Fermenting

[retourrbx]

has anyone tried fermenting with the lid off - anything I should worry about? Should I cover the surface with something? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks in advance

[Jim]

Here's a link to be going on with.

Clicky

[Dan]

most "Open Fermenters" still have a sort of loose lid that keps a bit of dust and the wasps out. Ive fermented in bins for a year with the lid just loosely placed on top and had no problems. now i ferment in larger 60L fermenters which come with an airlock. It becomes very useful to ferment under airlock when:

a) your outside and you have the wind blowing
b) you are using liquid yeast and have 24-36hr lag times on the first batch
c) you have a weak ferment which is barely keeping enough CO2 on to to protect itself.

[Dan]

nice link jim

[Jimberbob]

I always ferment with the lid off, 'cause I like the smell. Mmmmmm.

[steve_flack]

Whilst plenty of traditional commercial breweries use open fermenters I think using them in a home environment is asking for trouble. Much is made of the magical protective properties of the yeast head and the CO2 blanket - both of which are pretty useless faced with a fruit fly with a nice load of lactobacillus.

Therefore I ferment with an airlock on my fermenter (in my spider nuturing area AKA my garage).

[spearmint-wino]

I put on the fermenter lid but leave the airlock hole open for the first part of the fermentation, then when it begins to slow I slap an airlock in. Best of both worlds?

[prolix]

lid on clipped at one side resting the other so I can peek

[Gurgeh]

experience is something you get just after you needed it? oh yes. leaving the lid off entirely lost me a brew, leaving the lid partially off made a nice swimming pool for fruitflies and there goes a second brew.

and that is in a temp controlled fridge.

so my feeling is that never again will i fart about with that.

My concession to reducing the pp of co2 in the ferment is not using an airlock either though, i just put an upturned plastic bowl over the airlock hole so that gas can escape very easily.

[steve_flack]

My concession to reducing the pp of co2 in the ferment is not using an airlock either though, i just put an upturned plastic bowl over the airlock hole so that gas can escape very easily.

In what way is that any better than an airlock at letting CO2 escape?

[Gurgeh]

not having to push the water, perhaps some diffusion from around the rim too.

I doubt it makes much of a difference, if any at all steve.

also lets me have a look without much interference.

[Buzz]

I'm also like my lid half snapped on, the other just resting.

[mysterio]

I just keep the lid loosely on for ales, and a closed airlock system for lagers. I wonder if theres any effect on flavour due to partial pressure of CO2, is there any research on this?

[mattfuzzy]

all i notice about co2 pressure is that if you get a big and fast fermentation goin on, and it starts bubbling like mad with loads of foam your best off taking the lid off and it wont foam through the airlock, or come close
screw blowoff tubes just undo the lid, doesnt need to be taken off all the way either.
-matt

[ECR]

(in my spider nuturing area AKA my garage).

Steve, are you nurturing them or neutering them?