Removing airlock after 24 hours to check temperature

[DreBourbon]

Hi, new brewer here. Just stared a batch of Brew Canada Canadian Red yesterday and today my airlock is bubbling a lot but my fermenter is on the basement floor so I want to check my temperature. Is it OK to remove my airlock and check temperature or should I not disturb the fermenting process ? Thanks. Dre.

 

[ChefRex]

Leave the top on! You could tape a thermometer to the side and insulate from the outside air and get a close enough temp.

 

[DreBourbon]

Or buy a stick on one. OK thanks

 

[jrgtr42]

Do you have a thermometer in the area? That will give you the ambient temp, and add a few degrees to get the internal temp.
Either way, I wouldn't disturb the beer while it's fementing. You would probably have enough CO2 production to keep the oxygen out, but why risk anything.

 

[andy6026]

Taking it off for a moment to check the temp is unlikely to introduce an infection. You can do so if you wish without a major threat to the beer. Or you can do as an above poster recommended and get the ambient room temp, and guestimate from there.

In the future, pick up a stick on thermometer - they're usually only a couple of bucks. The less you expose the beer, the better, but as I said - it's unlikely to ruin it.

 

[DreBourbon]

Perfect. Thanks

 

[lowtones84]

Are you using a dial thermometer that's long enough to reach down into the fermenting beer? If so, just leave it there instead of the airlock for the first 3-5 days. I do it all the time and have never had a problem (as long as everything is sanitized).

 

[DreBourbon]

Ambient temp 25C and I have a Cooper brewing and that brew is at 24C so I should be good.

 

[andy6026]

An ambient temp of 25 is too warm for most yeasts. So is 24. Look up the specs on the yeast you're using (via interweb) and get those temps down to prevent off flavors. Initial fermentation temps are crucial for getting the best results. Most yeasts tend to like it around 18-19.

 

[ChefRex]

That's way warm, look up swamp cooler.

 

[govner1]

Leave the top on! You could tape a thermometer to the side and insulate from the outside air and get a close enough temp.

^^^This. Fermometers are cheap & reasonably accurate.

 

[kh54s10]

Are you using a dial thermometer that's long enough to reach down into the fermenting beer? If so, just leave it there instead of the airlock for the first 3-5 days. I do it all the time and have never had a problem (as long as everything is sanitized).

Find a different way to show your temperature. If anything have a BLOW OFF tube installed for the first 3-5 days. Unless you like cleaning krausen off your ceiling.....

 

[lowtones84]

No thanks, works quite well for me.

 

[DreBourbon]

Well my instructions that came with my brew kits say between 20 and 25C. I'm at 24 right now. Put both my fermenter in buckets filled with water and a bit of ice. I can't keep it at a steady temp all day, won't the Flux of temp be bad? ie from 23 to 25C let's say.

 

[DreBourbon]

And covered with wet towel.

 

[DreBourbon]

And we're at 23C.