Primary Fermenter foam-bombed... is it ruined?

[DanMurphy]

I need some advice from the pros here; I started a new batch 5 days ago, from an extract kit, using a yeast starter. Yesterday my fermenter "foam-bombed." Does this mean it's ruined? The airlock is no longer bubbling.

 

[iijakii]

Remove the airlock and clean it. If the beer isn't foaming up still then sanitize and put it back on. If it's still foaming out then just put some sanitized foil loosely over it.

No harm at all besides extra cleaning. Search for "blowoff tube" for next round.

 

[theseeker4]

I need some advice from the pros here; I started a new batch 5 days ago, from an extract kit, using a yeast starter. Yesterday my fermenter "foam-bombed." Does this mean it's ruined? The airlock is no longer bubbling.

Not ruined. Clean it up, spraying down the air lock and stopper with sanitizer, and replace the air lock with a blow-off tube if fermentation is still really active, but more likely you would be fine just cleaning the air lock and putting it back in, with new sanitizer in it of course. In the future, use a blow-off tube to prevent this.

 

[beergolf]

Not ruined, like the others have said. Just clean everything up and proceed. Look into a blow off tube for your next brew and you will be good.

At least you did not have to mop the ceiling..........

 

[Gavin C]

Violent fermentations with a blow-off and mess in and of themselves won't necessarily harm the beer.

They can however, point to an overly-warm fermentation with its associated smorgasbord of off-flavors.

 

[Jwin]

See: fermacap

 

[DanMurphy]

Thanks for the fast reply, and essentially good news. I thought I was going to have to toss that batch!

 

[JimRausch]

On the other hand, you just named this batch: Foam Bomb