Mid First Brew -- Question!

[brewshki]

Is this something I should get like...asap?

I can hit the homebrew store tmrw.

This would mean taking off the airlock...which I'm thinking you want to leave alone no?

I would leave it alone. The worst that will happen now is that you will have a blow off (the krausen and some beer will come out the top). Since your carboy is in a swamp cooler, there is no real danger of anything getting messy. If the blow off happens (which it might not because beer making still has some sort of magic in it), just clean everything up, resanitize your bung and airlock and put it back on. When you are cleaning the airlock, cover the top of the carboy with a sanitized piece of foil.

 

[jerbrew]

I have had a carboy explode because of a clogged airlock. Not to cause alarm or make you think this will happen but it can. It doesn't take much pressure to get a glass carboy bottom to brake.

That being said, get a proper blow off tube tomorrow. It's a great "just in case". A 1" tube fits snug in the bung hole and you can secure it to release into the swamp cooler water. This is what I did in carboys for the first 4 days after mine exploded. Again, not to say this WILL happen but it can. Especially in a small headspace.

Edit to add: yes I've added my experience to the "don't do that" thread.

 

[shortyz]

carboys belong in the garbage

 

[kyoun1e]

I would leave it alone. The worst that will happen now is that you will have a blow off (the krausen and some beer will come out the top). Since your carboy is in a swamp cooler, there is no real danger of anything getting messy. If the blow off happens (which it might not because beer making still has some sort of magic in it), just clean everything up, resanitize your bung and airlock and put it back on. When you are cleaning the airlock, cover the top of the carboy with a sanitized piece of foil.

1 inch tube. Got it.

Assume with sanitizer in there and tube just hanging out there's no risk of any germies getting in there. And if that's the case, why is there a cap on the airlock anyway???

So much to understand...

 

[kyoun1e]

carboys belong in the garbage

Lol.

Interested to hear more.

Another takeaway from this first batch: Carboy's seem like a pain in the neck.

Despite my preparation, I felt like I had to handle a heavy, glass carboy too much. Hands are covered with starsan, slippery, risk in dropping the damn thing.

For my next batch, may look at a different fermenting option, but keep this carboy if I'm doing two simultaneously.

 

[Morrey]

Like you said..."so much to understand". You are in the middle of developing your process so all feels awkward to you at this point.

Personally I am in the camp of folks wanting clean wort (low trub) into fermenter. Straining with a funnel going into carboy is a royal PITA. Good thing is the wort needs aeration at this point so no harm will be done: You need an open fermentation pail or a bucket large enough to handle the full volume. Use a paint strainer bag found at Lowes or HD, stretch the elastic band over the sanitized pail and pour thru. The strained wort can now be added into the carboy with a funnel.

Most brewers want some headroom in their ferm vessels to allow krausen to form w/o coming thru your BO tube or airlock. I don't use carboys typically, but if I did I'd get 6.5G carboys for 5.5G batches.

 

[RedlegEd]

1 inch tube. Got it.

Assume with sanitizer in there and tube just hanging out there's no risk of any germies getting in there. And if that's the case, why is there a cap on the airlock anyway???

So much to understand...

Hi. Instead of a 1" tube, I'd recommend 1/2" food safe tube (sanitized, or course.) That'll fit nicely onto the center post of your three piece bubbler. Most folks use about 3 feet of tubing and put the other end into a bottle or jar filled with Starsan. That will prevent anything from going back up into the tube. If you cold crash (i.e. cool your wort to under 40°F,) then be sure to watch that Starsan doesn't get sucked back into the carboy. BTW, regarding glass carboys, I agree with @shortyz . They are an accident waiting to happen. I strongly recommend a PET fermenter such as this. They come in 6.5 and 7 gallon sizes, are really easy to clean, and most of all, safer than glass. Hope this helps and I hope your first brew comes out great! Ed
:mug"

ETA: Once active primary fermentation is done (i.e. krausen has dropped,) then you can remove the tube and replace the insert in your bubbler.

 

[Braufessor]

Hi. Instead of a 1" tube, I'd recommend 1/2" food safe tube. That'll fit nicely onto the center post of your three piece bubbler. Most folks use about 3 feet of tubing and put the other end into a bottle or jar filled with Starsan. That will prevent anything from going back up into the tube. If you cold crash (i.e. cool your wort to under 40°F,) then be sure to watch that Starsan doesn't get sucked back into the carboy.
ETA: Once active primary fermentation is done (i.e. krausen has dropped,) then you can remove the tube and replace the insert in your bubbler.)

This^^^^

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=42725&d=1325873336

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/intrinsic1/media/cGF0aDovQmxvd09mZlR1YmUuanBn/?ref=

 

[Ashevillain]

The more knowledgeable you become the more simple and relaxing your process will become, or it should IMO! Deff get the blowoff tube and stick with that for all batches from now on. Some advice on this batch is aside from removing the top of the airlock and attaching the hose; don't open the carboy until its done/time for dry hop, and only do primary fermentation.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Lol.

Interested to hear more.

Another takeaway from this first batch: Carboy's seem like a pain in the neck.

Despite my preparation, I felt like I had to handle a heavy, glass carboy too much. Hands are covered with starsan, slippery, risk in dropping the damn thing.

For my next batch, may look at a different fermenting option, but keep this carboy if I'm doing two simultaneously.

Congrats on your first brew. Put a blow off tube on this on and let it rip. Put your container with the blow off in a bigger container to catch possible foam over. Consider getting a fermentation bucket. It's easier to clean, and won't break if you drop it. Of course, this first batch you'll enjoy seeing what goes on through the glass. PET carboys are available too, they don't break very easily, but they're still "fun" to clean.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

 

[Thedude907]

I have two batches under my belt both used us-05 it seems to take almost a day before becoming active both times I used it.

 

[kyoun1e]

I have two batches under my belt both used us-05 it seems to take almost a day before becoming active both times I used it.

About 18 hours since I stuck that sucker in the swamp cooler.

Don't see much taking place yet.

 

[kaisetti]

About 18 hours since I stuck that sucker in the swamp cooler.



Don't see much taking place yet.

RDWHA_B. Soon, you can RDWHAHB. From now until it's done fermenting and conditioning, it's a test of patience. Enjoy and trust the process.

 

[kyoun1e]

RDWHA_B. Soon, you can RDWHAHB. From now until it's done fermenting and conditioning, it's a test of patience. Enjoy and trust the process.

At what point would the experts around here panic and then do something about it?

I'm not there yet, but if by tmrw morning there's no action I'm going to get fidgety.

Re-pitching yeast is an option right?

 

[RedlegEd]

At what point would the experts around here panic and then do something about it?

I'm not there yet, but if by tmrw morning there's no action I'm going to get fidgety.

Re-pitching yeast is an option right?

Hi. For me, don't get freaked out until 36-48 hours and no activity. Typically with US-05, if you aerated your wort, you should start seeing something in the 18-24 hour range, but as others have told you, relax....breathe. The yeasties will do what they need to do on their timeline, not yours. And to answer your other question, after 48+ hours, if you see nothing, yes, repitching is an option. Hope this helps. Ed

 

[TungstenBeer]

So, how are things working out?

Edit: Nevermind, I found the other thread, heh.