Krausen bubbling into airlock

Northern Brewer General
1

I came home today to see that I had a tiny blowout on my carboy…not mess or anything, just krausen all the way through the airlock, popped the lid of a little bit. Still happily bubbling away.

So I soaked a rag in StarSan, took the bung and lock out and placed the rag over the opening while I cleaned and re-sanitized the lock and bung.

I’ve been sitting here (at my computer, beer fermenting a few feet away) and the krausen is already over flowing the airlock again - been only 15 minutes or so since I swapped it out.

Pretty sure I only have a 5 gallon glass carboy, which is why it’s bubbling over.

Is it okay to just let it sit and do that? Should I clean it out periodically? I’m sure this active stage of the fermentation will be done shortly…I’m just not sure if I should let it sit like that or keep cleaning it out.

Thoughts?

2

Use a blow-off tube, or pull the airlock and replace it with sanitized foil. In the future, (if it’s a 5-gallon carboy) then you should always use a blow-off tube for the first few days. Either that or keep your batch sizes to 4.5 gallons. How’s the temp? If it’s a little too warm it might be extra krauseny… if that’s even a word.

3

Instead of a rag use a piece of Aluminum, plastic wrap, sandwich bag…

Will your tubing fit over the inside post of the air lock?

You can replace the tubing with tubing from the local hardware store.

4

Temp is hovering steady around 62.

I don’t have one of those cylinder airlocks…it’s the two stage s curve one.

I’ll look into the blowoff tube for the next batch - is it okay to let this one sit with the krausen in the airlock or should I keep replacing it?

5

In my opinion the main problem with this is the potential to plug up the airlock.
I had one plug up, and when the pressure finally blew the bung out, it made quite a mess.
Didn’t hit the ceiling though.

6

Keep cleaning it because it will start to slow down, then clog and blow

7

And if it blows…will the beer still be okay?

I would presume that it would since CO2 is heavier than air, so air shouldn’t be able to get inside the carboy.

8

[quote=“stompwampa”]And if it blows…will the beer still be okay?

I would presume that it would since CO2 is heavier than air, so air shouldn’t be able to get inside the carboy.[/quote]

Yes, but depending on the pressure, you will not be happy with the mess you have to clean up

9

I’ve been at work all day…kinda nervous about coming home to a mess!

10

Worst case but easy fix, get a 3 piece fermentation lock. They are only $1.50 or so at any HBS. Then you can create a blow off tube as pictured above. Or get a drilled stopper that will fit a piece of tubing in it and it would do the same thing.

11

Fermcap-S

is a foam inhibitor that has worked well for me for years. You add 2 drops per gallon and it really keeps that kreusen down. It also helps prevent boilovers. I’ve used it making maple syrup too, to knock down the foam and keep a clean surface to maximize boiloff. One bottle will last you forever!

12

By now fermentation has probably calmed down. You can get a piece of copper or some ridged tubing to go inside the bung. Then the plastic tubing.

Or the Big Bore Blow Off Tube.

http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/bbbot.html

At this point you can put a piece of AL foil over the top. Then take your bung to the hardware store and wander around. Brainstorm for something to work.

I have 4 carboys going right now that never had an air lock on them. Only AL foil for the past 3 weeks.

13

Thanks Everyone.

The airlock was bubbled over again when I got home from work yesterday. Cleaned it out for the second time. It’s been sitting clean now since then. Still bubbling away, but the heavy stuff is done now.