Trouble?

JonDL · Mar 8, 2015

Hi everyone, beginner on my second brew. The first time around I had some trouble with the stopper staying in my carboy, so I ended up taping it in, and it went fine from there. Talked some folks at the home brew store, they said I needed to allow the stopper and neck to dry a bit more. So I did, while putting in the airlock the stopper actually pushed through, and fell into the wort. I sanitized a siphon cap, and added the airlock and hoped for the best. This AM, I found the airlock bubbling, but there is a whiter foam forming on the top of the wort than I remember. The stopper and carboy were both sanitized, but I am concerned. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

jethro55 · Mar 8, 2015

Assuming that you just pitched this one yesterday, that foam would be first signs of krausen forming. Infection would not happen so quickly. You are fine.

Kevin79 · Mar 8, 2015

jethro55 said:
Assuming that you just pitched this one yesterday, that foam would be first signs of krausen forming. Infection would not happen so quickly. You are fine.

+1

And as luck would have it, I have the perfect picture to put your mind at ease. I just brewed yesterday, and here is a pic of my fermentation starting.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1425823857.331541.jpg

flars · Mar 8, 2015

I have found that the universal stoppers, both drilled and undrilled, fit my 6.5 and 7.5 gallon carboys, without slipping.
These stoppers, if they feel slippery when they are wet, have some residual cleaning residue. Rinse until they feel sticky when rubbed.
They are also to large to push through and into the carboys.

beergolf · Mar 8, 2015

Don't worry about it. It has been done before. I pushed one in a couple of years ago and just left it ther for the whole fermentation. Since it was sanitized it will cause any problems.

There is a cool trick to get it out after you are done. Let me see if I can find the video.

Found one.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TUSx0xN_R3o[/ame]

JonDL · Mar 8, 2015

Thanks everyone! You've answered my next couple of questions, will my finished beer taste like rubber stopper? And, how do I get that thing out of there?!

I am glad I discovered this early on, you are all are a great resource!

oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer · Mar 8, 2015

You won't have any issues with that. The last one I pushed thru sure came out clean. Took all the hop stain right off like magic.

IDoBleedBrew · Mar 8, 2015

My wife pushed the bung through and into the carboy on her first batch. Everything came out just fine. She called it a "corky brown" ale. If it was sanitized before pushing it through... you'll be fine.