9 replies to this topic

[Humperdink]

I've known of several people using aluminum foil in place of airlocks or blow off tubes, I've used it for a while but I've never been 100% sold on the idea. I really like that it's one less thing to sanitize as its sanitary off the roll. Can anyone think of any reason not to do this?

[DaBearSox]

I use aluminum foil a lot. It works a lot better than a airlock for my starters since I don't have a stir plate i am always shaking/swirling it...I also use it when I am transferring between my better bottles and bottling bucket...I never assumed it was sanitary off the roll though I always soak the small square in star san or at least take a lighter to the side that will be closing the hole.

[Humperdink]

Yeah, I beleive it was Denny that said sanitary off the roll, I could be wrong though. I always use it on my starters.

[DaBearSox]

Yeah, I beleive it was Denny that said sanitary off the roll, I could be wrong though. I always use it on my starters.

I could see it, I am pretty sure they use extreme heat while they are rolling out the big slaps of aluminum...I just always figure better safe then sorry...

[No Party JKor]

I think it's fine for active fermentation. Once the wort has stopped generating CO2, I don't think it's the best method. The gas in the headspace of the fermenter will expand and contract with fluctuations in ambient temperature, which causes a 'pumping' effect where gas is forced out of the fermenter as it warms, then ambient room air is pulled back into the fermenter as the gas in the headspace cools. This actually creates a draft into the fermenter that can carry contaminants in.

[MakeMeHoppy]

I could see it, I am pretty sure they use extreme heat while they are rolling out the big slaps of aluminum...I just always figure better safe then sorry...

I heard the sanitary item from a senior member of my brewclub, but I'm like you I like to soak it in sanitizer anyway. The quote was actually the backside is sanitary.

[No Party JKor]

I don't know if it's sanitary, but I seriously doubt that the aluminum foil manufacturing process is a pleasant place for bacteria.

[jasonrobertcohen]

I think it's fine for active fermentation. Once the wort has stopped generating CO2, I don't think it's the best method. The gas in the headspace of the fermenter will expand and contract with fluctuations in ambient temperature, which causes a 'pumping' effect where gas is forced out of the fermenter as it warms, then ambient room air is pulled back into the fermenter as the gas in the headspace cools. This actually creates a draft into the fermenter that can carry contaminants in.

Two more problems to add -- a.) judging the exact time where the outgassing from active fermentation is less than the ingress of common air from a temperature swing would be nearly impossible and B.) people assume CO2, being heavier, will sit still in a lowered well indefinitely. This is a safe assumption for short time periods (filling a corny, opening a chest freezer) but not for the days following active fermentation.So if someone's going to go through the hassle of judging just the right time to replace the foil with a stopper, why not just use the stopper from the beginning?That being said, I always use foil on starters. Dust falls downward and can't be sucked upwards into an Erlenmeyer flask covered by wrapped foil [Pasteur 1859], and my times on the stir plate are typically 24-48 hours. Even with a little excess oxygen, the starter is going into an environment where initial oxygen is required anyway.jrc

[SchwanzBrewer]

I use it over my starter bottles. Spray a little starsan on the contact side. No big deal. I might use it in a pinch if an airlock broke or something like that on a carboy.Cheers,Rich

[denny]

Yeah, I beleive it was Denny that said sanitary off the roll, I could be wrong though. I always use it on my starters.

Yep...same with paper towels.