First Batch EXPLOSION

[alukaiser]

This morning at 4:30am I was awoken to huge ass explosion from my kitchen. Apparently some hops got stuck between the rubber stopper and the bubbler in my carboy, pressure built up, and it exploded with the fury of a 1000 suns and rocketed into my ceiling, putting a huge dent in it.

Foam starting pouring out all over the place. I hastily put the carboy in a huge bucket to catch the run-off. When it stopped volcanoing, I sanitized the stopper and put it back on.

Am I correct in thinking I haven't jeopardized my batch because of the action of the yeast pushing everything OUT of the system? I highly doubt anything bad would have gotten in while the explosion/eruption was happening.

I'm 99% sure it was because I didn't strain the wort well enough. I don't think this will be a problem when bottling though as the excess hops are stuck to the top of the carboy out of the beer.

 

[superjunior]

your beer will be fine. get yourself a blow off tube, you can go back to the airlock when fermentation settles down. oh and welcome to hbt!

 

[Yooper]

Bet you never mopped your ceiling before, huh?

It'll be fine! As was mentioned, just use a blow off tube and you'll be all set.

I never strain my wort, and the hops just settle out in the end with the trub. No worries!

 

[Dynachrome]

I'm jealous. My buckets never blow up. :-(

 

[alukaiser]

On further inspection, the force of the explosion did indeed break my airlock mechanism. I've set this contraption up until I can get to the local-ish homebrew store tomorrow to get a blow off tube and new airlock. http://i51.tinypic.com/9gg58y.jpg

 

[Yooper]

On further inspection, the force of the explosion did indeed break my airlock mechanism. I've set this contraption up until I can get to the local-ish homebrew store tomorrow to get a blow off tube and new airlock. http://i51.tinypic.com/9gg58y.jpg

That looks like it'll blow again if it gets clogged. I'd suggest going to Lowe's or Home Depot and getting some 1" diameter tubing, sanitize it and jam it in the opening and put the other end into a pitcher of water.

 

[alukaiser]

I agree, but I think the OMG explosion time is over, it only seems like air is coming out, the foaming is pretty much over. I think I'll be ok for four hours until the place opens up (and I've gotten some more sleep )

 

[Hockeyhunter99]

Bet you never mopped your ceiling before, huh?

this should be in the "you know you are no longer a noob when..." posting.

kind of like an initiation right!!

i remember the first time i mopped the ceiling.

 

[JeffB]

I want to see pictures of the roof

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

Lacking an airlock or anything to fashion a blowoff tube, aluminum foil is fine.

 

[Xaphoeous]

is that a 5 gallon batch...in a 5 gallon carboy for primary? Don't you need an awful lot more headspace than that for primary?

 

[Nova5]

That looks like it'll blow again if it gets clogged. I'd suggest going to Lowe's or Home Depot and getting some 1" diameter tubing, sanitize it and jam it in the opening and put the other end into a pitcher of water.

1"? BAH!

1.5"!

 

[blizzard]

i remember the first time i mopped the ceiling.

ha! how many times have you done it now?

 

[Hockeyhunter99]

only twice.

first was a clogged airlock

second i forgot to unclip my blowoff tube. i at least learned to put my buckets in the stand-up shower in my basement. the second was a real noob day

 

[CiscoKid]

Welcome to homebrewing. As you may have noticed by the responses, this has happened to a number of us.

 

[northernlad]

I would love one thread that shouts EXPLOSION!!! to actually contain an explosion.

 

[jfr1111]

1"? BAH!

1.5"!

Lol, that looks strangely Star Wars-ish.

 

[EricT]

1"? BAH!

1.5"!

LOL, this is great. Maybe a little more expensive then a regular blow off tube but functional

 

[Whut]

i remember the first time i mopped the ceiling.

I remember the first time I was shot out of a canon!

Hey OP, welcome to HBT. You can now add the explosion badge to your sash!