808beer

Recipes 

Last night I brewed a Honey Porter. I pitched the yeast and about 3 hours later the 3 piece airlock was bubbling rapidly. Two more hours went by, Kraeusen was spitting out of the airlock. It was already 12:00 am and I couldnt keep watch of the bucket any longer. Needed to get some sleep.

At about 4:00 am I checked on the bucket and there were no bubbles comming out. I noticed that the plastic lid on the bucket popped open. Withing the 4 hour period, I think that the batch was exposed to air for about 2 hours. I replaced the water in the airlock and sealed the bucket. The airlock was still bubbling. I guess fermentation isnt complete. I was supposed to use the blow-by system but i didnt have the right equipment.

COULD THIS BATCH BE RUINED??!!!

I also notice that there is heavy kraeusen forming on the lid. Could I open the lid and scoop it out with a sanitized spoon? Or should I wait till I rack into the secondary?

Thanks
808

homebrewer_99

Recipes 

Everyone here will say your brew will be fine even though the lid came off of your bucket, excluding some creep-crawlly got in there.

The original CO2 displaced (pushed out) all the air in the container. After that the CO2 continually displaces the CO2 so no air was getting in there.

Unless you have sanitized equipment used for the intent of kreusening your brew at bottling time...DO NOT PUT ANYTHING INTO THE BREW AND LEAVE THE KREUSEN ALONE!!! The kreusen will drop to the bottom.

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HB Bill

woodstone

Recipes 

, yep. Chill out and what he said. You did not mention...but start using a blow off tube if putting a 5G batch in a 5G primary or start using a 6.5G or larger primary with your 3-piece. You should have no issue with this batch...but don't start "scooping". Cheers.

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On Deck Nada
Fermenting/Conditioning Simcoe IPA, Cascade IPA, Ginger Saison, Sour Brown
Almost Gone Steam, Midas Touch, Chile Lager, Chablis Mead, Sticky Red Raspberry Mead

anthrobe

Recipes 

My porter blew off the lid last week with the 3 piece airlock. I replaced it with a blow off tube and it still blew the lid off. I would not worry to much at all. As long as you sanitized everything good you should be fine. I am not worried about mine.....

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On Deck -
Primary1 -Hop Knot 10/04/07
Primary2 -
Secondary1 -
Secondary2 -
On Tap
Tap1 - Kelly's Rasberry Cream Ale 7/11/07
Tap2 - Black Stap Porter (8/25/07)
Tap3 - Hefeweizen 7/05/07
Waiting for tap\Conditioning
Keg1 -
Keg2 -
Keg3 -
Bottles
-
-

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808beer

Recipes 

Thanks for the input. I feel better.

808

david_42

Recipes 

I just set the bucket in the sink and put a glass over the bubbler, until the blowout is over. Then I hose it off and replace the bubbler with a clean one.

Leave the krasen alone. I know wine makers punch it down, but in beer making it's another way of monitoring the fermentation.

Welcome to the Blow Off sub-club!

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Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"

usmcruz

Recipes 

Dont worry dude. If you stuck your nose to an active fermentation like yours you wouldnt be able to breath the co2 is so strong. I gaurentee you its not ruined. Some micro breweries ferment in open vessels for the primary fermentation like yours. Happy brewing