Krausen went Karazy, is this still ok?

[DrSanta]

So we made two beers last Wednesday. One was a Belgian Style Ale, the other: an Oktoberfest.

It's our first time using carboys and we didn't have a blow off tube -- a mistake we won't let happen again. As the title suggested, things got a bit explosives for the first three to four days.

Despite the nastiness of this image, the exterior of the carboys have been cleaned up to 5 times, and the valves have been cleaned and sanitized, so we should be ok there (we hope).

However, the Krausen Krap is caked on the top of the carboys like plaque in an artery. Regular fermentation is now proceeding, but a few quick questions:

1. Do you think this beer is going to be ok?

2. Is such violent activity normal, or is this a symptom that we did something wrong? We tried to cool the wort down as much as possible before pitching (70 degrees).

3. How the heck should we clean this up? Rent a jackhammer?

Thanks,
Dr Santa

 

[jezter6]

You're fine, violent activity is quite normal with certain yeast strains/temperatures/etc.

Your beer will be fine, why wouldn't it be? So some snuck out - you'll be a little short on your final volume, but it'll still be good beer.

As to cleaning it -- good luck on that. Do you have a tub/trash can bigger than the carboy? if so - fill that up hardcore and dump some oxyclean in it.

 

[Evan!]

It's fine. The biggest risk at this point, which I have experienced firsthand with early, heavy blowoffs, is that you've blown off a good chunk of the viable yeast, and depending on the health of the remaining cells, you may get a stalled fermentation. But there ain't much you can do about that now. In the future, get yourself some fermcap or defoamer, that'll help. But yeah, this is pretty normal.

As for cleanup---the stuff on the inside of the carboy can be taken care of with a simple oxyclean soak. The stuff on the outside, just spray down with simple green or some other cleaner or a degreaser, and scrub away.

 

[Trubadour]

RDWHAHB :d

 

[DrSanta]

OK, great. Thanks again folks.

RDWHAHB :d

Done and Done. And I mean done.