Cracked fermentation vessel, what now?

[Tyler B]

Hello all!

I brewed a 10 gallon batch of RIS. It started at 1.098 and finished at 1.032. Yesterday, after one week in primary (I know), I transferred into two separate secondary vessels. I was going to do some experimentation with the split batch. I went to check on them today and one of them has a small hairline crack and the beer is VERY slowly leaking out. Probably a few oz or about 150ish mL per day rate.

I didn't have time to transfer tonight, so I put the leaking glass vessel in a plastic bucket for now so the beer doesn't leak all over the floor.

I didn't really want to transfer to secondary yet in the first place, but ended up doing it for various reasons, so I'd hate to transfer to a tertiary vessel at day 9...

So here is my question. What should I do now? Transfer to tertiary? Bottle and let it age/condition in bottles? Let it sit for a week as is and then bottle? I was originally planning on letting it sit in primary for a couple of weeks, then secondary for a couple of weeks, and then in bottles until it is ready.

Long time reader, first time posting. I thought this was definitely the place to find an answer. Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer.

 

[Miraculix]

You left it as it is?!?! Get it out of the cracked vessel ASAP!!! Those little cracks are constantly expanding, especially when pressure is applied (liquid inside or temperature changes), hurry up and transfer it before the glass gives up completely!

 

[cubalz]

Transfer it out of the cracked vessel immediately. It will continue until failure (in short order) and your beer will be unusable at that point.

 

[jheinikel]

Transfer it a long time ago! That crack will continually expand and slight temp changes will speed it up. Your best bet it to transfer ASAP and it doesn’t matter where to. Just get it into something.

 

[Tyler B]

Thanks for the advice! I transferred to another vessel. I was a little hesitant to do it because it is late evening where I live, I have to work tomorrow, I have kids, and the beer is not at my house. I wasn't sure what to do and didn't realize it was that pressing.

I came here for quick, sound advice and that is exactly what I got. So, thanks, the 10:00PM transfer is now complete!

 

[Remos112]

Thanks for the advice! I transferred to another vessel. I was a little hesitant to do it because it is late evening where I live, I have to work tomorrow, I have kids, and the beer is not at my house. I wasn't sure what to do and didn't realize it was that pressing.

I came here for quick, sound advice and that is exactly what I got. So, thanks, the 10:00PM transfer is now complete!

Good to hear you managed to save your brew. Be careful though when getting rid of the fermenter there is a topic somewhere on this forum about what can happen when one cracks in your hands and it isn't pretty, stitches and severed tendons are no exception.