Has anyone ever experience this. Been using this glass carboy for many years. Was fermenting a strong Belgian Ale (OG 1.078). Was 3 days into fermentation. Temp was 72 and heavy fermentation was over. Checked on it before going @ 7:30 PM and blow off tube was bubbling at a slow rate. Woke up the next morning to this (see pictures). Glass was all over the basement. 5" chunks hit the stucco wall 20 feet away and chipped the wall. Fine glass shards everywhere. Needless to say a very nice ale was sitting in a pool on the floor.
If someone had been standing next to it when it happened...not good. It baffles me how so much pressure could have built up that late in the fermentation process. The bung did not move one bit in then neck of the carboy but it was definitely in their tight, in hindsight probably too tight. I have to assume there was a latent failure of the carboy due to a condition that was undetectable to the naked eye. I am going back to plastic.
If someone had been standing next to it when it happened...not good. It baffles me how so much pressure could have built up that late in the fermentation process. The bung did not move one bit in then neck of the carboy but it was definitely in their tight, in hindsight probably too tight. I have to assume there was a latent failure of the carboy due to a condition that was undetectable to the naked eye. I am going back to plastic.