Scary activity!

[Quantum freak]

Hey all,
I have just completed my first extract brew (spitfire clone) yesterday, its been in the fv now for around 15 hours and for around 11 of those it has been fermenting so vigorously that it is turning the lid inside out and blocking the airlock!
It wouldnt be so bad but there is only 4 gallons in the fv so theres plenty of space at the top??

Is this normal for an extract to be so agressive??

SG was 1.050 (adjusted for temp)

Cheers all

Chris

 

[PD]

Yes they have a mind of there own freaky things ferments. and the next one you do you might not even notice it.

 

[Quantum freak]

Yea that makes sense as my wherry was active but nowhere near this one! Im hoping its gonna calm down soon as Im constantly cleaning up the mess! You can release the pressure and literaly within seconds its pressurised again!

Its mad I tell e!

 

[PD]

have a blow tube ready for times like this. Instead of air lock put a tube in that leads to a bowl or jug at the side with a bit of boiled water in. When its calmed down change back to air lock

 

[RobWalker]

yeah, it's normal - particularly for dark beers and wheat beers.

clean and sanitize your airlock again. you'll be fine :thumb:

 

[Quantum freak]

have a blow tube ready for times like this. Instead of air lock put a tube in that leads to a bowl or jug at the side with a bit of boiled water in. When its calmed down change back to air lock

Great idea, thanks :thumb:

 

[Quantum freak]

Blow pipe installed and so far so good :thumb:

:

 

[Quantum freak]

BOOM!!! Even with the blow pipe installed it just blew the lid off the FV

Scared the crap out of me in the process!!!

What is going on here :wha:

 

[jonnymorris]

A vigorous fermentation. Sounds good. Have you considered leaving the lid just resting on the top of the FV?

 

[Quantum freak]

I think I know why it blew, I was using a cheap plastic tap pushed into the bung in the top of the FV and the internal bore was smaller than the pipe.
Anyway, the tap became blocked hence the blown lid

I now have the pipe straight in the lid so I will see how that goes, if it fails I may have to leave the lid slightly off like you suggested jonnymorris :thumb:

The upside is my airing cupboard smells really good now :grin:

Im looking forward to taking a gravity reading when this settles

:

 

[Awolphotography]

I think I know why it blew, I was using a cheap plastic tap pushed into the bung in the top of the FV and the internal bore was smaller than the pipe.
Anyway, the tap became blocked hence the blown lid

I now have the pipe straight in the lid so I will see how that goes, if it fails I may have to leave the lid slightly off like you suggested jonnymorris :thumb:

The upside is my airing cupboard smells really good now :grin:

Im looking forward to taking a gravity reading when this settles

:

Airing cupboards can be VERY warm, and may explain such a vigorous ferment, have you taken the temp in there?

 

[Quantum freak]

I think I know why it blew, I was using a cheap plastic tap pushed into the bung in the top of the FV and the internal bore was smaller than the pipe.
Anyway, the tap became blocked hence the blown lid

I now have the pipe straight in the lid so I will see how that goes, if it fails I may have to leave the lid slightly off like you suggested jonnymorris :thumb:

The upside is my airing cupboard smells really good now :grin:

Im looking forward to taking a gravity reading when this settles

:

Airing cupboards can be VERY warm, and may explain such a vigorous ferment, have you taken the temp in there?

Yea its around 22-24c in there, there is no boiler in there as its been removed and I have the door open so its at room temp or thereabouts :thumb:

 

[graysalchemy]

Far to hot. You want 18-21 maximum. Above that you run the risk of freaky flavours and fusel alcohols. Remember temp of the wort is likely to be higher than the ambient temp especially in the first 24hrs. This is also the critical time when funky flavours are made.

 

[Quantum freak]

I tried leaving the edge of the lid up a touch but it just spewed out foam from the gap and made a right old mess!!!

Is there anything that I did during the boil etc that could have caused it to be this vigorous or is it just a case of it is what it is?

With this one I just sprinkled the yeast on top and left it whereas with the Wherry, I stirred it in. Could this be why its foaming so much? :wha:

Ive just weighed the lid down with anything I could find that is heavy, lets see if that helps :hmm:

Oh well, guess I just have to keep nursing it for a bit longer :grin:

 

[Quantum freak]

Far to hot. You want 18-21 maximum. Above that you run the risk of freaky flavours and fusel alcohols. Remember temp of the wort is likely to be higher than the ambient temp especially in the first 24hrs. This is also the critical time when funky flavours are made.

Oh! :shock:

the temp on the lcd thermometer on the side of the FV is 24??

Is this still too hot?

 

[PD]

Its a little hot but will be ok. In future I'd recommend not putting the Fv in the airing cupboard for the first day or two normal household temperatures are easily warm enough ( and can be too warm ) As you have found out its better if you could stand your FV on the sink/draining board in case it gets too vigorous
and better still if you can stand it in a low flat plastic tub so the mess can be contained

 

[graysalchemy]

Yes way to hot fusel alcohol territory. They taste solventy and cause hangovers.

Get it out of there.
:thumb:

 

[Quantum freak]

Yes way to hot fusel alcohol territory. They taste solventy and cause hangovers.

Get it out of there.
:thumb:

Done!

Its now down on the cold laminate floor of the conservatory.

Its a LOT colder out there at the moment as its raining. May have to move it in again depending on the weather!!!

I hope I havent ruined it as this is my first Extract attempt :pray:

 

[Quantum freak]

Sorry Piddle, didnt see your post!

The airing cupboard is definitely out of bounds for me now, I just hope I havent ruined my first Extract :pray: :pray:

May have to find myself some sort of tray to stand FV in, good advice, :

 

[rich27500]

Relax and see what happens. Also I'm guessing you have a packet of decent yeast in there rather than the less good stuff that comes with kits