New from San Antonio, TX

[AARONfromTEXAS]

New here, looking to pick up some more info. I just picked up a starter kit this weekend and began a recipe for an IPA from the local brew shop.

I pitched my yeast last night, and looks like I'm running into the "lid popping off" this morning. First time it popped, I rinsed out the airlock (didn't re-sanitize... oops). But it's the same tap water that was mixed with the wort anyway.

Then it popped off again while I was at work, so for now, I've got my wife keeping an eye on it, and had her take the top cap off the airlock (which is what I think was clogging up) and lay a wet paper towel over. Seems to be doing fine now...

I was planning on trying to rig up a blowoff hose tonight.

Let me know if I did anything that'll ruin the batch, haha...

 

[beerbreath81]

When you say "lid popping off" do you mean the bucket lid or the airlock lid? From your post i am going to guess and say your air lock. If this is the case look at the lid and make sure the holes are not clogged up and also that the lid is not cracked and is secured to the airlock. I have not run into this issue myself but that is where is would start. Somewhere along the way the air does not have an effective way to escape the bucket. Blowoff tube will most likely fix the issue but i would be curious to see where the problem is for next time.

NO, you did nothing to contaminate the wort. you should have no issues.

 

[barmyarmy]

If you have vigorous fermentation you will have a lower risk for infection.

 

[AARONfromTEXAS]

When you say "lid popping off" do you mean the bucket lid or the airlock lid? From your post i am going to guess and say your air lock. If this is the case look at the lid and make sure the holes are not clogged up and also that the lid is not cracked and is secured to the airlock. I have not run into this issue myself but that is where is would start. Somewhere along the way the air does not have an effective way to escape the bucket. Blowoff tube will most likely fix the issue but i would be curious to see where the problem is for next time.

NO, you did nothing to contaminate the wort. you should have no issues.

Thanks for that. It was actually the lid to the BUCKET that blew off. All this in just over 12 hours of fermentation... When I get home over lunch, I'm gonna try to clean things up and re-sanitize the airlock, clear out those holes, and see what happens...

It seems that taking the cap off the airlock and covering it with a wet paper towel has done the trick for now. I just have a mess all over the top of the bucket...

 

[barmyarmy]

Attach 1/2" inch tubing directly to airlock down tube and put the other end in starsan.

 

[AARONfromTEXAS]

Attach 1/2" inch tubing directly to airlock down tube and put the other end in starsan.

That's what I ended up doing over lunch... Here's my setup now...

Although I don't think it's 1/2"... I think it's 3/8" ID. Might have to pick up some tonight just so it doesn't get clogged.

Thanks for the info, guys...

 

[barmyarmy]

I say 1/2" because the 3/8" gets really stuck to the airlock.

 

[barmyarmy]

Nope, your right. I just checked

 

[AARONfromTEXAS]

Nope, your right. I just checked

My tubing must be even smaller than, cause I've actually got it INSIDE the upright of the airlock.

 

[beerbreath81]

Ok, so to prevent this from repeating...The lid likely blew because of a vigorous fermentation (a good thing). If the foam from the fermentation reaches the top of the bucket and sneaks into the airlock, it can block the airlock, which causes pressure to build until...

You may need a bigger bucket or a smaller wort next time. Or, you could use a blow off tube instead of an airlock for the first few days.

 

[tvanaskie]

This same thing just happened to me with an IPA kit. I've been brewing for over ten years and this had never happened. Please let me know how yours turned out and I will do the same. Mine was a brewer's best kit. Normally I get kits from Midwest supply or order ingredients for recipes when I have more time to do partial mash. Is it typical for ipa's to have such vigorous fermentation?

 

[AARONfromTEXAS]

This same thing just happened to me with an IPA kit. I've been brewing for over ten years and this had never happened. Please let me know how yours turned out and I will do the same. Mine was a brewer's best kit. Normally I get kits from Midwest supply or order ingredients for recipes when I have more time to do partial mash. Is it typical for ipa's to have such vigorous fermentation?

It turns out mine is actually an Imperial Pale Ale, which I thought I had asked for an IPA, but... I guess the initials are the same. This one is the Brewer's Best Imperial kit, supposed to be 8.5% ABV. The fermentation seems to have stopped this morning, so that's just about 38 hours since I pitched it. Or atleast the bubbling stopped... Should I be worried that it's stopped so quickly?