Over Active Fermentation

[Mike Neilson]

My Imperial Smoked Porter has foamed through the senior airlock is it wise to change this to a blow tube or should i just keep an eye on it, as i dont want to risk the chance of getting a infection on this bad boy. Finshed at 15 litres and is in an 30l fermenter is quite normal for style of beer?

[Kempicus]

Absolutely, mine did the same thing. I just kept an eye on it and it was fine

[denimglen]

I'd blow off tube it. Easier than cleaning out airlocks and risking infection IMO.

[Greig McGill]

Happens to me regularly. Have yet to have an infection. I think I need bigger carboys.

[Mike Neilson]

Yeah changed it over to a blow tube, as soon as i took the airlock out it exploded!!! she's phscyo!!!!

[Kempicus]

hahaha happened to me one time i had foam all over my face, my clothes, the wall....the ceiling it was hilarious! tasted good though!

[Stu McKinlay]

I've heard loads of people mention this with strong beers.

I've only had this happen once, with way too much yeast (poured the wort onto a slurry from prior fermentation), and the beer was really "hot". I didn't like it at all and dumped it. The last two strong beers I've made (1.080 and 1.100) were fermented with better yeast pitch and a lower temperature and they never got near the top of the fermenter, even though there was 23L in there.

[Mike Neilson]

Its was sitting at 25 deg for an hour or two before i stuck it in an cool water bath to try and drop it. I hope it hasnt been to long at that temp.I used Mr malt yeast pitch calc and it said 1.3 packs so I thought 2 must still be ok so I chucked it all in im starting to think now maybe I should of listened

[Stu McKinlay]

the proof will be in the pudding
if it isn't quite what you wanted you will know where to start improving next time...

[Mike Neilson]

Oh yeah!! bit of a learning curve this one, high gravity beers arnt as easy as they seem.