Primary fermenter help

[dan82nf]

Just wondering if it is safe to snap the lid of my primary fermenter on all the way without using an air lock? The last time I made a brew I only laid it on and foam went everywhere

 

[c3hutson]

Why would you not want to use an airlock?

 

[dan82nf]

It's not so much that I don't want to as the lid doesn't have a place for one

 

[c3hutson]

If it's fermenting and you close the lid with no airlock, you're gonna have a bad time

 

[dan82nf]

So I guess I'm better off just laying the lid on to keep contaminants out but allowing it to breath and just dealing with the foam over then

 

[c3hutson]

You're not exactly guaranteeing an uninfected beer by not having an airlock

 

[heckler73]

drill, meet lid.

 

[c3hutson]

^ that

 

[Braufessor]

How big is your bucket? Sounds like maybe you are using a generic 5 gallon bucket, for a 5 gallon batch. If you are brewing 5 gallons of beer, you should have a 6.5 gallon bucket with a lid, with a hole/grommet that accommodates an airlock. If you are just setting the lid on and it the krausen from the yeast is overflowing the top of the bucket - you are doing it wrong.

 

[p-townrookie]

Drill and rubber grommet! I also just read about putting a large diameter hose over the top of a carboy to allow overflow without contamination?? Never have tried it but I'm sure people here have?!

 

[dan82nf]

I am using a 6 gallon bucket...with the way im doing it ruin the beer? I understand without the lid on tight and without an air lock can lead to higher probability of infection but will it turn out horribly even if not infected?