No bubbles in airlock but lots of activity in carboy

[lazyharley]

Ok so I'm new to brewing only my second batch. First batch was from a kit and is now bottle conditioning. So we thought we would go ahead with a chile beer we found a recipe for. Just put it in the primary and after 24 hrs no activity in airlock, after 32 hrs still no activity in airlock so I pulled back towel around carboy and saw lots of activity in carboy. Lots of foam on top and bubbles or foam looking stuff moving in beer itself. I'm guessing this is co2 fermenting off. But why is my airlock not showing anything? Do I have a seal problem and is it just finding the path of least resistance? I can smell beer fragrances next to top of screw lid. Curious if I should leave alone or try and reseal, or is this a bad idea? Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Jayjay1976]

Welcome to HBT!

It sounds like the bung isn't wedged in your bunghole quite far enough. I've had the same problem, but don't worry. The active fermentation is blowing CO2 out through the leak keeping any wild spores from getting in. You should try tightening the lid and pressing the bung in further till the airlock starts bubbling, then you know it's sealed. Later when fermentation slows it will be hard to detect a leak.

I've been wanting to brew a chile beer myself, can you share the recipe?

 

[Redpappy]

I will be botteling a Boston ale clone come Friday, so I brewed I. A week and a half ago. I had no noticable activity. This morning I decided to check my gravity, prediction was 1013, I came in at 1012. So I am thinkin* if you can see evidence of activity you are good to go.

Every now and then I was push on the lid to see what happens, in which I got bubbles coming out of my air lock. So I decided to have patience...

 

[OpenSights]

Welcome to HBT!

It sounds like the bung isn't wedged in your bunghole quite far enough. I've had the same problem, but don't worry. The active fermentation is blowing CO2 out through the leak keeping any wild spores from getting in. You should try tightening the lid and pressing the bung in further till the airlock starts bubbling, then you know it's sealed. Later when fermentation slows it will be hard to detect a leak.

I've been wanting to brew a chile beer myself, can you share the recipe?

If I didn’t know what little I know about brewing I’d be laughing my ass off! Well, I’m still pretty green so I am. You’re probably right. Water finds the weakest point to show itself. Buried in a ceiling the real leak can be coming from 20#’ away.

I have a few plastic 2 gallon fermenters with cider in them, bubbled for a bit then quit. All brand new and secured. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected quickly in brewing because I’m a plumber and drain cleaner by trade and there’s never a time when you can honestly say you’ve seen or know it all.

 

[user 125772]

If you’re using one of those 3-piece air locks in your bung fill it up some more. If that doesn’t apply, follow Jayjays bunghole advice
Lol

 

[lazyharley]

Thanks I'll go give these ideas a try. Sorry it takes me awhile to get back and check the forum, but I'll keep you up to date. Thanks again

 

[RM-MN]

Ok so I'm new to brewing only my second batch. First batch was from a kit and is now bottle conditioning. So we thought we would go ahead with a chile beer we found a recipe for. Just put it in the primary and after 24 hrs no activity in airlock, after 32 hrs still no activity in airlock so I pulled back towel around carboy and saw lots of activity in carboy. Lots of foam on top and bubbles or foam looking stuff moving in beer itself. I'm guessing this is co2 fermenting off. But why is my airlock not showing anything? Do I have a seal problem and is it just finding the path of least resistance? I can smell beer fragrances next to top of screw lid. Curious if I should leave alone or try and reseal, or is this a bad idea? Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

There's the answer to why you don't see bubbles in the airlock. The gas is escaping around the lid somewhere. No problem, this is just excess gas and your beer will be fine just as is. The airlock serves 2 purposes. One is to allow gas to escape while keeping foreign objects like fruit flies out. Your lid is doing that just fine. The other is to entertain the brewer as they can see the bubbles. If you can't find any other entertainment I can help you with that as I need 50 bottles washed.

 

[mmb]

Sounds like you've got gas leaking out your bunghole. It's not to worry, it will still be beer.

 

[OpenSights]

I just kegged and bottled a 6 gallon batch of Irish stout and found this. Tastes fine. Had a bit of bubbles on day two, but nothing for the next three and a half weeks. It was in an 8.5 gallon fermenter so I figured it was because of the head space. The first 6 gallon batch I did was in a 6.5 gallon fermenter and had a massive foam surge. Luckily after my very first batch of beer I decided to keep my fermenters in cheap totes from the hardware store. Figure better safe than sleeping on the couch.

I guess I didn’t lube my bung?

 

[mmb]

I guess I didn’t lube my bung?

Looks like you tore your bunghole gasket by pushing the airlock in too hard. Gotta ease it in there, gentle like.

Food safe gasket lube is just food safe petroleum jelly. You can get keg lube at a specialty brewing store or just use KY. *shrug*

 

[OpenSights]

Looks like you tore your bunghole gasket by pushing the airlock in too hard. Gotta ease it in there, gentle like.

Food safe gasket lube is just food safe petroleum jelly. You can get keg lube at a specialty brewing store or just use KY. *shrug*

Embarrassing for sure! But lesson learned.

I was hoping to start another batch tonight, but it’s probably for the best. I want to make two to three 6 gallon batches next time to fill a half barrel sankey keg. Want to get another 8.5.