I used to make beer but quite making it and I'm slowly getting back into it (as the wife allows). My question is when I used to make beer my primary always had an air lock. Everyone said you had to have it or it would go bad. Now everyone here at my local home brew store is saying you can just use a primary bucket with a loose fitting lid. He has 50 buckets going this way in the shop. I currently have an apple pie cyser in the primary. Bucket with a loose fitting lid and 10lbs of honey on top just to keep it a little tight. What does everyone else use?
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What do you use as a primary
- Thread starter Izzie1701
- Start date
I use a plastic primary. It is 7.5 gal. It has a loose lid that can not be snapped on. The CO2 builds up to enough pressure to lift the lid and that is how it vents.
I don't think k putting 10 lbs on you lid is a good idea. Be pretty hard for the CO2 to vent. I think this would create a toxic environment for your yeast and kill them off pretty early. Could be wrong though.
I don't think k putting 10 lbs on you lid is a good idea. Be pretty hard for the CO2 to vent. I think this would create a toxic environment for your yeast and kill them off pretty early. Could be wrong though.
I still use a 7.5 gal. primary and an airlock for beer and mead making. Some of my lids do not seal well (no airlock activity is seen during fermentation) and I've never had any problems. I rack into smaller buckets for secondary fermentation and for aging, I don't own a carboy. I've seen home winemakers use a 55 gal. garbage can with a loose lid for a primary without issues, the CO2 pressure keeps the O2 out, then they rack into carboys or barrels.
7.5 bucket with a sealed lid and airlock. Maybe there's a small almost 0% chance some fruit flies or mold or ferrets could get in there, but I would rather make that chance 0 since buckets with a seal aren't that expensive.
Also gives ability to leave it in the primary forever since its under airlock.
Also gives ability to leave it in the primary forever since its under airlock.
