Brewing without a grommet

sidavis21

Hi,

just got a new barrel and really keen to get started brewing tonight (only chance I will get for a bit) with golden stag summer ale but ordered wrong lid and doesn't have a hole for an airlock. I can get a new lid on Monday but can I stick it on now and then swap the lids over after a couple of days? Or would I be best leaving to avoid potential explosion, spillage etc?

D'oh,

S

JohnB

Get the brew going and use a piece of cling film with a few needle holes in it. That will do fine until you can sort out the lid. Alternatively, use the lid you have but don't press it down all the way round.

Either way you'll be fine.

sidavis21

cheers for that. here we go!

JohnB

Did a brew this afternoon and found myself in your position. Lots of lids but none with provision for an airlock. No problem - just lightly fitted a 'normal' lid. I'm sure it will be fine.

Gerry

You could drill a hole in the lid.Get the correct sized cork. Drill hole in cork to accommodate an airlock.

HBO_Staff

Agree with the above, an airtight seal is not needed whilst fermenting, the idea of an airlock is simply to let gas escape from the brew without letting anything in which could potentially spoil the brew. Many people including us do not use an airlock, we simply have a hole in the lid or just leave the lid not fully sealed to stop any pressure building up, so don't worry too much. Once transferred to a barrel or bottles is when it must be airtight after it is primed with sugar

sidavis21

Cheers everyone. Brew now on and seems to be progressing fine. >-