Vodka in airlock?

[Tielson's]

has anyone else heard of this, or does anyone do this method?
in case of suckback bacteria will die.

 

[DeathBrewer]

that's what i use for all my airlocks. nice, cheap vodka. good for that and white russians

 

[Brewer3401]

I use cheap vodka.

If you do get suckback, you'll get alcohol in your beer.

Better that than Iodophor.

I can get a fifth for under $ 5.00 including tax. Don't drink it though, I'm sure it's nasty.

Another trick, if you're using a freezer or frig to keep ferm temps down, if your wort and/or headspace is warmer than your frig, you WILL get suckback.

I take a paper towell folded twice and wet it with vodka. Put over top of carboy or hole in bucket top for 1 day. Then replace with airlock.

 

[Klainmeister]

Been using vodka all this time...

Cheap, hair curling stuff

 

[kvh]

I use whiskey - cheap stuff of course -

It started when we were brewing for a friend's party, and using his favorite whiskey to fill the airlock. We've downgraded to the cheap stuff now -

The advantage in my mind is that it's easier to see at a distance.

kvh

 

[malkore]

i fill mine with star-san solution left over from sanitizing the fermentor.

star san won't cause off flavors due to 'suck back' either.

 

[beerdad]

I use star san solution too. It makes some bubbles and sometimes it makes a whistling noise.

 

[gruffudd]

I use both, Recently I've been using cheap vodka just to get rid of it

 

[Ryanh1801]

I use the cheapest liquor I have around.

 

[jpsloan]

I use vodka, as well. The real cheap bottom shelf college dorm stuff.

But first I swirl the airlock with some vermouth.

 

[landhoney]

I use vodka left over from my wedding, we've got a ton left. It's not the horrible stuff either which many would feel is a waste, but we don't drink it.

 

[dollhousebrewery]

I use star san solution from sanitizing.

 

[Kevin Dean]

I ran out of vodka this weekend and had to put a batch of apfelwein on hold.

Popov for the win.

 

[Sea]

I use vodka, as well. The real cheap bottom shelf college dorm stuff.

But first I swirl the airlock with some vermouth.

I do this as well, but with a little olive juice, cause SWMBO likes it dirty....

 

[feedthebear]

I use vodka too. A little in the air lock & a little in me.

 

[Philip1993]

Star san in the airlock, but not in a blowoff bucket!

 

[Ize]

Vodka... low rent variety. Helps the Bloody Mary's on Sunday morning tho. :rockin:

Ize

 

[Jaybird]

1/2 water and 1/2 Everclear
JJ

 

[Dinbin]

+1 on the Vodka. Makes for a nice finish when topped with O.J.

 

[g_rath]

I use vodka left over from my wedding, we've got a ton left. It's not the horrible stuff either which many would feel is a waste, but we don't drink it.

I will be willing to help you out with getting rid of some of that if you need more room for brewing.

 

[Kubed]

I will be willing to help you out with getting rid of some of that if you need more room for brewing.

Haha! Ditto that!

I also use vodka in the airlock because ....well... it was a good idea the first time i heard it, and it's a good idea now.

 

[Kubed]

I use whiskey - cheap stuff of course -

It started when we were brewing for a friend's party, and using his favorite whiskey to fill the airlock. We've downgraded to the cheap stuff now -

The advantage in my mind is that it's easier to see at a distance.

kvh

That's also a good idea! Sometimes i have to really look to see where the fluid line is.

 

[bull]

shaken never stirred ,lmao

 

[big_ajk]

using some old everclear thats been lying around....evaporates fast tho...gotta top it up once every couple of days..

 

[the_bird]

Here's the REAL question, though....







Who does a shot of the airlock vodka post-fermenation?

 

[Steiner]

Haha, bird. Let me make sure I get this right- in case of some spilling in the wort out of the airlock (is this suckback?), vodka won't disturb the fermentation much, but iodophor solution will? Star san is safe too?

 

[McKBrew]

Don't know about Idophor. Vodka works great, so does star san, even boiled and cooled water/distilled water will work.

 

[rod]

Here's the REAL question, though....







Who does a shot of the airlock vodka post-fermenation?

i do but only after secondary

made a mistake once when i was using vodka or starsan as the mood hit and forgot which carboy had the vodka

 

[RLinNH]

Star San in the Blow Off Tube Bucket, and a 50/50 mixture of Water/Everclear in the Air Lock on all corboys.

 

[gyrfalcon]

I've just use tap water so far, and wash them... One I left on for 4 months stated to get mold growing in it, but it didn't hurt the batch.

Maybe I should start using napoleon cognac.