4 May 2010
Can a beer fermentation mixture be airtightly sealed or do the gases need to escape? ?
Author: admin | Filed under: BoozeI’m completely new to brewing my own beer. I’d like to know whether i can cover my fermentation container with an airtight seal, because its not the greatest of smells to have lingering in the house for 3 or 4 days. Does gas need to escape i.e. does it affect the fermentation process, i know that most microscopic organisms die in the absence of oxygen, is it the same fo yeast, or can i get away with putting a tight lid over it?
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Tags: airtightly, beer, escape, fermentation, gases, mixture, need, sealed
Gas needs to escape.
If you try to completely seal the container, the CO2 will build up and your container could explode. It’s not so much a problem with oxygen (the airspace inside the container is probably sufficient) as it is pressure form the gas.
The gas (carbon dioxide) needs to escape. If you don’t let it out, it will get out on it’s own. Kerboom! You’ll just have to get used to the smell, I’m afraid.
I’m not sure about the first fermentation, but during the second fermentation, it needs to be air tight because that is how the beer becomes carbonated.
It’s been a long time since I brewed but I don’t remember having to let the gas escape, but don’t quote me on that.
they die in the presence of oxygen. they create carbon dioxide and alcohol (thanks, little yeast!). we keep them closed to keep oxygen away from them. when in wine , beer or any brewing process, the alcohol hits 15% the yeasties …well…die:(
if you don’t vent it off, the canister can explode as did a champagne i was trying to make. once my beer in a plastic 2 litre bottle was so pressurized i had to sit a couple hours and vent… wait vent… wait etc etc. still it spewed badly when i gave up and opened it.
GOOD LUCK!!
Airtight is not going to work, and neither will giving the gas a two-way path to exit.
Nope, you need whats called an airlock. A device that allows gas to escape the fermenter bucket but will not allow air into the hole. This is generally accomplished with water — much like your toilet. You don’t smell the sewer even though its connected without any valves.
Initially, you want a lot of oxygen in your wort to stimulate the growth of the yeast. Once the yeast gets going, you want to eliminate the oxygen and let the carbon dioxide build up. Most people use an airlock to accomplish this but a blow-off valve will work. If you try to make an air-tight fermenter, the carbon dioxide will blow the top right off.
gas needs to escape otherwise you will have an explosion. However do not leave it open it will be ruined. You need to get the special brewing cork which has a little glass instrument on top which you put water in this seals it from germs and insects whilst letting the gases escape.
the gas needs to be let out, or you’ll have an explosion.
the best way to vent the gas depends on how you do your primary ferment.
if you use an open pale (like I do a) loose fitting lid is fine .
if you use a carboy (glass or otherwise) youll need an airlock.
Like everyone else has said, it needs to vent. Here is a trick to keep the odors down though. I like to use a blow-off tube in some sanitized water instead of an airlock. I like to place an erlenmeyer flask inside a box with packing peanuts and dryer sheets with a small hole in the top for the blow off tube to reach the flask. Then fill the flask with sanitized water. As the flask bubbles the dryer sheets along with the peanuts will cut down on the odor. Its not perfect, but it sure helps with any odors