What's this plasticy thing?

[Howareya]

I'm guessing it's to do with syphoning, but I already have the racking stick, and the length of tubing.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Airlock.

You fill it with water and shove it in your bung hole.




NOOOOOOO! Not THAT bung hole!

This one,

Now put your pants back on.

 

[BillyBroas]

That's a three piece airlock. Looks like you're missing the other 2 pieces. Airlock - 3 Piece | MoreBeer

 

[solbes]

Airlock.

You shove it in your bung hole.

Almost spit coffee onto my monitor at work. Nice!

+2, it's an airlock. And it goes into your bung hole.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Airlock.

You shove it in your bung hole.




NOOOOOOO! Not THAT bung hole!

dude, i just spit coffee out of my nose!

OP, read up in that airlock, you need it to protect your bung hole from any nasties. also read up on how and airlock is not a hydrometer, but simply a co2 vent used to allow gasses to escape your bung hole without letting any unwanted nasties from getting in.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Almost spit coffee onto my monitor at work. Nice!

+2, it's an airlock. And it goes into your bung hole.

you too, huh? :rockin:

 

[Howareya]

Uh oh, that was meant to go into the top of my fermentation bucket, right?

I just figured there was a little rubberized whole at the top of the fermenter to let the brewing beer "breath".

Is this failure? The beer itself (haven't transfered it to the barrel yet) does look like stuff has happened, and smells not bad.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Uh oh, that was meant to go into the top of my fermentation bucket, right?

I just figured there was a little rubberized whole at the top of the fermenter to let the brewing beer "breath".

Is this failure? The beer itself (haven't transfered it to the barrel yet) does look like stuff has happened, and smells not bad.

just stick the thingy in your bunghole now, you should be fine.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Uh oh, that was meant to go into the top of my fermentation bucket, right?

I just figured there was a little rubberized whole at the top of the fermenter to let the brewing beer "breath".

Is this failure? The beer itself (haven't transfered it to the barrel yet) does look like stuff has happened, and smells not bad.

Not failure. Fill it with water and shove it in. Once the beer has finished fermentation and the wort cools back down to room temp (fermentation generates some heat) there will be some "suck back" and the airlock keeps anything from getting sucked in.

Until then, the yeast are farting CO2 which displaces any air in the headspace.

 

[Howareya]

I guess there's no need for me to go near my bunghole, it's already fermented and ready for transfer.

 

[Howareya]

Not failure. Fill it with water and shove it in. Once the beer has finished fermentation and the wort cools back down to room temp (fermentation generates some heat) there will be some "suck back" and the airlock keeps anything from getting sucked in.

Until then, the yeast are farting CO2 which displaces any air in the headspace.

Hmm, it has been brewing a month now.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I guess there's no need for me to go near my bunghole, it's already fermented and ready for transfer.

Nah.

 

[Revvy]

That's a three piece airlock. Looks like you're missing the other 2 pieces. Airlock - 3 Piece | MoreBeer

Actually that looks to be one of the newer 2 piece "Piston" airlocks that seem to be popping up in some kits lately. Someone posted a pic of them last week.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Hmm, it has been brewing a month now.

CO2 is heavier than air. So, unless you have been jogging around the house with your bucket the beer is under a gaseous carbonic blanket and is safe from oxidation (pretty much).

And, this time of year there isn't much risk of flies.

So, rack it and bottle it. What you do with your bung hole now is your business. But, I suggest you at least wash or wipe it.

 

[KevinW]

Uh oh, that was meant to go into the top of my fermentation bucket, right?

I just figured there was a little rubberized whole at the top of the fermenter to let the brewing beer "breath".

Is this failure? The beer itself (haven't transfered it to the barrel yet) does look like stuff has happened, and smells not bad.

Chances are if the beer smells good then all is going well, it is OK to taste it too, as long as you sanitize your sampling device!

