Overflow question.... Noob, tried searching...

[Jbrew33]

Hello, I am new to the site and this is a selfish way to introduce myself but I having some issues with my first brew. I did some searching on this site for some answers and didn't hear exactly what I needed.

I have read that an overflow tube and bucket of sanitized water is the best way to tackle an overflow issue on the primary fermentation. The problem is, I was in no way prepared for this today. I brewed a batch of ESB yesterday (my first ever brew) I woke up this morning and the airlock was bubbling. Great! I checked it this afternoon and I had an overflow issue.

My question is, can I crack the lid of the bucket slightly to help purge some of the pressure? Will this jeopardize my beer or should I be okay? I have been anal about sanitization thus far, but this seems to be the only way to stop the problem. I did try to cool the room initially, but it hasn't helped. Any input would be great! Thanks. JB

 

[Panzermann]

Just remove the airlock and attach a blow-off. I have even had my blow-off get messy so I removed it and placed an airlock back on.

If you have another hose in stock, grab one and remove the gunked up one and add the new one. I would not open the lid to remove "pressure", you want the c02 to escape while letting nothing back in.

 

[Jbrew33]

^The problem is that I don't have a blow off and I have been babysitting the fermenter all day. The airlock gets gunked up and full of beer within an hour or so. Can I skim the foam out? My brew shop is closed on Sundays so I don't know what to do...

Will the bubbling slow?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Panzermann]

^The problem is that I don't have a blow off and I have been babysitting the fermenter all day. The airlock gets gunked up and full of beer within an hour or so. Can I skim the foam out? My brew shop is closed on Sundays so I don't know what to do...

Will the bubbling slow?

Thanks for the help.

I would clean it one more time, then run down to a Lowe's or even Wal-Mart and pick up a hose. I would NOT open it up and skim off anything from the brew. I think it is 5/16" ???

 

[DragonTail]

The tubing for your racking cane "should" fit in the hole for the airlock, either with the grommet in or out. Put the other end into a container with some water in it. Make sure not to put the hose too far into your primary, just in place is fine, and make sure the other end is under the water level. This will act as your airlock for the few days of heavy fermentation. Anything that goes thru the tube will be collected in the container with the water, so make sure it is big enough. You may have to change out the water, but after a few days the fermentation will have died down enough for you to go back to the regular airlock.
Hope that helps.

 

[BrewinJack]

if you have a local hard ware store which is open on sunday then you can go there and find the proper fittings... look where the icemaker line and stuff is, or ask the person there about vynal line and barbed fittings... i just use 3/8in vynal hose in as a blow off it works very well. and its probably cheeper then buying a blow off setup at you LHBS.

Cheers

 

[Jbrew33]

Alright guys. I did what you said. I took my bottling tube, sanitized it, and fitted it to the airlock. It wouldn't fit around the center part of the bubbler, but it fit inside it. So we'll see what happens. Looking good so far. Thanks for your advice. JB