Exploding Fermenters

[Tony M]

Was having a quiet ale with a mate yesterday and he told me about his sons latest exploit. This lad is a keen masher but keeps his fermenter in the kitchen. Well, last month he had a lively brew under way but at some stage during high krausen, his airlock blocked up. The fermenter (screw on lid type) eventually exploded and spread the whole 22 litres over the six planes of the kitchen. Apparently his ceiling now looks like the inside of a cave with stalactites hanging all over it. Luckily this room was only recently painted. They say second time round is always a lot easier.

 

[Airgead]

. Well, last month he had a lively brew under way but at some stage during high krausen, his airlock blocked up. The fermenter (screw on lid type) eventually exploded and spread the whole 22 litres over the six planes of the kitchen.

I know that feeling. I had a 5l test batch of rasberry wit brewing away in the laundry. The fruit pulp blocked the airlock. It was in a glass carboy with a rubber bung so fortunatly rather than the whole carboy exploding it just blew the bung out (dented the ceiling) and sprayed beer all over the place. Thank goodness I had it stashed in an old shower recess with the shower curtain closed. It was a really hot night too so by morning when I discovered it, it had all set. Scrubbing the ceiling was great fun...

Cheers
Dave

 

[Doogiechap]

Slightly OT but still relevant and worth sharing.
I had an old cast Aluminium stovetop espresso maker which was on the go with the hotplate accidently on high................ BANG :excl: Hole in ceiling :excl: water and coffee grains spread through everything. I was in the pantry and you could see the silouette of coffee stain in the shape of my body !
Luckily the water had cooled as it sprayed ! New paint job later............
Sorry for the hijack but thought it might raise a smile

 

[stephen]

I recently made an Arcener Stout clone. Used about 7 kg of grain and 1084 yeast. OG was 1.068 in 24 liters. Pitched the yeast on a Sunday morning and by evening the airlock was full of foam. When I pulled the airlock out to fit the blow off tube, there was a loud hiss and I could physically see the fermenter shrink as the gas escaped.

I guess I was lucky this time.

Steve

 

[Darren]

Had 60 litres of barleywine do the same thing (lid loose, no airlock). When i found it the fermenter was blown up like a balloon. Pulled on the lid and it went BOOM. Foamed over the top for two days.

Lucky I saw it in time.

cheers

Darren