Your first assumption was right, the beer needs to "breathe" (exhale actually) during fermentation as the CO2 builds up it needs to escape. One problem some brewers have is their airlocks will clog up due to foam gettin too close to the airlock and the pressure of the CO2 will blow their bungs right out of the fermentor!

Nothing worse then blowing your bung out of it's hole, makes a huge mess
(sorry, I could not resist jumping on the "bung hole" wagon)

 

[solbes]

(In my best Beavis voice...) Bung Holio! Bung Holio?!? I need TP. For my Bung Hole.

 

[kurtism]

ok...i'm going to ask the obvious questions here...

1) why did you buy it if you didn't know what it was

2) if it came with a kit, didn't you read the instructions?

3) did you just jump into brewing without reading any forum or watching any videos?

its all good as long as your beer didn't get infected....just a little shocked that you'd leave your bung hole open when brewing 101 says that your beer is a freaking smorgasbord for bacteria and your one mission in life as a homebrewer is to keep that wort virginal so only the yeast may deflower it

 

[FastAndy]

ok...i'm going to ask the obvious questions here...

1) why did you buy it if you didn't know what it was

2) if it came with a kit, didn't you read the instructions?

3) did you just jump into brewing without reading any forum or watching any videos?

its all good as long as your beer didn't get infected....just a little shocked that you'd leave your bung hole open when brewing 101 says that your beer is a freaking smorgasbord for bacteria and your one mission in life as a homebrewer is to keep that wort virginal so only the yeast may deflower it

The entire purpose of the beginners section is to ask questions. It may be obvious to you what all the equipment is and how the entire brewing process works but others have questions. This is not the first time a crucial step has been forgotten by a new brewer and i'm sure it wont be the last. I do agree that it is in the best interest of anyone to research, study, and follow the vast amount of knowledge and information or instruction that is available but people should not be made to feel bad for asking a question. Especially in the beginners forum.

Just my $.02

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

ok...i'm going to ask the obvious questions here...

1) why did you buy it if you didn't know what it was

2) if it came with a kit, didn't you read the instructions?

3) did you just jump into brewing without reading any forum or watching any videos?

its all good as long as your beer didn't get infected....just a little shocked that you'd leave your bung hole open when brewing 101 says that your beer is a freaking smorgasbord for bacteria and your one mission in life as a homebrewer is to keep that wort virginal so only the yeast may deflower it

Harsh. My first kit said nothing of an airlock. And, your statement says nothing to open fermentation.

 

[FastAndy]

OP, how did this turn out?

 

[unionrdr]

You guys are goofy! I don't think I've ever laughed so many times in one thread. And I thought that thing was a certain ethnic buttflute one could only aquire in Parma,OH...

 

[Howareya]

OP, how did this turn out?

Seems to have worked fine.

I take it that the thing I showed is only to protect from dust or insects etc.

No flies got in as far as I know

I transferred to my barrel afterwards. That was a week ago. So in about three more weeks I'll be trying it out.

 

[obsoletist]

The airlock doesn't just protect your beer from outside contaminants, it also acts as an indicator of fermentation. When your beer begins to ferment, you'll get a bubble coming up through the water in the airlock every few seconds, or minutes, depending on how far along your fermentation is (the bubbles will taper off over time).

 

[unionrdr]

the bubbling usually slows or stops after initial,vigorous fermentation is done.

 

[Bobby_M]

The airlock keeps oxygen out of your fermented beer which is essential for long term stability.

 

[Howareya]

The airlock doesn't just protect your beer from outside contaminants, it also acts as an indicator of fermentation. When your beer begins to ferment, you'll get a bubble coming up through the water in the airlock every few seconds, or minutes, depending on how far along your fermentation is (the bubbles will taper off over time).

The bubbling made it just as far as the lid, but never pushed out through the open bunghole ( )

Thanks, next time I'll know what to do with that plasticy thing. I'll let you know how it goes.