Hefe.... Wort in Airlock

[berky]

Hey there,

First post here. I've read some great information that helped me out with my first batch (an extract IPA). Now it's time for a question.

I'm brewing my second batch, an extract hefeweizen and it's been fermenting for about 16 hours. I'm using a 3 piece airlock, the bubbler kind filled w/ water. I'm doing the primary fermentation in a bucket. The top of the bucket is convex, and there's foam/wort/krauzen (not sure) in the air lock. Is this a problem, ie. should I clean it out and replace it with water? The water that was originally in it has bubbled out and is sitting on the top of the lid. It's still bubbling, so maybe it's not a problem.

Just wondering.
Thanks!
-Bryan

 

[user 4295]

The lid of your bucket is convex because there is CO2 pressure building up inside. You are experiencing what is called a "blow off". The krausen, (foam) due to your aggressive fermentation, has gotten so high in the bucket that it does not have anywhere else to go, but out! This is common with wheat beers.

I think you can see the problem here. If the tiny little opening in the air lock gets plugged up with that sticky junk, the pressure will build up and the lid will blow off, and you will have a very big mess.

I would suggest running to the hardware store and pick up some clear vinyl tubing that will fit into the opening in the bucket lid that you currently have your air lock in. Sanitize the tubing, spray some sanitizer around the hole in the lid, remove the air lock and insert the tubing into the hole. Now get a container of some type, I use an old 1 gallon wine jug, fill it with several inches of water, and place the other end of the tubing into it. This will allow the fermenter to blow off the foam and CO2. When the fermentation dies down in a couple of days you can sanitize the 3 piece air lock and reinstall it.

Here is a photo of the largest blow off I have ever experienced.

John

 

[sirsloop]

if the krausen gets too high you'l literally blow the air lock right off the top of the fermenter. If its already in the lock at 16 hours, then I think you have a serious problem on your hands.

Dont let it go, the pressure WILL blow the air lock clean off the top!!!!

 

[Muntzster]

wow thats huge

 

[berky]

Thanks for the inputs. I ran out and got some 1/4" tubing thinking it'd be the right size but it turned out I needed 1/2". Still wasn't quite big enough so I just wrapped some electrical tape around a spot to ensure a tight fit into the lid. The krausen is now in that tubing.

I'm glad I caught it early. I knew a blowoff would be possible but I guess I had to see it to believe it. Glad I didn't really see it

 

[Levers101]

As a stopgap I hack sawed the bottom of the 3 piece airlock off to widen the opening of the airlock on my last Hefe ferment. I of course sanitized it well before replacing and if I remember correctly it worked okay from then on. My bucket wasn't completely air-tight, also and I don't think it would have blown its top because it was venting CO2 from around the seal. Man, did I ever need to scrub the whole lid after that ferment.

 

[user 4295]

Thanks for the inputs. I ran out and got some 1/4" tubing thinking it'd be the right size but it turned out I needed 1/2". Still wasn't quite big enough so I just wrapped some electrical tape around a spot to ensure a tight fit into the lid. The krausen is now in that tubing.

I'm glad I caught it early. I knew a blowoff would be possible but I guess I had to see it to believe it. Glad I didn't really see it

Nicely done! Also, nice job on improvising with the electrical tape to increase the OD of the tubing to get a tight fit. You did sanitize everything right? I'm sure you did. What did you end up improvising for a blow off container. I've seen people use some pretty odd things.

Congratulations on your first blow off! The fact that you caught it in time, knew to ask questions, and took immediate action, in response to advice, to avoid a disaster bodes well for your future in home brewing.

John

 

[berky]

Nicely done! Also, nice job on improvising with the electrical tape to increase the OD of the tubing to get a tight fit. You did sanitize everything right? I'm sure you did. What did you end up improvising for a blow off container. I've seen people use some pretty odd things.

Congratulations on your first blow off! The fact that you caught it in time, knew to ask questions, and took immediate action, in response to advice, to avoid a disaster bodes well for your future in home brewing.

John

Thanks man. I grabbed an empty growler for the blowoff container. It's kinda funny though, I bought 6 feet of the tubing (call me paranoid). So there's a bunch of krausen in the tube, but it hasn't actually made it's way into the growler. In fact it looks like it is settling back into the bucket. The lid is no longer convex and if I press down on it no more krausen is forced out. It's been fermenting for 48 hours now. Is it possible that the krausen is settling and I can replace the tube with the airlock?

Too bad I'm using a bucket vs. my glass carboy I've got for secondary and can't see anything going on.... I might make the switch to carboys from now on.

 

[user 4295]

When I first used a blow off tube I also had a long length of it. I was told by someone more experienced than me at the time to make it just as long as it needs to be to create a nice sweeping arc right into the blow off container (as shown in my photo above), with no possibility of kinking. This will reduce the chance of any sticky krausen foam from plugging up the tube.

There is a good chance at 48 hours that the krausen has started to fall back. You will be fermenting in the primary for 10-14 days so there is no rush to remove the blow off tube.

How often is the blow off tubing bubbling in the growler with the water in it? I would wait another day or two before sanitizing, and reinstalling the air lock. Some guys don't even bother and just leave the blow off tube in until they either bottle or rack to the secondary. It's up to you.

I agree with you about fermenting in a carboy. The violent first stages of fermentation are more fun to watch than TV. Keep up the good work!

John

 

[drocu]

Thanks for the inputs. I ran out and got some 1/4" tubing thinking it'd be the right size but it turned out I needed 1/2". Still wasn't quite big enough so I just wrapped some electrical tape around a spot to ensure a tight fit into the lid. The krausen is now in that tubing.

I'm glad I caught it early. I knew a blowoff would be possible but I guess I had to see it to believe it. Glad I didn't really see it

Thanks for the idea about using electrical tape. I just had the same issue with wort appearing in my airlock and blowing out of the top of the airlock. I only had 1/4" OD tubing, like you, and the electrical tape made a nice seal with just 3-4 wraps.

I'm sure this'll settle down in a day or so and then I'll replace with a clean airlock. This is mostly for piece of mind.

 

[Toy4Rick]

I used a blow off tube on this batch of Hef and at 1:05AM this morning, there was this loud bang. Got up, put on my glasses and was getting mentally prepared for a huge mess when my daughter emerged from the upstairs bathroom and apologized that she dropped her cell phone (on the tile floor) boy was I relieved :cross:

Like many here, my Hef had tons of blow off, really must watch it

Toy4Rick