Peeking in my bucket....

[ratnerstar]

Okay, so I'm two weeks into fermentation on my first brew. The anticipating is killing me. So much so that ... once or twice ... well, maybe three or four times ... I carefully lifted off the lid of my bucket to take a look inside. I know this is non-Kosher, but how bad of a practice is it?

I'm asking because, if it's really bad, I'm gonna have to get a class carboy. Honestly, the temptation is just too great.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[rwinzing]

I would stop doing it if I were you. The layer of CO2 is protecting the beer but if you keep doing it you are asking for trouble.

I know it's hard in the begining start planing your next brew. A pipeline is the best thing to keep you patient

 

[ChshreCat]

Don't do it too much and it's just fine. I usually just pull out the airlock stopper and peek in the little hole. Lets me see what's going on, but keeps exposure to a minimum.

 

[kryznic]

fiber optic spy camera in the airlock hole FTW!

 

[android]

get a carboy or better bottle!

 

[kryznic]

you could just go from the boil straight to the carboy instead of the plastic bucket and get to see whats going on.

 

[iron_city_ap]

You are poking a wild animal with a stick. Sure at first its fun and games, but when it bites back and you get all bloody and crying it ain't so funny. Its your first brew, enjoy.

 

[DavidSteel]

lol why are you doing it? To see if bubbles are rising to the top? That's not that exciting man.

 

[kanzimonson]

Yeah, you gotta stop that - there is absolutely no benefit and nothing but downside.

 

[ChshreCat]

I keep reading the title of this thread as "peeing in my bucket". LOL

 

[milwaukee]

Totally agree with others who said there's only downsides to this practice.

You want to minimize exposure to oxygen. And anything that could get in there and infect your batch.

I sympathize with you though. Just buy a glass carboy, toss a t-shirt over it to protect it from light, and take a look whenever you want to. You can even see more that way--you get a lot of swirl and bubbles depending on how rowdy your fermentation is.

 

[meddin]

fiber optic spy camera in the airlock hole FTW!

I'm so gonna do this...

 

[danculwell]

I keep reading the title of this thread as "peeing in my bucket". LOL

I came to this thread to tell you that you really really really should not pee in your bucket. Definitely get some starsan or even bleach would be better than pee.

 

[ratnerstar]

I sympathize with you though. Just buy a glass carboy, toss a t-shirt over it to protect it from light, and take a look whenever you want to. You can even see more that way--you get a lot of swirl and bubbles depending on how rowdy your fermentation is.

I think this is the winning solution. Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

 

[ratnerstar]

I keep reading the title of this thread as "peeing in my bucket". LOL

Wait, I did that too. Is that bad? Is my beer ruined?!

 

[ChshreCat]

Wait, I did that too. Is that bad? Is my beer ruined?!

No. You just made Michelob Ultra.