Spewin' krausen!

[Jbug]

Just brewed an IPA yesterday and fermentation kicked off last night. This morning I check on it and it's defiantly at high krausen... So high that it is spewing out of the top of my air lock!... Do I have any risk of infection because the beer would be exposed to the air or will all the CO2 coming out make it hard for any bugs to get in? How long should this last? It's an awesome sight, but it's sure a mess!
Thanks
Josh

[bazookazilla]

It will probably stop in a day or two. Do you have some tubing to set up a blowoff tube? If you need to get some tubing you can get it a Lowe's for next to nothing. It shouldn't cost you more than three or four bucks, maybe less.

[Jbug]

I've been putting off the blowoff tube for my last few batches but I've only had one other batch have this violent of a fermentation...

When setting one of those up do I just skip the airlock and just run a hose into a bucket of water?

[brewranger]

as long as its coming out, i say you are ok. My only concern is that you could have a blockage and pressure buildup which would most likely shoot the bung out of the carboy (or lid of a bucket) then you could have exposed beer...but again, things are going out not in. Worst case your carboy shatters. If you don't have a blowoff tube you could try attaching a siphon tube to the air lock. at the very least i would switch out the airlock when the fermentation settles down so you dont have wet solids sitting in your airlock.

[Jbug]

Will do... I really don't think it's blocked up... It was hissing like hell this morning.. This was my first experience with dry yeast so I rehydrated and pitched two packets. From what I understand one packet is 2-3x's more than a smack pack or vial.. So there's just a shit load of yeast chuggin away in there... Smells awesome tho! It's an IPA with ammarillo as bittering and cascade to finish and dry hop...

[Jbug]

Ok lesson learned... I just got home to look at the rest of the damage and while I was at work, the bung blew off and have krausen blown on te ceiling and walls of my closet! Ahh the power of yeast... The foam in the carboy is like a mouse... I have some cleaning to do...

[brewinhard]

2 words - foam control (a couple drops will quickly decrease your krausen to a mere wisp of bubbles)

[Jbug]

Great idea... Would it have any effect on head stability?