Exploding airlock and LOTS of crap on top

[Embyr]

I made the Brewers Best English Brown Ale last night and put the fermenter (glass carboy, 5 gal) in a dark, temp-steady place over night. It was okay this morning when I looked, but had "exploded" out the airlock when I came home from work at 6:00 this evening. I'm fairly sure the airlock got plugged because there's a very large amount of sludge packed in the "head space" of the carboy. Two questions:

1. Is the beer ruined?
2. If not, how do I proceed?

I can provide additional details if necessary. Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh, one more thing: this is my second home brew. Ever.

 

[ArcticBear]

1. Your beer will be fine
2. Pull your airlock, rinse, resanitize, replace
3. Grab a beer
4. Profit

 

[Embyr]

Thats what my gut was telling me to do, which is good. Problem is, its oooooooozing foam. Any reason not to follow the "rinse, repeat" advice?

 

[stvcoburn]

You used a 5 gal carboy for a 5 gal batch, I assume. You need a 6.5 gal to give you enough head space.

Your beer's fine.

 

[lowtones84]

Yeah, if you used a 5 gallon carboy for your 5 gallon batch, you didn't allow any space for krausen. If this is the case, you should really rig up a blowoff tube or else you'll constantly be cleaning your airlock and other potential messes. Have some siphon tubing you could sanitize and use as a blowoff tube?

 

[Embyr]

I do, as a matter of fact. Is it as easy as running the hose thru the stopper and into some water on the other end?

 

[alane1]

If it's still foaming over attach a sanitized blow off tube(the vinyl tube from your racking cane should work) to the carboy bung, and place the other end in a pot or pan slightly submerged in sanitizing solution.

 

[mike20793]

yea just water with sanitizer in it.

 

[ArcticBear]

I do, as a matter of fact. Is it as easy as running the hose thru the stopper and into some water on the other end?

Sanitized water (a bottle/growler with star San in it)

 

[h4mmy86]

I was really just hoping for some pics

...sorry for the lack of help

 

[HopJuicer]

Welcome to the club! I still have some hops on my garage ceiling. It reminds me to use a blow off tube to start fermentation.

 

[Trophy_Brew21]

1. Your beer will be fine
2. Pull your airlock, rinse, resanitize, replace
3. Grab a beer
4. Profit

+1

 

[ASassyBeerChick83]

1. Your beer will be fine
2. Pull your airlock, rinse, resanitize, replace
3. Grab a beer
4. Profit

I just brewed the first beer last night - came home - and this exact same situation happened to me. Totally did this exact same thing - resanitized the airlock and placed it back on my car boy.

... Then had a cold brew.


Peace. Love. & Beer.
Cheers!