1st time needing a blow off tube

Ingredients
1

Greetings,

I came home from work today to find my airlock overflowing with krausen. I sanitized a blow off tube and switched out the airlock with it. I was very surprised to see this happen. The beer is an all grain Blonde with an OG of just 1.045. I’m using US-05 and didn’t use a starter, but did rehydrate before pitching. It’s a 5 gallon batch in a 6 gallon Better Bottle. Fermentation temps are holding at 64-65. So, is this normal with all grain brews?  ??? I usually do extracts and have never needed to use a blow off tube, not even with 5.5 gallon batches. The beer was brewed Sunday.

I’m curious to see your responses and thanks in advance.

TJ Cook

2

I have had this happen with extract and all grain brews. There is no rhyme or reason as to which brews it happens to. At least that I know of. I have decided I am just going to start using a blow off tube instead of an air lock from now on.

3

I do 5.5 gallon batches in 6 gallon Better Bottles so I always use a blowoff tube.  Better safe than sorry.

4

The first time I needed a blowoff I was out of town and had to explain to my very pis*ed off wife how to rig up a blowoff hose.  Since then I pretty much always start with a blowoff hose and go to the airlock after several days.  Any beer with lots of wheat, and beers over about 1.080 are the ones that I see really needing a blowoff hose.

5

I appreciate the responses. I guess I’ve just been lucky doing extract batches the last couple years. I was thinking there could be a higher risk of blow off doing an all grain batch, but I guess not. I think I will start making it my normal practice to start out using 1 from now on.

6

Sometimes I need one but most of the time I don’t. It depends on the yeast, OG, type of fermenter and head space not to mention fermentation temp.

I check the fermenter after pitching pretty regularly and will make the switch to the blowoff hose if need be but again, most of the time it’s not a problem. I also use a fermentation control chamber most of the time to keep the ale temps below 70F.

7

for me, high gravity wheat beers usually call for a blowoff tube. anti-foam agents can help.

8

Every once in a while a batch will be extra foamy. It’s surely not because it is all-grain.

9

anti-foam agents are key.  You don’t need a lot of fermcap-S; a few drops in the starter and/or boil kettle is all you need.  The boiling step sanitizes it along with the rest of the wort.

It keeps you from having as many “brew-catastrophe” stories to tell your buddies, but… I’m sure there’re other things you’d rather talk about :wink:

10

I’ve never tried fermcap, but read that it is popular. I may pick some up on my next supply run. Thanks for the tip!