Water or vodka in airlock?

[unionrdr]

5'o clock coffee?

 

[metanoia]

Only for porters and stouts

 

[z-bob]

How about using glycerin in the airlock? It won't evaporate. And if it does suck-back, it shouldn't hurt anything.
That might be more useful for meads and wines that need to sit a long time for bulk aging.

 

[unionrdr]

Not sure if it's toxic or not?

 

[rmyurick]

I use Jameson's. It's only like a half-ounce.

 

[bobby4]

I hope you drink it when you are finished?!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[jpsmithny]

I use vodka. I've never had a problem.

 

[AlCophile]

z-bob:
Don't use glycerin(e). It will absorb moisture and when diluted, serves as food for critters.

 

[z-bob]

z-bob:
Don't use glycerin(e). It will absorb moisture and when diluted, serves as food for critters.

That's good to know. I didn't think anything would grow in it.

 

[unionrdr]

When I was transferred to Ford in Cinci years ago, we used glycol as a cutting/cooling fluid in the machines we ran. It did indeed absorb microbes & had to be filtered or replaced as needed. So the answer here would be no in my opinion. Didn't think of this before.

 

[gauthierk]

I always use Star-san in my air locks.. I keep a ketchup bottle of it mixed up on standby just in case I have to clean something really quick or refill an airlock.. The problem I have found with vodka and other spirits is it doesn't really kill some of the bacteria and other wild yeast that can spoil a batch.. It attenuates it to the point were it slows down their activity to a crawl. Best example is a high gravity beer.. The yeast ferment till the ETOH level is too high for them to go any further.. if you were to add sugar and water to bring the percentage of concentration down, fermentation starts off again.. PBW and Star-san forcefully denature the uglies and render them harmless.. Hope this helps anyone out when making a decision.. Cheers!!!