For those that argue that homebrewers can not emulate commercial brewers in their practices...what a load of crap! Brewing is brewing however you look at it. It's just the scale that differs.
One of the most important things to ensure is that you protect your brew from any external infection (unless you want to make a Lambic of course). A sealed container with a liquid-filled airlock is the best way to do this. It allows gases to escape while stoping wild yeast, bacteria, insects, dust, you name it from entering the brewing vessel.
Gladwrap, Clingwrap or whatever you want to call the product stretched across your open fermenter with a pin hole in it DOES NOT provide this kind of protection.
Despite what some supposed "experts" say, there are NO disadvantages to using a fermenting vessel with an air-lock.
IMO The people that disparage the use of an airlock in favour of plastic film and a pin-hole are simply too tight-a#sed to pay the few dollars as a one-off to purchase a piece of equipment that is far more effective.
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