Beer in Airlock

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AhrenKaie

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Brewed Caribou Slobber Brown Ale from NB last month, and noticed beer on the floor in my garage surrounding the carboy. Active fermentation to say the least. Anyway, I also noticed that the sanitizing solution in the airlock had been contaminated with some of the blowoff. I made sure the airlock was still tightly sealed, but left everything alone, for fear of contaminating the batch.

2 weeks later, I bottled the beer, noticing a thick, spongy "head" in the mouth of the carboy (obviously left over from the blowoff). Beer has been bottle conditioning for 2 weeks now.

Will either the beer in the airlock or the strange, spongy stuff in the carboy indicate that the beer will be a FAIL? Lol.
 
The spongy stuff is just leftover krausen residue (foam created by fermenting beer).

No, nothing you described indicates that the batch will be bad.

Next time use a blowoff tube, and make sure you are keeping your fermentation temps in check.

If you get beer in your airlock, it won't hurt anything to remove the airlock, clean/sanitize it, and stick it back in. A few minutes without an airlock won't hurt anything, especially during active fermentation.
 
I hear a lot about blowoff tubes and krausen in the airlock.

I've only ever used a bucket for primary and never experienced the need for blowoff tube.

Anyone care to comment on the dis/advantages of carboy primary?

I think the carbon dioxide in the carboy would have displaced any oxygen. and unless you breached the seal you probably did not get contamination.

Stuff coming out is not as hazardous as something coming in. If it were me I would use a clean hand and gently wash everything outside with vodka. Just to kill anything that might try to grow on the exterior and might hitchhike during racking or bottling.

-A-
 
Anyone care to comment on the dis/advantages of carboy primary?

While we're at it, what are the advantages/disadvantages of employing a secondary fermenter?

Should I rehydrate my dry yeast or just sprinkle it in? Should I make a starter with it?

Should I filter my beer? Should I shake the keg to carbonate it faster?

Did I miss any? :)
 
While we're at it, what are the advantages/disadvantages of employing a secondary fermenter?

Should I rehydrate my dry yeast or just sprinkle it in? Should I make a starter with it?

Should I filter my beer? Should I shake the keg to carbonate it faster?

Did I miss any? :)

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Why should I bother with either when I can BIAB?

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We really are an argumentative bunch, at times. :fro:
 
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