[birdman200]

Okay so I brewed my first batch tonight, with a simple IPA kit with just the syrupy type extracts from a can.  I sanitized the fermenter tub, boiled the extract stuff, etc etc.  I then poured the boiled extract into the fermenter tub with cold water in it, added the yeast, and covered it with the lid.  THEN, I put the carboy (the valve type contraption that allows CO2 to leave the tub, without letting oxygen get in) ontop of the lid (at the designated hole in the lid).  HOWEVER, I pushed it in a little too far, and the tip of the carboy thing fell into the beer. 

Now, the carboy thing is a little loosey goosey on the lid of the fermenter.  I tried to fix it by adding tape to the sides to help stabilize it.

Being that it's my first batch, I'm not expecting much from it.  Obviously there is know way of knowing how it is going to turn out until it is bottled and everything in 4 weeks.  Is there any tips for the future, or even for what I should be doing for the next 2 weeks, prior to bottling?  Then what to do after bottling?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

[boulderbrewer]

You could fish out the rubber gromet if it is floating and put it back on the lid and reinstall the airlock.  Otherwise don't sweat it  you should be OK. This should not kill your beer.

[birdman200]

yeah I tried fishing it out with a strainer - unsucessful.  I guess when I bottle it it will show up...if it doesn't I'll have to make another trip to the brewery store to get a replacement.

[a10t2]

Welcome to the forum, and to brewing!

At this point, you can really only do more harm than good by trying to get the grommet out. Just let it sit for a few weeks, then take your gravity reading(s) and proceed as normal. It's a very common problem, and I've never heard of anyone who had a batch ruined as a result.

For future reference: a carboy is a glass vessel, generally 5-7 gallons in volume, that's used to ferment beer (in place of a bucket). What you have on top is an airlock.

[joeysmokedporter]

agree with the others--don't worry about the grommet--if it was sanitized then it won't hurt the beer.  happy brewing!

[hopaddicted]

I did the same thing with my first batch have no fear, two recommendations:

1) When you insert the airlock into the rubber grommet, use a little bit of a twisting action back and forth. I tried pushing mine straight in and that's what happened with the grommet... Straight in!

2) Buy an extra grommet when you get a chance, you may never need it, but for $.50, you can't do wrong. I've built up a collection of odds and ends from similiar adventures/mishaps.

Happy Brewing and good luck!

[birdman200]

Okay thanks a lot guys.  I'm the type of person who gets worrysome over not knowing what I'm doing, so you can imagine what I was feeling last night brewing my first batch haha.

Thanks again for all the responses, I've relaxed a lot more now.  I'll just fish it out somehow when I start bottling in 2 weeks.  Despite doing a lot of reading and research, I'm still a little confused about the hydrometer.  Can someone give me a brief description/functionality of it please?

Thanks!

[a10t2]

Despite doing a lot of reading and research, I'm still a little confused about the hydrometer.  Can someone give me a brief description/functionality of it please?

Have you read this yet? http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixA.html

[birdman200]

I just read it, thanks a lot for the help! 

[thomasbarnes]

Old news now, but as long as your brewing environment is reasonably clean and your fermentation is nice and vigorous, you might even be able to get away without an airlock when using a plastic bucket.

Ale fermentation produces a lot of CO2 during the first couple days of fermentation. As long as all that gas is going out through that little hole in lid, it's going to keep air (and airborne bugs) from going in.

Just rack or bottle your beer once the foam on top of your fermenting wort drops.

In the future, twist the airlock in rather than shoving straight down. Also, you can slightly lubricate the lock using a bit of water or rubbing alcohol so you don't have to push so hard. You can also put the airlock onto the lid before you put your lid on your beer. As long as the lid/airlock combo is on a sanitized surface, you're fine.