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Expert: - 1/17/2010


Question
I brewed a Russian Imperial Stout.  The OG was supposed to be 1.078, and my gravity was 1.042.  I put it in my fermenter anyway.  This morning the beer was foaming up and clogging up the airlock.  It has done it several times.  What should I do to fix this problem?  Is this batch ruined?

Answer
Tim,

The batch is not ruined.  The clogging is normal for a vigorous fermentation.  There are a couple of ways to help with the issue.  

1. Increase the size of the holes in top of the bubbler.  You can use a fork.
2. Take the bubbler top off and attach a hose to the tube and then run the hose in to a container that contains alcohol or sanitizer.  Make sure that the hose is under the liquid and stays there.  This allows a larger blow off area.

As to the O.G. not being within target.  Several things could have happened.  If this is an all grain you may not have had the grain milled correctly or your mash temp may have been to high.  Or you did not sparage enough.

If this is a kit or extract beer then you may  not have had enough fermentables to start with.

Or your hydrometer is off.  (this could be a possibility.  You can test with tap water at 60 degrees. Your reading should be 1.000 To calibrate your thermometer you can place it in a glass of ice water and it should read 32 degrees.)

What ever the reason you will still have a beer it will just not be an Imperial.  If you want to kick up the alcohol you could add more fermentables when you rack.  This will make calculations difficult but it will increase the alcohol content.

I hope this has helped.

Alan

Beer

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Alan Ward

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I am a home brewer who has been brewing since 2000. For us brewing is a family activity with everyone helping in some small way. We brew mostly all grain batches, but we do some kits. I have built all of our equipment. We bottle and keg. Drop us an line, we will be glad to assist with answer or help you find where the answer is. In October 2008 we opened the Brigadoon Brewery & Brew School at the Texas Renaisance Festival. This is a unique brewpub and teaching facility located on the grounds of the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Texas. To our knowledge we are the only functioning brewpub located on the grounds of a renaissance festival brewing using both period specific equipment and modern equipment to brew hand crafted ale and then serving it back to the public. Where we offer hands on training and live period appropriate all grain brewing through out the day. Drop by and we will be glad to answer any question you have. You can checkout the brewery at www.brigadoonbrewery.com or follow on twitter@brewschool.

Experience

Home brewing since 2000. Started with a Mr. Beer kit and worked our way up to all grain.

Former chemistry and physics teacher.

Education:
Bachelors Arts Teaching; Master Instructional Technology
Currently the Managing Member and Brewmaster for Brigadoon Brewery & Brew School.

Organizations
Master Brewers Associaiton of America Texas Craft Brewers Guild American Home Brewers Association Brewers Association

Education/Credentials
Bachelors in Sports Medine from Sam Houston State University Masters in Instructional Technology from American Intercontinental University

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