[newrocset]

I just had the rubber gasket that holds my airlock in place drop into my fermentation bucket.  It apparently sank to the bottom, and I can't fish it out. 

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Do you think it will impart any "rubbery" or "plastic" flavors to my beer?

My ale has just began primary fermentation with a pretty high krausen....Is there any reason NOT to rack into another fermenter at this point?

And while we are on the subject of Krausen....has anybody ever tried carbonating their beer using the krausen method?  Now that I'm using a bucket (rather than Carboy) it would be easy to skim it right off the top.

[morticaixavier]

Don't worry about the gasket. just let it ride, I wouldn't rack it to another fermenter, just replace the gasket.

Krousening for bottle carbing as I understand it does not involve krousen from an active fermentation. It's just using some saved wort or wort from another batch that you to prime the bottles or keg. Never tried it myself but I have used malt extract to prime and it takes longer than table sugar. other than that I didn't notice any difference.

[tubercle]

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

 Ha Ha. More times than you want to know;D

 I used to fish it out by going elbow deep but after awhile I realize an air lock is not really necssary and just stuffed some paper towel in the hole and let it ride.

[denny]

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

 Ha Ha. More times than you want to know;D

 I used to fish it out by going elbow deep but after awhile I realize an air lock is not really necssary and just stuffed some paper towel in the hole and let it ride.

Yet another pragmatism award!

[newrocset]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I figured it would be cool, but just wanted to be sure.  Luckily, I have quite a few rubber gaskets, so I was able to replace it, and now my airlock is rockin'