can anyone answer this mystery

[dye29]

hy all can you explain this , my mate made a coopers austrailian lager in a fermenter with the snap on lid , there was no bubbling what so ever from the airlock , left for 8 days so thought would see what its like so syphoned into barrel as normal and theres loads of sediment in bottom as normal and the acohol smell as normal, but why hasnt it bubbled to indicate its working , the temp was perfect all the time and the barrel was air tight ,

[Geezah]

Sometimes the co2 escapes from under the lid seal rather than push itself through the water in the airlock..... whatever is the path of least resistance.

I only use airlocks on demijohns, and thats purely to keep fruit flies etc out.

[Ditch]

There was no bubbling what so ever from the airlock

Simply yet more proof ~ as if any were needed ~ than an air lock is about as much use, to a Beer Maker as a one legged man is in an arse kicking contest

[wxmexile]

I have had a couple of brews that haven't bubbled at all through the airlock - or not that i've noticed. Its nothing to worry about, they were fine. As for airlocks being useless, rubbish. I always use mine and always will - i know perfectly well i can make good beer without one, but i like having it in place, its a peace of mind thing; once i seal up my FV i know for sure nothing is going to get at my brew. For this reason alone they serve a purpose, and i think are best practice anyway.

[orlando]

I have had a couple of brews that haven't bubbled at all through the airlock - or not that i've noticed. Its nothing to worry about, they were fine. As for airlocks being useless, rubbish. I always use mine and always will - i know perfectly well i can make good beer without one, but i like having it in place, its a peace of mind thing; once i seal up my FV i know for sure nothing is going to get at my brew. For this reason alone they serve a purpose, and i think are best practice anyway.

Quite.

[St. Ailbhe's Brewery]

My airlocks never bubble. I only have them there as I don't know how the hell else to block up the hole in the lid of my fermenter.

[mickhew]

They're not useless just unecessary. They are not needed to brew, and worry people for no good reason.
The airlock vs no airlock debate has raged on here for some time. We will never agree.

[Mo06]

Has anyone tried the method suggested by Coopers - cling film over the top of the FV with a pin hole ?

[danbrew]

My airlocks never bubble. I only have them there as I don't know how the hell else to block up the hole in the lid of my fermenter.

Put a piece of sticky tape over it and forget about it. Replace the tape every now and again after it gets wet through cleaning etc. I gave up with them a long time ago after having to move an FV mid ferment, the airlock frantically bubbled because the FV drew air in through it and in the process dragging the contents of the airlock into my beer.

A waste of time on an FV and a liability to boot. Yet another part of the non-essential homebrew equipment conspiracy.

[vacant]

I use a top hat airlock because I like the sound ... just me then?

[Paddy Bubbles]

I used an airlock on my first kit brew. No bubbles. Shit myself. Researched online. Threw airlock away. No problems.

[maevans]

Just brewed this kit and didn't get a hugely vigorous fermentation, so I wouldn't worry too much about the airlock not bubbling away - the gas is probably sitting on top of the beer in the fermenter or has escaped around the lid.

Do agree with a lot of the posts above - useful as they can be, airlocks don't half seem to give people a lot of worry! The new Coopers Starter Kits (as in, complete kits inc fermenter etc) have a different style fermenter now to get around this "problem" - i.e. to stop people worrying - theres a pic of it in the link below - works a bit like a gas holder!

http://www.theshout.com.au/2010/12/10/a ... LCPIB.html

[eammoncass]

the coopers fermenter is good and i like the krausen collar however their hydrometer is useless.

[timbo41]

The airlock vs no airlock debate has raged on here for some time. We will never agree.

If it works for you then go with it. Taped my hole up because I never did get any bubbling. As said CO2 will find its way out even if you think seal is airtight. Never had a problem (touch wood ) with any contamination either to be honest.

[timbo41]

I use a top hat airlock because I like the sound ... just me then?

Are those the ones that go plunk plunk plunk all night, nice pink bung? Got one of them for after i did a turbo cider in a 5 litre PET SQUARE shaped bottle that strangely went ROUND because it wasnt vented. Oh the beautiful fountain effect when I decide to open it.