So I had my first blowout, well legitimate blowout I did have on with my first Norther Brewer Caribou Slobber due to high fermentation temps. Now that I have temps under control trying to find out what would have caused it. The only new factors I’m considering is either All-grain vs Extract fermentation, Higher OG than any beer I have done so far, or pitching onto the yeast cake (although I did this with NB Dead Ringer with no problem). I’m using the American II strain and have the fermentation chamber at 64-65. It was bubbling just fine for 3 days and when I went to check Wednesday night it had a small blowout (only covered the side of the lid, wasn’t enough to go down the side). I’m using a 6 gallon bucket so had 1 gallon of head space. Considering the vigorous fermentation you normally get from NB’s CS and my second kit didn’t blowout figured I didn’t need to use a blowoff tube. Should I have started fermenting this one at a lower temp say 62-63 then raised it? Any ideas will be appreciated.
nothing probably wrong…just might want to use the 7.9 gal bucket next time. were you holding 64-65F or did it go higher?
+1. That’s what I use.
In my experience, all-grain beers are more prone to a very large krausen compared to extract. Not always the case, just the trend from my beers. Roasted and flaked malts, certain yeasts, and higher gravity can add to this as well. I often need to replace the blowoff container around day 4 with stouts over 1.070.
I use a blowoff with every beer just to be on the safe side. I’d say it’s needed about half the time.
TL; DR - it’s good practice to always use a blowoff.
^This^ I always use a blowoff for at least the first couple days, even though I also use FermCap. I usually only need them on my really big beers, but why not use them. Much easier to clean a bucket and blowoff tubes than it is to clean my fermenting freezer.
Agreed. I’ve found that fermenting cooler helps, too.
Thanks for the info. Think my biggest before this one was 1.057 at the same temps and yeast with no problem, didn’t think a .01 change would be that big. Guess I’ll look into a blowoff tube for big beers or find a bigger fermentation vessel.

Thanks for the info. Think my biggest before this one was 1.057 at the same temps and yeast with no problem, didn’t think a .01 change would be that big. Guess I’ll look into a blowoff tube for big beers or find a bigger fermentation vessel.
Once is all it takes, just use a blow off tube every time and you no longer need to worry about it regardless of the size of the beer or yeast or any other factors, simple peace of mind:)
i’m just going to add i’ve never needed blow off tube when i had more than about 1.5gal head space. my typical fill is around 5.25-5.5 gal in a 6.5 gal glass carboy or in 7.9 gal bucket for 5.5-6.25 gal of wort. in my experience, its been 1gal or less head space and i may need a blow off…that’s when i had 6 gal carboy.
certainly no harm in attaching blow off no matter what; i just know what brews i may need it for.
+1. I’ve used a blowoff hose before when I used smaller fermenters, but the 7.9 gal buckets keep it contained. Even 3068 and 3787.
I have used a blowoff tube since the day I covered the walls of the utility room with Kreusen, it’s quick and easy and is better than the mess that can happen.
Do you all successfully clean your blowoff tubes? If so, how? I’m thinking they’re pretty much single use.
Same way that I clean my kegs, fermenters, etc. Overnight soak in an Oxyclean Free solution and then spray it out with a hose.

Same way that I clean my kegs, fermenters, etc. Overnight soak in an Oxyclean Free solution and then spray it out with a hose.
Me too, but with mixed success getting all the krausen out of the middle of the tube.