Flying Bugs or Falling Air-locks?

[Blue-Frog]

Dr Lambic mentioned dedicating plastic and rubber items used for sour brewing to sour brewing... he mentions air-locks ...

Why air locks?
If they do not fall into the beer, is this really necessary?

 

[jekeane]

my guess is simple proximity. CO2 Gas floating out the airlock can also carry bugs with it I assume although i certainly could be wrong. The pellicle in my brett belgian pale is all over the carboy and certainly has touched the bung and airlock tip.

 

[Blue-Frog]

I guess so. I currently have a blackberry wine must that went all "filmy" - at last check it still tasted nice and fruit juicy... As I am going to do sours anyway, I don't mind but I would rather not buy new things if I didn't have to. If I see a pelicule it is pretty much clear that I am at risk going back to clean fermentation with that equipment?

 

[m00ps]

my rule is all plastic gets dedicated to permanently sour. Anything glass is reusable with clean fermentation so long as it gets a PBW soak

 

[Dcpcooks]

Krausen rises touches your airlock and stopper. Falls back into you fermentor bringing some bugs with it. You just spent $80 bucks on grain and gave up a Saturday to brew that awesome RIP stout that you want to age in your new $150 bourbon barrel and now you have bugs in your beer and barrel. Or you could buy a 1.50 airlock?

 

[crane]

As others have mentioned why risk it when these items are so cheap. Penny wise pound foolish