porter
In Bottle: Flanders Red
In Bottle: Oud Bruin
Fermentor: Biere De Garde
Fermentor: Belgian Amber Ale

Mustangj

Recipes 

You can E-mail this guy. DBGRAMMLLC@aol.com

Or

http://www.generalcontainer.com/product.aspx?pid=20

__________________
"If my mother was tied up and held ransom, I might think about making a light beer."Greg Koch
Stone Brewing

Michigan Mashers
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/michigan-mashers/

Lodovico

Recipes 

Went to the website but I can't find prices and I don't even want to send an email if they are super expensive. Do you mind just telling me what you paid for that before I investigate further? thanks

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Lodovico Brewing Co.




On Draft: Mild
On Draft: IPA
On Draft: Belgian Pale Ale
In Bottle: Brett Porter
In Bottle: Flanders Red
In Bottle: Oud Bruin
Fermentor: Biere De Garde
Fermentor: Belgian Amber Ale