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Author Topic: Stuck Airlock  (Read 1371 times)

Offline SKUNKYBREWSTER138

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Stuck Airlock
« on: January 09, 2016, 10:50:27 am »
I cold crashed my beer in the fridge with the airlock on and now it is stuck. Does anybody know how to get it off the bucket without sucking all the Star San into my beer? in the future, it's nothing but vodka in the airlocks. TIA.

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Pijte pivo, které jste vařili sami.
Drink beer which you have boiled yourself.

Offline fmader

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Re: Stuck Airlock
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2016, 01:52:21 pm »
I wouldn't even worry about getting that little bit of Star San into your beer. I bet you had more Star San left in your bucket after you wiped it down prior to adding your beer to it than you have in that airlock.

You probably have a 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of Star San in that airlock. Let's just go with the high end of 1/2 oz. That means that you will have 0.0008% Star San in that 5 gallon batch. Or 0.0096 oz in each 12 oz beer. So maybe a single eye drop's worth in each beer?

It won't effect the taste whatsoever. I wouldn't waste good vodka  :P
« Last Edit: January 09, 2016, 01:54:33 pm by fmader »
Frank

Offline TeeDubb

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  • San Jose, CA
Re: Stuck Airlock
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2016, 02:16:30 pm »
Your airlock ran backwards already when you cold crashed the fermenter as the air and liquid inside cooled down and contracted.  It will do the same as you pull it out.  Most of the airlocks (assuming they are not overfilled) won't allow the Star San or Vodka to come out if the air flow is gradual in either direction.  I agree with fmader that a bit of Star San won't affect your beer - very neutral stuff.

As far as the airlock being stuck, I would put some StarSan on the grommet, let it sit, then twist it off if it seems to be stubborn.

Offline SKUNKYBREWSTER138

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Re: Stuck Airlock
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2016, 03:25:25 pm »
Should I let it come to room temp before trying to get it unstuck?

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Pijte pivo, které jste vařili sami.
Drink beer which you have boiled yourself.

Offline dzlater

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  • Dan S. New Jersey
Re: Stuck Airlock
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2016, 04:05:17 pm »
Why don't you just leave it till after you bottle/keg the beer?
I sometimes just stick a cotton ball in the airlock to act as a filter.
Dan S. from NJ