Blowoff Tube/Yeast Amount Questions

[mattb]

So I've never used a blowoff tube, as my first few batches have been pretty low gravity.

I have a stout in the plans that is scheduled to come in at an OG of 1.076. I do my primary fermentation in a bucket, not a carboy. I plan to use s-04 dry yeast, which I've heard creates a pretty vigorous fermentation if rehydrated.

Is this in the OG range where I should be using a blowoff tube? I'm not exactly real handy with tools--is there a simple solution for coming up with one?

I imagine that most of you use liquid yeast, but does anyone know if one packet of s-04 will be enough for a beer like this?

Feel free to point me to previous posts if this has been discussed. Thanks.

[siwelwerd]

Blowoff tube necessity isn't really a function of OG. It depends on the yeast, fermenter size/geometry, and a number of other factors (OG being one of them). As for a simple blowoff tube, get the correct diameter tubing and jam it in the hole in the lid of your bucket. I've also heard of people using a 3 piece airlock, but jamming a blowoff tube over the inside tube of the airlock (and not bothering with the other two pieces).

As to the yeast, check http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html . I suspect you'll want a couple of packs, unless it's really fresh.

[Witch Doctor Dale]

I would advise two packs correctly rehydrated or three otherwise.

[RobertHSmith]

since you will be using a bucket, unless you want to modify your lid, you are limited to what will fit in the gromet in the top.

If in your situation, I would go with the base part of a 3 piece airlock or something else. I use a thick piece of 1/2" ID tubing for a blowoff tube, but with a carboy and it does fine. You just need to make sure that when you adapt whatever tube you will use that it won't get clogged up some how and cause a beer explosion like an airlock will.

You could modify the bottom of the airlock tip to open it up a bit just in case.

I am currently making good use of a blowoff tube with my RIS, OG was 1.116. It took about a day and a half for the prior yeast cake to get used to it's new home and then blew off so much that I had a 4' wide puddle in the basement with the blowoff jug at the center of it this morning.

You don't always need blowoff tubes, but they can't hurt if always used..

Also, I agree with pitching more yeast. I normally use liquid and make huge starters for each beer. More yeast = piece of mind

[mattb]

Since I only have 3/8 tubing around the house, would it be okay if I fit the 3/8 into the airlock stem? Here is the photo:

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac1/jmb5x5/photo.jpg

Regarding modifying by airlock bottom, I think I could just snip or saw off the very bottom, which is kind of filter/flow stopper thingy. That would open the flow up so that I'd basically have a 3/8 tube going from the bucket to some water. Is this enough?

Then I can just submerge the other end of the tube in a few inches of water in a growler, right?

Re: the yeast, Mr. Malty said to use 1.3 11.5 gram packs of dry yeast, so maybe I'll just eyeball 1.5.

Thanks for all the help.

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[bmock]

Here's a link to the same setup that Robert is talking about. Buy an extra 3 piece airlock and cut off the the little cross on the bottom of the base. Use tubing to pipe CO2 from the airlock to whatever water container you want (like my growler).

http://mockwerks.blogspot.com/2009/04/blowoff-eh.html

[mattb]

Yeah, that's almost exactly what I had in mind (we posted at the same time), but will it be okay with 3/8 tubing instead of the big tubing you used? How much water do you put in the growler?

[beermikester]

Yeah, that's almost exactly what I had in mind (we posted at the same time), but will it be okay with 3/8 tubing instead of the big tubing you used? How much water do you put in the growler?

The water is basically to prevent any air-borne bacteria from making their way back into your beer. As long as the end of the tube stays submerged, you should be fine. I would think that filling the growler about half full should be plenty.

Mike

[bmock]

Yeah, that's almost exactly what I had in mind (we posted at the same time), but will it be okay with 3/8 tubing instead of the big tubing you used? How much water do you put in the growler?

I just used the tubing that would fit over the middle stem. If you can jam 3/8" on it, do it.

[mattb]

Excellent, no more questions for today.

[RobertHSmith]

for water, it depends. just set it up so that the end of the tube is in the water so no bugs can fly up the tube and get in your beer. Doing that will also have the same effect as using an airlock

[Michael]

You can also use a 3" or so piece of 3/8" copper tubing pushed through your drilled stopper rather than wasting an airlock.

Mike