Fermentation overflow

[1710trout]

This will be my first Belgian Strong Ale. I pitched the yeast last night and when I got up this morning there was some activity. Came home for lunch and the fermentation cap blew off with a lot of foam coming out the top. I couldn't get to the supply store until this evening to purchase a cap and overflow tube. When I got home it stopped foaming out of the carboy but fermentation activity is still strong. My question is, is there a good possibility that the batch has become contaminated with out a cap on for most of today?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[kev211]

Probably not. the fermentation produces CO2. If it was vigorous enough to blow your cap off and it was still fermenting a lot (which sounds like it obviously was) then it A. created enough of a blanket of CO2 to protect your beer, and B. was probably blowing it out the top. Just get a blow off on there soon before it slows down.

Obviously its not an ideal situation, but chances are, youre fine.

Edit: Welcome to the forums by the way!

 

[GHBWNY]

For future, a blow-off tube is preferable to an airlock for high-grav beers and wheats. How many gals is your batch and fermenter? You can start with a blow-off and after a few days, switch to an airlock if you want. Agree with kev211, this should be no problem. If you do switch out b-o/airlock, obviously, be sure to re-sanitize. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[TriggerHappy]

I would say you are probably safe, CO2 blowing off and lots of active yeast will overtake anything trying to get in there. I use blow off tubes on everything at the start of ferment.

 

[Squidmanoo7]

Probably not. the fermentation produces CO2. If it was vigorous enough to blow your cap off and it was still fermenting a lot (which sounds like it obviously was) then it A. created enough of a blanket of CO2 to protect your beer, and B. was probably blowing it out the top. Just get a blow off on there soon before it slows down.

Obviously its not an ideal situation, but chances are, youre fine.

Edit: Welcome to the forums by the way!

^I'd have to agree that's why u put the sanitizer/water in the airlock if you look the airlock has holes for it to release the co2

 

[kh54s10]

It is probably good to go.

In the future rig a blow off tube at the start of EVERY fermentation.....

 

[Squidmanoo7]

U will be ok airlock has little holes in the cap anyways for release of co2 I had that problem a few weeks ago and ended up getting a 6.5 gallon carboy and it works great no overflow problems

 

[1710trout]

Thanks everyone for the info! I place a cap with overflow tube. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[kev211]

Thanks everyone for the info! I place a cap with overflow tube. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Did you make sure to get that blowoff tube into a bucket of sanitized water?

 

[unionrdr]

I rigged a section of 3/8" tubing with the stem I cut off an old airlock inserted in one end. This'll fit the airlock grommet. Then the other end into a half gallon cheapy vodka jug 1/3 full of water & Starsan mix. Kinda magnifies the bloop-bloop like Cavofonic sound...