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Date: 27 May 2006 17:01:16
From:
Subject: Help - Problem with airlock
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Hello brew makers,
I'm fermenting a belgian ale. I have brewed this beer for many years
(3/4). Some of the beer is exiting through the airlock. I have never
had this problem. Does anyone know why this reaction occurs?
Belgian Ale
21 litres
90% Grain
10% Extract
initial gravity 1.072
Yeast 3787 Belga
Thank you,
MV
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Date: 28 May 2006 02:26:29
From: Dick Adams
Subject: Re: Help - Problem with airlock
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<mavallarino@gmail.com > wrote:
> I'm fermenting a belgian ale. I have brewed this beer for many years
> (3/4). Some of the beer is exiting through the airlock. I have never
> had this problem. Does anyone know why this reaction occurs?
> ....
I just had it 2 days ago. It's called unexpected excessive
fermentation. It is similar to what happens when you put
baking soda into vinegar.
You need a blowoff valve, tubing, and a container in which
to put water. See http://tinyurl.com/o22qx for a photo of one
(top photo). I use a three piece airlock (4th photo)
Here are the instructions when you have NO blowoff valve.
This is also known as the hard way.
1. Put the two removeable parts in a drawer.
2. Snip off a small amount of the lower tube of the airlock so
you get a better flow-thru.
3. Put one end of some 1/2"tubing over the plastic tube inside
the airlock, (now the hard part),
a. If you have no 1/2" plastic tubing, get over to a store
that does now.
b. If it's late or you want to get it done now and you have
some 3/8" tubing, use a needle nose pliers and a heat
source to stretch the end of the 3/8" tubing until it
fits over the the plastic tube inside the airlock.
4. Put the airlock into the pail grommet or the carboy bung
and put the free end of the tubing into a 1/2 gal or gallon
container half-filled with water.
5. After the crisis ends, cut the tubing to size so it reachs
the container.
I have two of these. The blowoff two days ago came from five
gallons of mead in a 6.5 gallon carboy when I added a tsp of
nutrient fortunately I had a blow set up handy and cleaned it
up before my child bride saw it.
Dick
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Date: 28 May 2006 03:31:07
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Help - Problem with airlock
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Not sure what Dick means by 1/2" tubing. I find that 7/16" inside
diameter by 9/16" outside diameter tubing fits the tube in the air
lock snugly.
Steve
On Sun, 28 May 2006 02:26:29 -0000, rdadams@smart.net (Dick Adams)
wrote:
>3. Put one end of some 1/2"tubing over the plastic tube inside
> the airlock, (now the hard part),
> a. If you have no 1/2" plastic tubing, get over to a store
> that does now.
> b. If it's late or you want to get it done now and you have
> some 3/8" tubing, use a needle nose pliers and a heat
> source to stretch the end of the 3/8" tubing until it
> fits over the the plastic tube inside the airlock.
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Date: 28 May 2006 14:05:18
From: Dick Adams
Subject: Re: Help - Problem with airlock
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Steve <stevew776***DROP*THIS***@yahoo.ca > wrote:
> Not sure what Dick means by 1/2" tubing. I find that 7/16" inside
> diameter by 9/16" outside diameter tubing fits the tube in the air
> lock snugly.
Thank you for the correction. I have always done these the hard way
with 3/8" tubing due to lack of planning.
Dick
> rdadams@smart.net (Dick Adams) wrote:
>> 3. Put one end of some 1/2"tubing over the plastic tube inside
>> the airlock, (now the hard part),
>> a. If you have no 1/2" plastic tubing, get over to a store
>> that does now.
>> b. If it's late or you want to get it done now and you have
>> some 3/8" tubing, use a needle nose pliers and a heat
>> source to stretch the end of the 3/8" tubing until it
>> fits over the the plastic tube inside the airlock.
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Date: 28 May 2006 02:25:13
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Help - Problem with airlock
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On 27 May 2006 17:01:16 -0700, <mavallarino@gmail.com > wrote:
> Hello brew makers,
>
> I'm fermenting a belgian ale. I have brewed this beer for many years
> (3/4). Some of the beer is exiting through the airlock. I have never
> had this problem. Does anyone know why this reaction occurs?
It's called "blow off". It happens sometimes, but is not a big deal. One
of the causes is a more vigorous fermentation, which can be dependent on
lots of things like a high OG, higher fermentation temp, certain yeast
strains... etc.
Other than making a mess, it shouldn't really hurt anything. Just keep an
eye on it and make sure that the airlock doesn't get plugged up. If you need
to you can take the airlock off, clean it out, and then put it back on.
John.
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Date: 27 May 2006 21:33:39
From: tombiasi
Subject: Re: Help - Problem with airlock
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<mavallarino@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1148774476.079404.36540@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello brew makers,
>
> I'm fermenting a belgian ale. I have brewed this beer for many years
> (3/4). Some of the beer is exiting through the airlock. I have never
> had this problem. Does anyone know why this reaction occurs?
>
> Belgian Ale
> 21 litres
> 90% Grain
> 10% Extract
> initial gravity 1.072
> Yeast 3787 Belga
>
> Thank you,
>
> MV
>You didn't have enough head space to accommodate the fermentation foam.
If it has slowed down, just clean the airlock and put it back.
If its still going like gangbusters you may need a blow-off tube. A tube
that fits tight in the carboy mouth which you can insert in a bucket of
water.
Sort of like a giant airlock.
RDWHAHB,
Tom
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Date: 20 Jun 2006 13:49:09
From:
Subject: Re: Help - Problem with airlock
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Thanks everybody for the advice.
Cheers,
MV
Dick Adams wrote:
> Steve <stevew776***DROP*THIS***@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
> > Not sure what Dick means by 1/2" tubing. I find that 7/16" inside
> > diameter by 9/16" outside diameter tubing fits the tube in the air
> > lock snugly.
>
> Thank you for the correction. I have always done these the hard way
> with 3/8" tubing due to lack of planning.
>
> Dick
>
> > rdadams@smart.net (Dick Adams) wrote:
>
> >> 3. Put one end of some 1/2"tubing over the plastic tube inside
> >> the airlock, (now the hard part),
> >> a. If you have no 1/2" plastic tubing, get over to a store
> >> that does now.
> >> b. If it's late or you want to get it done now and you have
> >> some 3/8" tubing, use a needle nose pliers and a heat
> >> source to stretch the end of the 3/8" tubing until it
> >> fits over the the plastic tube inside the airlock.
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