Danek
Well-Known Member
I'm about to start my first batch of beer, and have a small query. The books I've read mention using a blow-off tube from the primary fermenter to start with, and then using an airlock after that. However, the fermenter I've got is a 5 gallon plastic bucket with lid, but no hole for either a pipe or airlock. Is this likely to be a problem? I've not yet witnessed the fermentation process first hand, but from what I gather it can get quite lively, so I'm thinking that I should at least leave the lid open a tiny amount for the CO2 to escape - and perhaps use a little less than five gallons of wort to ease the pressure in the fermenter a bit. Do you think this will be adequate, or am I likely to get krauzen bursting out across the floor? At some point in the future I intend to drill a hole in the lid to fit an airlock, though I won't be able to get to the HBS for a few weeks, and I'd like to start a batch before then. Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated!