I always see blowoff tubes on glass carboys but never on the buckets. I shoved my 3/8" tubing (or is it 1/2") in the rubber bung on the top for my last brew. It was my first brew using a stepped up starter and I'm glad I did it. Are there any other ways to get a larger tube to avoid clogging or any other theories out there. Thanks
Blowoff tube for a bucket
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jescholler
Well-Known Member
Look at this picture and you'll see a blowoff tube on a bucket.
http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt19/jescholler/amber_and_gold.jpg
I don't see any reason not to do it. The bucket in the picture is a 6.5 gallon bucket. My 1st batch was a recipe kit, so I started out with 5 gallons volume and didn't have any krausen in the tube. My last two batches I developed on my own, so they were 5.5 gallons. I also used a starter, so I I think those two factors led to having some krausen in the tube.
I think the reason why you don't see them too often on buckets is because the 6.5 gallon buckets are pretty common and if you do a 5 gallon batch, there a lot of headroom. That would be OK for most beers. With a carboy (usually 6 gallons), the smaller amount of headroom makes the krausen more likely to reach the top. Also, I think it's easier for the krausen to climb the walls of the carboy with the taper at the top.
Either way, I think a blowoff tube is a must for primary fermentation. Once it's in the secondary (if you use one), the fermentation is less intense, and the krausen is mostly absent. Then the airlock is the way I prefer to go.
http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt19/jescholler/amber_and_gold.jpg
I don't see any reason not to do it. The bucket in the picture is a 6.5 gallon bucket. My 1st batch was a recipe kit, so I started out with 5 gallons volume and didn't have any krausen in the tube. My last two batches I developed on my own, so they were 5.5 gallons. I also used a starter, so I I think those two factors led to having some krausen in the tube.
I think the reason why you don't see them too often on buckets is because the 6.5 gallon buckets are pretty common and if you do a 5 gallon batch, there a lot of headroom. That would be OK for most beers. With a carboy (usually 6 gallons), the smaller amount of headroom makes the krausen more likely to reach the top. Also, I think it's easier for the krausen to climb the walls of the carboy with the taper at the top.
Either way, I think a blowoff tube is a must for primary fermentation. Once it's in the secondary (if you use one), the fermentation is less intense, and the krausen is mostly absent. Then the airlock is the way I prefer to go.
BioBeing
Well-Known Member
1/2 inch ID tubing over the center tube of a 3 piece airlock. Don't forget to cut the cross bit off the bottom of the airlock.
jescholler
Well-Known Member
I forgot to add that I removed my grommet so that I could fit a larger diameter tube in there. It's a nice tight fit and it's actually being put to the test right now. I'll report back if there's an explosion!
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1/2 inch ID tubing over the center tube of a 3 piece airlock. Don't forget to cut the cross bit off the bottom of the airlock.
Same here.
Actually you just haven't seen it since you are new here...My airlock blowoff tube pics have been floating around here for a over a year...
A lot of people use it. The trick is to cut off the criss cross on the bottom of the airlocks....
A lot of people use it. The trick is to cut off the criss cross on the bottom of the airlocks....
OMG, yes, if your airlocks have the litle cross hair of plastic, cut the end off or you'll end up with an airlock missle at about 3am. Trust me. (note, it's not always 3am.. usually some time when you are asleep though.)
jescholler
Well-Known Member
My gosh ODaniel. Can you give us some details on the recipe. That's quite the blowoff. Good work!
Haha. Here are 2 videos of it: In the second video I cracked the lid just in case, and it was still doing that when I got home from work late that night.
[youtube]NXhp_bkO5nQ[/youtube]
[youtube]RV9WhZ-vnNY[/youtube]
I rehydrated 4 packets of Nottingham yeast and threw that slurry in there. I'm guessing they all had a massive crazy party. Here's the recipe though. When I made the recipe I made it for 75% efficiency, not thinking that lower efficiency would mean more IBUs. I ended up with 60% efficiency so that's why the IBUs are so high.
Code:
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.84 gal
Estimated OG: 1.091 SG
Estimated Color: 59.1 SRM
Estimated IBU: 105.0 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 60.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes
Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
14.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 63.64 %
3.00 lb Barley, Flaked (1.7 SRM) Grain 13.64 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
1.00 lb Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
0.50 lb Black (Patent) Malt (500.0 SRM) Grain 2.27 %
0.50 lb Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain 2.27 %
2.00 oz Challenger [7.50 %] (60 min) Hops 41.9 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (60 min) Hops 12.6 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (40 min) Hops 11.0 IBU
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (30 min) Hops 10.7 IBU
1.00 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (20 min) Hops 7.6 IBU
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (20 min) Hops 8.5 IBU
1.00 oz Challenger [7.50 %] (20 min) Hops 12.7 IBU
4 Pkgs Nottingham Yeast (Lallemand #-) Yeast-Ale
Mash Schedule: My Mash
Total Grain Weight: 22.00 lb
----------------------------
My Mash
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
120 min Mash Add 22.00 qt of water at 172.1 F 153.0 FHopefully it turns out good. Not expecting awesome, but I hope it's good at least. Go big or go home, live and learn.
jescholler
Well-Known Member
That's pretty cool. Maybe by bottling/kegging time, you'll have about 2 gallons 
Keep us posted.
Keep us posted.
pdizz
Member
I wish I had seen this yesterday. I just had my 3 piece blow off and kreusen oozing on the floor while my blowoff tube was sanitizing. Why do all my hobbies end up including high speed projectiles?
