yeast starter question

[Dom590]

So my last brew was also the first one I have made a yeast starter for. It's also the first time the krausen has foamed up and out of the airlock and went everywhere. Is this a coincidence or normal with yeast starters. And lastly what can I do to stop it from happening again aside from making less beer or buying a larger fermenting vessel.

 

[ajf]

Do searches on blowoff tubes, and Fermcap. I've never used fermcap, and only twice needed a blowoff tube. I bought the right size carboys in the first place.

-a.

 

[winvarin]

+1 to both pieces of advice. Six gallon Better bottle with a home made blowoff tube for the win. I made my blow off tube out of a 3-piece airlock. I removed the lid and the piece inside, then took the case to the hardware store to buy some tubing that goes over the post.

Since the hole in the Better Bottle bung is made for the stem of an airlock, no other modifications necessary.

For about 50 cents in tubing, my blown airlock woes are a thing of the past. I just run the tube into a large plastic cup filled with an inch or so of Vodka (or StarSan, depending on my mood)

I use one of those orange clips you can get at every LHBS for racking canes to hold the tube in the cup.

 

[Dom590]

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to make one of those blow off tube things, one question though does it replace the airlock, or is it an addition. I don't have the space for a bigger carboy which sucks, I would have a bigger carboy if I could.

 

[ajf]

My blow off tube is 1.25" OD. It fits directly in the neck of a glass carboy. I don't know if better bottles are a different size.
Some people (like winvarin) use a 3 piece airlock in the stopper, and just attach a blowoff tube to the center. If you go this route, I think you will need 1/2 " ID tubing.

-a.

 

[Dom590]

thanks for the info

 

[permo]

Since I started using proper starter protocol and using plenty of oxygen and yeast nutrient, I have moved my 6 gallon batches into a 9 gallon fermenter to avoid blow offs. If you pitch the proper amount of yeast and give them what they need to really do their jobs, you are going to get fuller attenuation, shorter lag times, bigger blow offs, and better beer.

I use a minimum of 2 litres of starter regardless of gravity, but if I go over 1.070 I pitch an entire gallon of starter typically.

use plenty of nutrient in your starters and use plenty of nutrient in your beer/wort, aerate properly and you will rock and roll.

 

[winvarin]

My blow off tube is 1.25" OD. It fits directly in the neck of a glass carboy. I don't know if better bottles are a different size.
Some people (like winvarin) use a 3 piece airlock in the stopper, and just attach a blowoff tube to the center. If you go this route, I think you will need 1/2 " ID tubing.

-a.

Correct on all counts. Be prepared to lose a couple inches of tubing each time though. When the tubing is on, it is on tight and will usually need to be cut off for cleaning.