I took a look in the fermentation chamber (aka the bedroom closet) today to see how the Belgian strong dark ale was doing and was pleased to see that fermentation had taken off quite vigorously. Perhaps a touch too vigorously, as there was a steady stream of bubbles coming out the airlock and most of the sanitizer had been pushed out. I tried adding a little more sanitizer to the airlock and watched as it all bubbled right out the top.
LOTS OF BUBBLES!!!
I thought that was amusing and only mildly alarming, until I took a look after dinner and noticed that krauzen had made its way up through the airlock and out onto the lid of the fermentation bucket. Not quite as amusing, and a bit more alarming.
The things that look like dress shirts near the top left and top right corners of the photo? Those are the shirts I wear to work. Surprisingly few people complain that I smell like beer.
Anyway, rather than risk the airlock being forcibly ejected from the top of the bucket with an accompanying spray of yeast and foam, I decided to opt for a blowoff tube. For the moment, there is peace in the bedroom closet.
The growler is from Shawnee Craft Brewing, who make excellent beers.