Help - stopper in primary

[roxbob]

OK, long story short, I was trying to force a rubber stopper not quite the right size into the carboy I'm using as the primary fermenter for a Classic American Pilsner, and it popped through and fell in, and the airlock pulled out. So now I have 6 gallons of wort with the yeast pitched, with a stopper sitting at the bottom.

So, will this cause off flavors, or is it inert? What do you think the greater risk is here - off flavors from a stopper in the primary fermentation vessel, or contamination from racking the newly pitched wort into a bucket, and then back into the carboy once I somehow get the stopper out?

 

[Andymillah]

I'm thinking yes. Sounds like you might be at risk of contamination.

 

[StusBrew]

Get a new stopper. Leave stopper in fermenter until done. Limit contamination. I have like 4 or 5 bungs and airlocks. Just in case.

 

[aking]

I have done this as well... I just racked into another carboy. The real question is how are you going to get the stopper out?

 

[roxbob]

I have no idea how I'm going to get it out. I'll cross that bridge when I get there...

I'm thinking I'm going to leave it. I know the stopper is clean (soaked in PBW overnight and was sitting in star San before use), and since this is my only 6.5 gallon carboy, I'd need to rack to a bucket, get the stopper out, and then rack back into the carboy. Seems like the risk would be higher with the transfers, but if anyone has any other thoughts, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[TheWeeb]

easy... I had to use this just last month

 

[dan_rouse]

I've done it. I soak my stoppers in my starsan solution, so no risk of contamination. However, the wetted stopper is the reason it slid through the glass carboy opening.

I left it in throughout primary, and had no off flavors. I think I grabbed it with needle nose pliers to get it out. I just remember that it was much easier to get out than I thought it would be.

Now, if I use my glass carboy, I apply less pressure to the stopper when putting it in, and wrap the thing with duct tape to keep it from moving. Once the starsan solution dries, it creates a tight seal. Any time I mess with it (gravity readings, etc.), I repeat the process with the starsan. I guess I'm really infection risk averse.

 

[mikescooling]

Your fine, get it out after you rack. LOL

 

[brewinchef_fairfax]

The Youtube video is genius!

 

[aking]

Nice video!

 

[mikescooling]

That's a party trick with a wine bottle, that also works with a carboy.

 

[tlayton92]

I have no idea how I'm going to get it out. I'll cross that bridge when I get there...

I'm thinking I'm going to leave it. I know the stopper is clean (soaked in PBW overnight and was sitting in star San before use), and since this is my only 6.5 gallon carboy, I'd need to rack to a bucket, get the stopper out, and then rack back into the carboy. Seems like the risk would be higher with the transfers, but if anyone has any other thoughts, please let me know.

Thanks!

I did the same thing a few months back if you superglue washer to a 3 inch long quarter inch bolt you can just kind of work it out