How important is an airlock?

[Stoutman]

How important is a 'bubbler' type airlock versus just snapping open a tiny section of the brewbin lid? I know the latter method may open the brew to small amounts of contamination, but then again I dont have an airlock right now, and im VERY eager to get going

[EYE JAY]

not much I use a air lock so my kids don't stick their hands in plus we get a load of midges round here so its just down to your situation

[ashbyp]

Last couple of brews i've not botherd with an airlock and i've had no problems. The yeast foam layer that forms protects the beer from infection and by the time that;s gone the alcolhol should kill anything that gets in.

i think the risky stage is initially after pitching your yeast, before the yeast head forms though...

[StrangeBrew]

I dont have an airlock right now, and im VERY eager to get going

Get going!

I've never used an airlock on the primary FV, just fitted the lid and cracked open a small area to allow the release of pressure build up. A Co2 layer produced by the brew will protect it from airbourne infection. An airlock is more important to me when using a secondary FV for dry hopping or to allow the beer to clear before kegging/bottling as production of Co2 will lessen as fermentation of the brew slows down to a stop. If your going bottle/keg from the primary as soon as fermentation is over it won't be a problem.

[Bugman]

It is widely known that yeast will ferment wort to form alcohol under anaerobic conditions. Which is why many people choose to utilise the air-lock system, so as to create an anaerobic environment inside the fermenter.

But with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer's yeast) there is also something known as the Crabtree effect which takes place. This is (if memory serves me correctly) where under high sugar conditions the yeast with preferentially carry out fermentation even in the presence of oxygen.

I suspect that in the absence of an air-lock this must take place as oxygen will no doubt be passing through?

Maybe some learned board member can correct me or fill in the gaps I've missed??

[Knotty47]

The airlock does have one use that I like, it's a very basic indicator of the fermentation cycle. Without one your stuck opening up the barrel everyday to take gravity readings, but you can skip most of these with an airlock because you've no need to take readings until the CO2 bubbles are a minute apart. Less opening of the FV means less chance of infection, which no one likes

good luck, Alex

[clogwog]

I don't use an airlock, I cover the top of my fermenter with gladwrap, and use the rubber seal from inside the lid as a big rubber band to hold it in place.
It allows me to see what is going on, and the CO² seems to find its own escape path.

[booldawg]

I've always adopted the technique of the lid slightly cracked open. After using an airlock bubbler on my last brew I'm seriously considering using one all the time.

As pointed out its an excellent indication of activity without having to compromise the seal on the lid each time and also gives you a good idea of when fermentation is slowing down. Anything that cuts down the risk of infection due to not giving bacteria a chance to be introduced is good practise in my books

[ashbyp]

Hybrid appraoch I what I do. I leave the lid open during the first foaming stages - as the airlock often gets bunged up if you have one in then.

Once the foam has calmed down I stick the airlock in so I can monitor activity.

[Damfoose]

I use an air lock ( I like bubbles ) plus I seem to have a very dusty house so the air lock keeps any thing out that may contaminate my brew, It also gives as said earlier a good indication of how the brew is coming along.

[sparky Paul]

I never bother with airlocks on beer. I read somewhere once that top fermenting yeasts benefit if they can find some oxygen from the air in the initial stages...

Also, I aways use bucket-type fermenters, and I don't think the seal on some buckets is good enough for a bubbler to be 100% reliable, especially when the ferment is slowing down.

[Buzz]

Also, I aways use bucket-type fermenters, anad I don't think the seal on some buckets is good enough for a bubbler to be 100% reliable, especially when the ferment is slowing down.

Totally bang on. I had a brew which stopped bubbling in the airlock after just 1 day but the fermentation process had not completed and regular checks with the hydrometer confirmed this to be the case. The co2 must have been escaping from the seal, despite the lid being firmly snapped down.

[BrewBob]

I also find my bucket does not seal 100%. I either stick an air lock in the hole in the lid or put an upside down cup or glass over the hole just to stop anything falling in. If I have an air lock on it I never see any bubbling like when I use a demi john.

[StrangeBrew]

Exactly right! Bucket style FV's with snap on lids are unlikely to be 100% air tight so no point in using an airlock as indication of fermentation but if a screw lid with 'o' ring FV is used then I can see it being worth while using one.

Why take hydrometer readings every day? It's just not necessary.

[richard_senior]

I like airlocks, because I like bubbling. Bubbling makes me happy.