Can i brew in the fermentation bin without a airlock

[Erebus_Mace]

I have just purchased a wilkos youngbrew homebrew kit and was just wondering if i needed to add an airlock to the fermentation bin lid or will it be ok without one?

Cheers

[dunc]

it'll be fine without one.

[Barm]

Yeh - it always seemed a waste of time to me.

Just remember not to completely snap the bin's lid on all the way round: the gas pressure will make it bulge and possibly even blow off.... I just snap it on at 2 opposite points, that's enough to keep any air and foreign matter out but also allow excess CO2 to vent safely.

Always use one on your secondary vessel though - if you're going down the route of racking off rather than bottling/kegging straight from the bin.

[Barm]

and it also removes the temptation to try and judge the progress of fermentation by the frequency/lack of bubbling, instead of the only accurate method of using a hydrometer.

[colgilbec]

I,ve allways just covered the bin with a freshly laundered t,towel tied with coated garden wire , never had a problem.
As previously mentioned, a hydrometer is your main tool for checking fermentation.

[Deneeve]

Yeah me too, i've never used one, that said, i'm only a novice, just use the hydrometer and the condensation on the lid is a good indication of fermentaion to me.

[clogwog]

In Australia we tend to use the closed fermentation containers, with a screw on lid.
I don't use the lid, nor an airlock. Instead, I just cover the fermenter with clingwrap, and use the sealing ring from inside the lid as a big rubber band to secure the clingwrap.
It allows me to see what's happening. Can be fascinating to see the different behaviours with differing yeast strains.

The only time I use the lid is for brewing weizens. I still don't use an airlock, but use a blowoff tube instead.

I never bottle before 2 weeks minimum. I only take a hydro reading at bottling time to complete my BeerSmith records.

[Philipek]

I've previously only ever used carboys, so I'm used to the airlock. I'm now using a bin and there would appear to be an imperfect seal on the lid which does my head in. If gas can come out then gas can get in. That's okay, I suppose during fermentation, but I'm a bit worried about when fermentation stops. I was thinking of transferring to a secondary vessel, but I might just bust off the lid and use the clingwrap. Thanks for the idea Clogwog.

By the way, how to you rig a blowoff through the clingwrap and keep a seal?

[Erebus_Mace]

Cheers guys. Great response from everyone! My brew fermenting away nicely now! Will try and keep you updated.

[clogwog]

I've previously only ever used carboys, so I'm used to the airlock. I'm now using a bin and there would appear to be an imperfect seal on the lid which does my head in. If gas can come out then gas can get in. That's okay, I suppose during fermentation, but I'm a bit worried about when fermentation stops. I was thinking of transferring to a secondary vessel, but I might just bust off the lid and use the clingwrap. Thanks for the idea Clogwog.

By the way, how to you rig a blowoff through the clingwrap and keep a seal?

Here's a pic of my fermenter covered with clingwrap. I don't use a blowoff tube with the clingwrap. CO2 finds its own way out. I'm not concerned about a little air being drawn back into the fermenter. There will always be a blanket of CO2 to isolate the beer from the air.

I do use the lid when I occasionally want to use a blowoff tube. I stick the blowoff tube through a grommet in the top of the lid.