Im ready to do a blonde ale for my 3rd brew and I've read about everyone using a blow off tube, I know I would need one with a carboy buy I ferment in a 7 and a half gallon bucket, will I ever have krausen come up into the air lock?
Blow off?
- Thread starter Buck33
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Some people have had bucket lids explode off like rocket ships after the airlock got stopped up with krausen. The way I look at it is that it is no harder and there is no ill effect to hooking up a blowoff tube on every beer. Plus, its cool to see and hear the bubbles in the one-gallon glass jar I use.
But to answer your question, yes it is possible that you might need a blow off tube even on a large bucket, but most of the time, an airlock will be just fine.
But to answer your question, yes it is possible that you might need a blow off tube even on a large bucket, but most of the time, an airlock will be just fine.
It's amazing- my hands can barely get that lid off, but I've had a strong fermentation do it easily. They don't just gently lift the lid off either- there is usually a fair amount of splatter that goes along with it. I would agree with the first response. Get some tubing that has the same outside diameter as the drilled hole in your bucket's lid, and run it down into a container of sanitizer.
I'm thinking of doing that from now on with the 1st 3-4 days of primary fermentation. My Cooper's micro brew FV was creaking like an old wooden ship the first few days. When I went to bottle yesterday,I noticed the screw on lid lifted slightly on 1 side. There were dried drips on one side of the fermenter.
I have been fortunate to not have any major messes. I wrap a towel arounf the bucket and overlap the lid and that has kept the lid at least ontop of the bucket. After my last blown top and experience I decided to just always go with a blow off for the first week or so.
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KevinW
Well-Known Member
I was almost offended by the title of this thread before I realilzed it was not about me:cross:
Yeah I have succomed to the reality that a blow off tube is not a bad idea, I had "accidentally" made a starter with a packet of Nottingham dry and next morning I just caught the airlock filling up with krauzen, boy was I lucky.
You can always replace the tube with an airlock after the active stage ends!
Yeah I have succomed to the reality that a blow off tube is not a bad idea, I had "accidentally" made a starter with a packet of Nottingham dry and next morning I just caught the airlock filling up with krauzen, boy was I lucky.
You can always replace the tube with an airlock after the active stage ends!
ThePearsonFam
Well-Known Member
I've been pretty fortunate. I brew 5 gallon batches and ferment in a 6.5 gal carboy. I've always used the 2 piece airlocks and have never had a problem, even with my more extreme ferments (starters in higher gravity with high krausen styles). There is certainly NOTHING wrong with using a blow-off tube as a form of insurance though. If you're worried about it and the tube makes you feel better about the process, then it was a wise decision to use one.
mrduna01
Well-Known Member
I recently had an airlock disaster in a 6 gallon carboy with an imperial stout. I still have wort on my sealing believe it or not. Once this happens to you you will use a blow off tube everytime. You can read about my experience in my understanding wives post. 
Caboose
Well-Known Member
My 1st batch I used an airlock just fine, but when right before starting my 2nd I saw everyone talking about using a blowoff tube on the primary. I havent experienced anything going wrong (yet) but its almost completely unanimous that a blow off is a good idea for the primary. So I will take their personal experiences and make my life a hell of a lot easier!
