Waterless Airlocks

[radwizard]

Who uses waterless airlocks? I have a job that forces me to be away from home for over a month. I'm planning on brewing a bunch of different batches of Saison's with Brett. Planning on aging 6 or more months. I dont want to worry to much about having a dried up airlock when I leave for a bit. Do those silicone style airlocks offer me a good solution? Thoughts?

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Years ago a balloon with a pin hole in it sufficed for a good number of home beer and wine makers.

Pickles and sauerkraut and the like are still most often fermented with a towel thrown across the tunnel wide opening of a crock. Many Kombucha brewers use this method also.

Breweries used to ferment in open kettles. Some did so until not very long ago. Visit the highly prestigious Traquair House for but one example of this.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I use one on my fermonster since the regular air lock is too tall for my mini fridge and it works well

 

[Sailingeric]

another option is to do a blow off tube and put it in a big jar of water.

 

[bajaedition]

sanitary filter

or

a blow off tube with a large container to put it in

look at it this way, sanitary filter, big expense, need to mark which side is which to use it again,

blow of tube in bucket, not likely to be evaporated if in a temperature controlled environment

I do think if you are going be away for a month the beer is in a stable environment, correct?

if not just leave the bubbler there and have faith in god it does not dry out.

good luck

 

[ChefRex]

I've used one for a year plus on some of my mead, no issues whatsoever, do it.

 

[dsaavedra]

look at it this way, sanitary filter, big expense, need to mark which side is which to use it again,

Big expense? They are $4. The plastic also comes stamped with "IN" on one side, and "OUT" on the other.

http://www.homebrewing.org/Sanitary-Inline-Filter--14-Barb_p_3594.html

 

[bajaedition]

Big expense? They are $4. The plastic also comes stamped with "IN" on one side, and "OUT" on the other.

http://www.homebrewing.org/Sanitary-Inline-Filter--14-Barb_p_3594.html

section of hose and a old jar are free

 

[BrunDog]

Can you put a food grade oil in a regular airlock?

 

[oylerck]

Can you put a food grade oil in a regular airlock?

Would the oil go rancid? I don't know if the co2 pushing the oxygen away would solve that or what would happen...

 

[BrunDog]

Food grade mineral oil is a simple option.

 

[oylerck]

Food grade mineral oil is a simple option.

Makes sense. I was thinking vegetable oil...

 

[schatzke]

vodka in the airlock will last longer than water

 

[deepbluegroove]

another option is to do a blow off tube and put it in a big jar of water.

I use a champagne bottle half filled with santizer; I put my blow off tube into that; and I don't have to worry it will dry up; or where the blow off krausen goes; it ends up in the bottle.

 

[BrunDog]

vodka in the airlock will last longer than water

I'm afraid that's not accurate. Ethanol evaporates faster than water.

The champagne/wine bottle or anything with an narrow neck which limits exposure to the atmosphere will help, especially given its volume ratio.

 

[dyqik]

The 3-piece airlock on my sour stayed wet enough for 6 months in my basement. I suspect you'll only get significant evaporation during active fermentation, where the gas flow can carry the vapour away. In a 3 piece airlock with little gas exchange, the vapour will stay in place and keep the rest of the liquid from evaporating.

 

[leonardoreges]

Years ago a balloon with a pin hole in it sufficed for a good number of home beer and wine makers.

Pickles and sauerkraut and the like are still most often fermented with a towel thrown across the tunnel wide opening of a crock. Many Kombucha brewers use this method also.

Breweries used to ferment in open kettles. Some did so until not very long ago. Visit the highly prestigious Traquair House for but one example of this.

I've read that in Cuba they ferment wine with a condon with a pin hole in it

 

[danodownunder]

I use the new Coopers brew tub and it uses the burp method no airlock as such and have had no issues

 

[jurgenph]

The 3-piece airlock on my sour stayed wet enough for 6 months in my basement. I suspect you'll only get significant evaporation during active fermentation, where the gas flow can carry the vapour away. In a 3 piece airlock with little gas exchange, the vapour will stay in place and keep the rest of the liquid from evaporating.

FWIW...

i haven't gone 6 months on one, but the S-style air locks haven't had to be re-filled for me in 4 months, and still had plenty of water/starsan solution in them to go longer.


J.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Started off using the 3 piece airlock until Caribou Slobber blew it off the carboy. Been using blow-off tubes ever since. Leave the tube on until ready to bottle. Hence.....great beer

 

[NTexBrewer]

For my long term aging of sours I use the Vin Table waterless bung.

Got them from Ohio Home Brew

http://www.homebrewohio.com/vin-table-tapered-silicone-stopper-number-10/

http://www.homebrewohio.com/vin-table-tapered-silicone-stopper-7/

Seem to do the job. Have not had any acetic off flavors yet.

I have the No. 10 stopper as I use better bottle type plastic carboys.