Woke up to a brown airlock!

dblalock · 07-02-2009, 03:39 PM

Hello all,
I am currently brewing my first batch of beer (as of yesterday). Everything seems to be going as planned but when i woke up this morning the airlock was sticky and brown. I have two so I sanitized the extra airlock and immedietly switched the two. Is there a problem in this process? Is this common? I wouldn't want to go all the way with it if its going to turn out green! Thanks!

Trubadour · 07-02-2009, 03:40 PM

Go ahead and swap it out with a blowoff tube. It'll be fine. I think that happens with most people's first batch. Take a piece of tubing that fits in your stopper and run the other end into a vase filled with water (I use starsan mixture)

**IrregularPulse** · 07-02-2009, 03:43 PM

It will most definitley turn out green since it's your first batch

But green in a since that it'll be drank green, AKA to early do to impatience. If you have the patience to allow the first batch the time it needs kudos to you!!

But seriously you'll be fine. What did you fill you're airlock with? Just realize there is pressure pushing the brown gunk into the airlock. This same pressure prevents anything from falling down into your beer. But Blow off tubes are recommended for big beers. Also how much space did you have between the bucket lid and beer?

dblalock · 07-02-2009, 03:46 PM

Thank you both.
In response to your questions:
The airlock is filled with water. I have heard of some people using liquor?
And there is probably about a 4 inch space between the liquid and the lid. 5 gallons in a 6 gallon bucket.

**Whiskey** · 07-02-2009, 03:47 PM

Blow off tubes are your friend.

Trubadour · 07-02-2009, 03:48 PM

I put vodka in my airlocks once the aggressive fermentation has subsided and I take off the blowoff tube. Nothing can live in vodka, and if you get any suckback, it just ups your abv (-EdWort)

**IrregularPulse** · 07-02-2009, 03:53 PM

I also use vodka. some people use sanitizer. I wouldn't use plain water though. Buy the cheapest bottle of vodka at your grocery store and it'll last forever. But whatever you do don't drink it!! I said THE CHEAPEST you can find.

TrojanMan · 07-02-2009, 03:53 PM

4-5" of krausen head is normal. You did right, but sometimes if the temperature is a little high or if you have a lot of hops in the beer, etc. it can push to the airlock. You did the right thing. Sanitize your spare, swap it out and don't worry anymore. Good job.

I use "Zelko" brand vodka in my airlocks. It's $7.50 for a handle at the local college supply store. It tastes terrible.

But it's cheap and antiseptic and it won't hurt you if a few drops get into the beer. I also use it to sanitize bottlecaps. BTW, if you do this, drink the vodka afterwards. The steel-flavored rotgut vodka is really one of those taste experiences everyone should have. If nothing else, it'll make you appreciate your homebrew that much more.

If you're using a bucket, you probably don't need the blowoff tube. 5 gallons of beer in a 5 gallon carboy needs one, however, at least for the first 3-4 days until you get past late krausen.

Pangea · 07-02-2009, 04:00 PM

I agree with replacing the airlock - sounds like you got some krausen pushed into the old one. Now leave that beer alone for a few weeks and relax!!!!!

dblalock · 07-02-2009, 04:04 PM

Thanks guys. Feel much better!!