No airlock on brew bucket?

[BeerBrewerDan]

Hi all,

My first batch of beer is in the process of fermenting. I didn't have an air lock so I just drilled a small hole in the top of the lid to let the Co2 out. My question is there's a lot of head/froth coming out of the hole as expected I guess because it is fermenting and I may of overfilled the bucket a bit. But will it capture bacteria since there is a small hole in the lid that the outside air and germs could enter? From my understanding an air lock lets the gas out but stops containment's from the surrounding air to enter. But that will change with just a single hole in the lid right?

Thanks,

 

[Stillraining]

You will be fine until the krausen drops..Then you may still be fine with a "small hole" as its still off gassing but to be better protected build some sort of small cover/tent over the hole...nasties in the air fall down they don't crawl up.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

It sounds like your using a 5 gallon bucket.You need more than that.A brew bucket is usually 6.5. At this point I would get a hose the same size as the hole you drilled and stick it in the hole.The other end in another container,Its called a blowoff tube.Buy an airlock and a grommet.There cheap and are designed to let air out and keep air/contaminates from getting back in.Depending on how many days your into fermintaion it could only get worse making a major mess.I would run to Home depot or whatever and get a hose ASAP

 

[Dirt_McGirt]

You likely won't have a huge problem during high krausen, since there's so much CO2 and foam coming out that little will get in. But once the krausen starts to drop off, you'll be playing roulette with your beer. You'll still need to let Co2 escape, but contaminants will definitely be able to get in an open hole.

Food grade lids with holes and grommets are something like $2.50 at most LHBS, and a simple airlock is something like $3-4. I'm sure prices are similar on Amazon. Highly recommend you don't try to fudge this aspect of the process and drop a handful of dollars, instead.

 

[z-bob]

Put a marble over the hole.

 

[FirstAidBrewing]

Get yourself some StarSan, sanitize some aluminum foil or a cotton ball and push it into the hole, the gases will still be able to escape but you will be better off with some sort of barrier.

 

[johngault007]

It's probably not the best practice, but you're ok for now. You are better off investing the few dollars for a couple airlocks in the future.

 

[BeerBrewerDan]

Yes, I was using a 5 gallon bucket, I will probably get a proper fermentation vessel in the future. But for now I'll take your advice with the plastic tubing from the bucket into a cup of water? Thanks.

 

[jtratcliff]

Put a marble over the hole.

No love for this idea?

I think it's a great one... Good show @z-bob!

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Yes, I was using a 5 gallon bucket, I will probably get a proper fermentation vessel in the future. But for now I'll take your advice with the plastic tubing from the bucket into a cup of water? Thanks.

If you filled a 5 gallon bucket to the rim,and it sounds like you did,Your about to have a mega mess of sugar water.In hours not days,get a hose goin now and find a clean container much bigger than a glass of water.Your gunna need it

 

[BeerBrewerDan]

Here is what I have done. Some tubing running from the lid to a container of water. The froth coming through the hose due to over filling shouldn't matter right? The mess on the top is from when I just had a hole with nothing running/covering it.

 

[Stillraining]

That tiny hose will clog up if its still actively foaming..if its already past krazen drop you will be good to go as it will just be co2 from that point on

 

[BeerBrewerDan]

That tiny hose will clog up if its still actively foaming..if its already past krazen drop you will be good to go as it will just be co2 from that point on

Yup you were right!!! Just clogged up and luckily my dad caught it before it made a big mess. I bored out the whole in the lid and installed a 10mm rubber/plastic pipe. Hopefully that will not get clogged either. Thanks

 

[Stillraining]

Yup you were right!!! Just clogged up and luckily my dad caught it before it made a big mess. I bored out the whole in the lid and installed a 10mm rubber/plastic pipe. Hopefully that will not get clogged either. Thanks

Better but not fool proof... 1" is about right

 

[brewprint]

Curious; why did you use this small bucket and not get the correct kind of bucket and airlock? The total cost is around $15.

 

[BeerBrewerDan]

Curious; why did you use this small bucket and not get the correct kind of bucket and airlock? The total cost is around $15.

To be honest, it was my first time ever making a batch of any sort of alcohol so I didn't really want to go out and spend money on equipment without really seeing if its for me or not. My neighbor lent me a hydrometer to take readings with but I just thought that bucket would serve the same purpose. I guess not.

 

[brewprint]

To be honest, it was my first time ever making a batch of any sort of alcohol so I didn't really want to go out and spend money on equipment without really seeing if its for me or not. My neighbor lent me a hydrometer to take readings with but I just thought that bucket would serve the same purpose. I guess not.

Right on. I was just curious.

I'm sure your batch will turn out fine.

 

[alexacuna]

I'm doing my first primary in a 5 gal bucket (used a blow off tube into a 1-liter container with san) so i'm interested to see what kind of mess is waiting for me at home!

 

[BeerBrewerDan]

I'm doing my first primary in a 5 gal bucket (used a blow off tube into a 1-liter container with san) so i'm interested to see what kind of mess is waiting for me at home!

Mine didn't make a mess until i used that small hosing that got clogged up! It now has a 10mm hose coming out of it and is working great!

 

[alexacuna]

Mine didn't make a mess until i used that small hosing that got clogged up! It now has a 10mm hose coming out of it and is working great!

It's going nicely now? I came home and there wasn't any mess. It has a nice krausen, though. I'm excited to see it do it's magic. Maybe it was just because the bung in it has little areas for co2 to escape. I'll check on it again tomorrow. Thinking about having a third 5 gal in rotation, but feel like i might end up with a massive pipeline.

 

[BeerBrewerDan]

It's going nicely now? I came home and there wasn't any mess. It has a nice krausen, though. I'm excited to see it do it's magic. Maybe it was just because the bung in it has little areas for co2 to escape. I'll check on it again tomorrow. Thinking about having a third 5 gal in rotation, but feel like i might end up with a massive pipeline.

Good to hear its going smoothly! Yeah it must of been because of the bung that it let out excess Co2. Best of luck!