Blown Up Fermenter

PDonn63 · Mar 27, 2014

I went big on a beer last night, used a blow-off tube, and still had a HUGE mess this morning. I have a couple of questions for you guys, but I'll outline the brew first.

About a three weeks ago, I brewed a blonde (pale ale?) with the intention of bottling and adding my big beer directly to the yeast cake.

The first beer was 3 gallons final volume with OG 1.05 - very basic as I didn't want to impart flavor to the next brew.

7 lbs 2-row pale malt.
.2oz Citra 60 mins.
.25oz Citra 20 mins.
1 vial White Labs Irish Ale in 1000ml starter on stir plate 36 hours

Mashed at 150F

90min. boil

45 seconds O2/O2stone

The big beer I was going for was an Imperial Irish Red (hence the yeast choice previously)

Final Volume 3.25 gallons OG 1.08

11lbs Pale ale Malt
7oz Crystal 20
3oz Organic Roasted Barley
1.2oz E Kent Goldings 60 mins
.3oz E Kent Goldings 20mins

Boil 90 mins

1 minute O2/O2stone

When there was about 20 or so minutes left on the boil, I bottled the first beer, covered the carboy with sanitized foil and chilled the Red to 64F. Poured onto the yeast cake in original 5 gallon carboy, hit it with the O2 and secured blow off tube. Everything went off perfectly - hit the OG and volumes I was looking for and the color already looks spot on. By the time I was done cleaning my gear, it was already showing signs it had started. I know that pitching onto an old cake can cause a violent fermentation, but I figured the blow off tube and head space would compensate. I went to bed, came down, and my blow off tube was literally blown 10 feet across the room and about a gallon of wort was on the floor. I cleaned up everything and gave the outside of the carboy a good scrub with Starsan.

Sorry, I was too groggy to remember to take a picture - it was epic.

Two questions after all of that:

Anybody have this happen and still have a successful brew (no contamination)? I'd hate go through all of the work to come up with a spoiled brew.

Second, the plan was to rack to a 3 gallon carboy and age it, but now I'm stuck with an odd 2.25-2.50 gallon volume which will turn to 2 after trub - I'd rather not rack to two one gallon jugs, so maybe just let it sit in primary a month or so and age in bottles?

Thanks for the suggestions!

fmr_army · Mar 27, 2014

I've had some serious blowoff, but never one that blew like that. Congrats, I guess!

I've done plenty of stupid things to my beers, and never had one get bad. You didn't add anything to the fermenting beer - it just evicted the blowoff tube - so there shouldn't be any real issue with outside contaminants. For heaven sake, it blew the tube across the room so I doubt anything short of a Stuka would make it into the fermentation vessel.

I wouldn't change your plan at all. Rack it over into the 3 gallon carboy and accept that you'll have extra headspace. Now that I think about it, how about racking a day or two earlier than you would normally? That would give the still-fermenting-beer the chance to push out the air from your slightly larger headspace.

I have to confess that you've made me nervous. I have an IPA that's ready to move over and I am planning to pitch the next batch right onto the cake. My wife would skin me if I have a blowout like you described.

thegreatmaibockaddict · Mar 27, 2014

I have old splotch marks all over the place....

Usually this happens to me when I make a very high gravity beer and re-pitch yeast, so I am right there with you. Never had a contamination problem. When the yeast takes over that fast, any usual baddies that can get in are pushed aside by the brewers yeast. So no worries there.

The solution to the problem is to chill the beer even more to slow the yeast down. I use ice packs and a wet towel or two around the carboy. The vigorous fermentation will generate lots of heat on its own, so pitching cold needs to be supplemented. Keep a sharp eye on it as best you can. Surprised to see the blow off tube didn't work. Must have gotten clogged.

helibrewer · Mar 27, 2014

FermCap might help with future big brews. I fashioned a blowoff with 3/4" PVC using a silicone hood (fits on the outside of the carboy neck). Just pressure fit it using (2) 90 degree elbows and the appropriate straight sections, easy to pull apart and clean and it won't clog.