Pressure During Fermentation

[Dano22]

I brewed a batch of stout yesterday and this morning my fermenting bucket looked ready to explode. There was foam all around my airlock and the lid was bowed out. I removed the airlock to clean and remove some of the excess pressure. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this happen and if there is anything I should do.

I used a can of Coopers and mixed it in with combination DME and corn sugar. The only thing I can think is that the sugar caused it to carbonate but again I am new and have no idea what's going on.

Please help!!!

 

[Clementine]

What you are experiencing is totally normal. Google blow off tubes, most people use these during the early stages of fermentation, they provide less restriction while maintain sanitation on your brew.

For what is going on inside the wort, you beer is fermenting which gives off CO2 and as your beer will retain head (if you have done it right) then a krausen (brown sometimes greeny foam) forms on top of your beer. If the fermentation gets very vigorous it can block the airlock thereby causing your fermenter to explode (although it normally just pushes the air lock out and deposits some beer on the ceiling). The fermentation that is happening in your wort right now to turn it into beer is exactly the same as the one that takes place when you bottle condition (carbonate) the beer and prime with sugar.

Clem

 

[Dano22]

Thanks. That's what I thought but in all the other batches I have done the fermentation hasn't been this aggressive.

 

[cruelkix]

Thanks. That's what I thought but in all the other batches I have done the fermentation hasn't been this aggressive.

I would guess you used some sort of english ale yeast. Those guys always blow up, haha. Back when I fermented in carboys, if I was making a stout with an english ale yeast, I would always put the carboy in the bath tub. I had them complete blow the top off twice until I switched to blow off tubes.

Its fun to learn right