What to do if Fermentation seeps into airlock?

[Salukibrew]

Hello,

I was wondering if I cold have some advice on fermentation blow-off. My last batch of brew in a 6 gal carboy had very vigorous fermentation. So much so that some foam creeped up into my 3 piece fermentation lock. I now have a batch of Aventinus Dopplebock fermenting up stairs. If this were to happen again what should I do? If this does happen is there a chance my beer could become contaminated? Please let me know as i am almost 24 hrs into fermentation and this could happen within the next few hours.

thanks

 

[RM-MN]

You could take the airlock off and replace it with a blowoff tube, or cover the opening with foil or saran wrap or just take the airlock off and leave it. As long as your brew is actively fermenting, there is too much CO2 coming out for any bacteria to get in. When it settles down in a day or 2, sanitize your airlock and put it back in.

 

[MalFet]

Nothing much to worry about. Be normally cautious cleaning up, but at that stage of activity your beer isn't particularly susceptible to infection. Clean up with starsan and get the airlock back on there once it dies down. In the future, you can either use fermcap-s drops or a blow-off tube.

 

[rycov]

celebrate?

 

[Xaphoeous]

I had a brew do this recently and it wasn't a big deal. Upon transferring to secondary after 10 days, it was at about 7%, smelled great, looked great, tasted great...etc.

 

[Golddiggie]

MalFet, how much fermcap-s do you use? Either 5 or 10 gallon batch size...

 

[MalFet]

MalFet, how much fermcap-s do you use? Either 5 or 10 gallon batch size...

The instructions call for 10 drops or so in a 5gal batch, but it is sticky enough that I've never really been able to count out individual drops. I just splarge something approaching ten drops into the fermentor right after I pitch the yeast.

 

[MeatyPortion]

Take a picture.

 

[Golddiggie]

The instructions call for 10 drops or so in a 5gal batch, but it is sticky enough that I've never really been able to count out individual drops. I just splarge something approaching ten drops into the fermentor right after I pitch the yeast.

hmmm... we added it during the boil, so that we wouldn't have tons of foam this time... Seems to be working in primary too... Keeping an eye on it though, just to be sure. I used the dropper in the cap to count out about 2/gallon of finished wort... Hope that will be enough to keep the foam low enough in the corny I'm using to ferment in..