air lock or not air lock that's my question

[Spanish_brewer]

I have contacted my local home brew shop to see if the have a fermenting bucket with a hole, and a rubber bung and air lock (I don’t really want to drill a hole myself because I know what will happen). Here is their answer.

"The 2 gallon fermenter with lid costs £5.50. You will not need an air lock as beer ferments quite quickly at room temperature, just have the lid loose on top."

That statement, has just confused me as I have read everywhere that you need an air lock so the air during the fermentation process can come out but can't come in.

what do you think? can I do what this gentleman says and get good results? if so why anyone would need an air lock.

as always thank you for your help

Thanks
Luis

 

[Dieseljockey]

Ohh boy... .. you'll put the cat among the pigeons with this Q... :lol: :lol: I do sometimes. then not, your right about the air, but as your brew works it gives off Co2 and stays on top of the brew....but the guys correct. All I say is be careful... :pray: it's easy to get an infection.

 

[alanywiseman.]

I sometimes use an air lock but usually not. just snap the lid onto your fermenter and as the pressure builds up it will find its way out. The buckets are not air tight so it will be fine. This is how I treat my buckets and have not had a lid pop off yet :thumb:

 

[Spanish_brewer]

I'' like to cause a bit of trouble some times.

So I can ferment beer without an air lock. but I need to be careful so the beer doesn't get infected. What precautions do you recommend?

Thanks
Luis

 

[Spanish_brewer]

Thanks alanywiseman. I am learning a lot. I guess an air lock is used if you fermenting beer in container that is totally locked and the air cant scape such us a botolle with a screw top.

 

[klaus]

If the FV needs an airlock I put one in - never get bubbles coming through.
If FV doesn't require airlock I just snap on the lid.
My beer has always fermented fully, no infections so far.
This is one of those questions where you are likely to get many different sometime confusing answers.
Good luck with the brew!

 

[Ian...]

some people are driven by the glug gluggy sound of the airlock bubbling... me? I have just finished my 12th brew without an airlock and no problems. So.... if you want to do it... do it, if you don't... don't. Your choice.
:

 

[pittsy]

when it's your first few brews having an airlock puts your mind at rest as you'll be worried it's not fermenting , but soon enough you'll just snap the lid shut , no airlock , and crack the lid slightly open one end just enough to push air out as you push the lid etc . happy brewing , what you gonna brew first ?

 

[DethApostle]

I have a Youngs fermenter which has a Krausian (sp?) collar and a lid, neither of which 'click' on. No airlock used and no issues so far!
(i have also drilled a small hole in the lid to suspend a fishtank heater in the wort!)

 

[winelight]

This air lock business is new. I used to brew years ago (OK, decades ago) and nobody used an airlock. I never saw a FV with airlock hole for sale, even.

You also had to boil all the stuff up together in those days, not sure why you don't have to now.

We never had bucket clips, racking canes, never did batch priming... much has changed.

 

[winelight]

(i have also drilled a small hole in the lid to suspend a fishtank heater in the wort!)

I have a fishtank heater but not sure how best to use it. Do you literally suspend it? That is, having it hanging in the middle and some way off the bottom?

 

[artyb]

you can just place a clean tea towel over the fv,
you only need to stop debris and flys getting in the layer of co2 will do the rest..

btw...
the teat owl is britians most prolific owl... :rofl:

 

[Asalpaws]

Agree. Last few brews I've just put a cloth over FV for the primary ferment, no problems so far.

 

[Dieseljockey]

Told ya... :lol: :lol:

There's an old adage....."Ask 10 brewers a question and you'll get 11 answers" :rofl: :rofl:

 

[fermentall]

never used an airlock for brewing beer yet,pretty much the same as the other replies. :

 

[fbsf]

I use an airlock.

The glumping sends me into a brewtrance... :shock:

Or maybe that's my previous brews :drink: :whistle:

 

[DethApostle]

(i have also drilled a small hole in the lid to suspend a fishtank heater in the wort!)

I have a fishtank heater but not sure how best to use it. Do you literally suspend it? That is, having it hanging in the middle and some way off the bottom?

Yes, it is literally suspended in the middle of the brew! Seems to work fine!