Failed Caribou... small batch.. Grr

rjpear · July 30, 2013, 12:57am

Hi Folks, Newbie here trying his first Gallon batch…using a NB kit, the Caribou Slobber… I was looking forward to it… but less then 24 hours after I started Fermentation I went to check on it and found this mess…

The Airlock cap was pushed out and off the table and the "Innards" leaked down the side of the bottle.  I spotted an empty airlock tube and assume that it was game over.  Upon furhter inspection there was heavy c02 movement up the tube but the looks of the Carboy turned me off this batch.  Any ideas what could have caused this mess?  My first small batch kit (A Sierra Pale) seems to be chugging away with no issues.     Should I have just put a blow off tube in at the start and tried that method.. I will be sure to give that a go on the next attempt.  I really want to try this beer...Grr...

Thanks for any tips…

Rob

james_rausch · July 30, 2013, 1:05am

Yep, hindsight is 20:20, but should have used a blowoff tube. Maybe control fermentation temp. a little better as well(try for low 60’s). Now- DON’T GIVE UP ON THAT BATCH!! Based on your pic, it looks like the vigorous fermentation is over, so clean up the airlock system, replace the vodka/starsan, and let it continue. As a general rule, that vigorous of a ferm. means that co2 is blowing out hard, so the risk of contamination is minimal. You may still be able to sample the nectar of the Caribou.

nighthawk · July 30, 2013, 1:54am

you can not ferment 1 gallon of beer in a 1 gallon container. Just like you don’t ferment 5 gallons in a 5 gallon fermenter.

NB is setting you up for this mess. If you wish to continue making 1 gallon batches, invest in some 2 gallon pails.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/2-gallon ... d-lid.html

Or check out any place that make donuts and see if they get items in small pails.

flars · July 30, 2013, 4:27am

Go to a grocery store where they decorate their own cakes. Here in town can get frosting buckets of different sizes for a dollar apiece. Some have rubber seals.

rjpear · July 30, 2013, 7:34pm

Thanks for the reply… I unfortunately (and with much sadness) dumped the batch… I didn’t want to gamble on it.
And as for the 1 Gallon batch in a 1 Gallon container… I think thats why they include the blow off with each 1 gallon fermenter.

Live and learn…

Thanks

Rob

flars · July 30, 2013, 8:42pm

[quote=“rjpear”]Thanks for the reply… I unfortunately (and with much sadness) dumped the batch… I didn’t want to gamble on it.
And as for the 1 Gallon batch in a 1 Gallon container… I think thats why they include the blow off with each 1 gallon fermenter.

Live and learn…

Thanks

Rob[/quote]
You should never dump. Give it time and taste. You may be surprised.

nighthawk · July 31, 2013, 12:56am

[quote=“rjpear”]Thanks for the reply… I unfortunately (and with much sadness) dumped the batch… I didn’t want to gamble on it.
And as for the 1 Gallon batch in a 1 Gallon container… I think thats why they include the blow off with each 1 gallon fermenter.

Live and learn…

Thanks

Rob[/quote]

If you look at the 5 gallon kits, they all have 6 gallon glass fermenters or 6.5 gallon pail fermenters. Many times you need a blow off tube with these set ups.

The .5 pint open space in a 1 gallon fermenter is not enough. Even with a blow off tube.

Like Flars said, don’t dump a beer until you are absolutely, positively certain it’s bad. This could be 2 months after it’s been in the bottle.