Air lock water got into the brew

[Stunned Monkey]

Yes, am slightly concerned. my #2 brew was going great guns till I took a hydrometer reading at around day 3. The FV has achieved a perfect seal this time and the result was water going back through the air lock. I'm almost certain a splash made it into me brew

Activity slowed right down over the following 24 hours and overnight last night seems to have halted completely (at least as far as venting is concerned). It's day 5 now and SG has gone from 1046 to 1018 overall. It's a 2-can brewpaks kit with an extra 250g of light spray malt. I was hoping to get well over 4% abv

Okay I know I'm prolly being paranoid... I sanitised the air lock but it's only got council juice in it. Anyone think this might cause trouble? (it's a cheap Coopers one-piece jobby).

 

[doghouse gav]

Think you might be worrying about nothing. Happened to me and turned out fine. I now use a little vodka in my air lock now tho after seeing it on you tube. That way If any gets into your fv it's no problem and only adds alcohol!!

 

[Mark1964]

In future it might be better to use cooled boiled water in the airlock. Then it wont matter so much if you get some in your beer :thumb:

 

[31bb3]

you could plug the top of airlock with some cotton wool

 

[Stunned Monkey]

I like the idea of Vodka in the air lock! - although I'm a bourbon fan mesself so got that in the house. That'll confuse anyone watching the video :hmm:

It did get a touch cold last night and with the brew belt on all day (up to 20 degrees now) it seems to have woken back up again. I'm sure I was worring over nothing. Thanks all! :grin:

Had a day off today and have nearly finished glugging my first batch (Beer Squash :drink:). An idle jaunt over to my favourite supplier website and my wallet's another £36 lighter (going to do an IPA this time).

This homebrewing lark is really good fun... :party:

 

[luckyeddie]

I always, ALWAYS use vodka or cheap whisky in the airlock. Whisky's probably better because it's more visible (the old eyes do not work any more). As far as getting a bit of airlock water in the brew, I very much doubt that you've done any real damage. Your current yeasties will probably overwhelm the odd little invader.

 

[Good Ed]

I wouldn't worry. I use 1/4 campden tablet in the airlock, no problems :thumb:

 

[Stunned Monkey]

Er.... new around here sort of fing innit... :?

what's a campden tablet ? when might I use one in me brew?

 

[Ceejay]

It's mainly Sodium Metabisulfite, and is primarily used in beer brewing to dechlorinate tap water :thumb:, but it can also be used to kill certain bacteria and inhibit yeast growth. Let it be said, it doesn't kill yeast or stop fermentation :whistle: