snailsongs
Well-Known Member
I kid you not, as I was sitting down to my pc to write a post about my 6th brew day, and how successful it was, how I felt like I was in control and had a good understanding of what I was doing and why I was doing it, how everything ran smoothly, and I didn't need to consult any last minute or emergency directions of fixes, I was feeling really good about things. I made a double starter out of two smack packs two days ago because I wanted to ensure that the strong extra stout would ferment as cleanly and fully as possible. I even hit my target gravity on the head for the first time! Nevermind the fact that I almost eliminated any lag-time, as the airlock started bubbling slowly within 3-hours.
Oh, and because that gravity was relatively high (1.073), I was aware that I might need a blowoff tube for the first time. But I was feeling really good bout this batch of beer......first full success......
....So I fastened together a blowoff by cramming my siphoning tube (all I had available yesterday) inside of the inner airlock shaft, as that was the only way I could join the two. This morning, early, I woke up and came downstairs and sat at my computer drinking coffee and reading some of the posts on this excellent forum site. MY fermentor sat 8 feet behind me on a makeshift shelf, squealing and spitting from a small spot at the lids edge, and farting and burping non-stop into the jug of sanitizer the tube was resting in. About 45 minutes ago, as I was laughing heartily about cops and neighbors and misunderstandings over brewing equipment, BOOM!!! gunfire!
the lid of my fermentor clattered to the ground, along with several itemsthat were resting on the makesift shelf near the fermentor, and my walls, ceiling, floor, are covered in beer vomit.
So, I quickly mixed up soem fresh sanitizer and washed the lid and tubing, and this time I placed the tube directly into the opening in the lid, thinking that the tiny spigot tip of the airlock is the most likely spot for a clog to occur. Now it sits, pushing foam and air through the tube furiously, as before. What I'm worried about is whether or not the tube can handle the blowoff.
I can't believe how powerful and violent the fermentation is. I'm forced to ask you all, what now? How many days should I continue to worry that my fermentor is going to blow up again, and is there something better I could rig to ensure it doesn't. right now it's taking turns getting slightly backed up with foam and then bursting out with a flurry of bubbles all at once,which in turn seems to suck the next bit of clogging foam into the tube. wtf, guys and gals?
Oh, and because that gravity was relatively high (1.073), I was aware that I might need a blowoff tube for the first time. But I was feeling really good bout this batch of beer......first full success......
....So I fastened together a blowoff by cramming my siphoning tube (all I had available yesterday) inside of the inner airlock shaft, as that was the only way I could join the two. This morning, early, I woke up and came downstairs and sat at my computer drinking coffee and reading some of the posts on this excellent forum site. MY fermentor sat 8 feet behind me on a makeshift shelf, squealing and spitting from a small spot at the lids edge, and farting and burping non-stop into the jug of sanitizer the tube was resting in. About 45 minutes ago, as I was laughing heartily about cops and neighbors and misunderstandings over brewing equipment, BOOM!!! gunfire!
the lid of my fermentor clattered to the ground, along with several itemsthat were resting on the makesift shelf near the fermentor, and my walls, ceiling, floor, are covered in beer vomit.
So, I quickly mixed up soem fresh sanitizer and washed the lid and tubing, and this time I placed the tube directly into the opening in the lid, thinking that the tiny spigot tip of the airlock is the most likely spot for a clog to occur. Now it sits, pushing foam and air through the tube furiously, as before. What I'm worried about is whether or not the tube can handle the blowoff.
I can't believe how powerful and violent the fermentation is. I'm forced to ask you all, what now? How many days should I continue to worry that my fermentor is going to blow up again, and is there something better I could rig to ensure it doesn't. right now it's taking turns getting slightly backed up with foam and then bursting out with a flurry of bubbles all at once,which in turn seems to suck the next bit of clogging foam into the tube. wtf, guys and gals?
