Head into Airlock

[Matt_W]

Yesterday I brewed a Belgian Quad. As it was supposed to have an OG of 1090 I pitched a 2000ml yeast starter that was quite active when pitched.

Today after work I checked on it and found that the foam head almost filled the 6.5 gallon fermentor (big mouth bubbler) and that the head had gotten into the airlock and the airlock had overflowed.

At this point the head has backed down a bit and isn't now coming into contact with the bung and airlock.

I have cleaned up the airlock overflow and there is still fluid in the airlock, albeit brownish from the overflow.

What, if anything should I do? Should I at least clear the airlock and refill with sanitized water?

 

[zam216]

Just had the same thing happen to me on a belgian quad. I caught it early enough to put a blow off on before the air lock would have blew off and that still didn't help me get wort all over my freezer from the blow off overflowing from krausen. God damn WLP 530!!!!!!!

Anyway what you could and probably should get in the habit of doing is putting blow offs on for big beers and beers using monster yeast strains like your quad most likely is. Basic way is to get a tube put it inside the hole of your bung and run it into a growler filled with star san. Other option gives better relief is to get a large ID tube that fits the mouth of your carboy if you use one and run into a star san solution.

 

[Michigan_Wolfman]

Had the same thing happen with a cream ale I brewed. Think it was either Saf-Ale US 05 or White Labs Cream Ale Blend, I'll have to check my notes later. Anyhow, I wiped up the overflow using a sponge soaked in sanitizer and replaced the airlock with a sanitized blow off hose with the end submerged in a jar of sanitizing solution, and the beer still turned out great.