Open Fermentation Process

Can open fermentation be done simply by putting the fermenting beer in a bucket carboy and covering it with foil?
The purpose of the foil would be to just keep airborne contaminants from falling into the wort.
Despite being "covered" with foil I would think that any restriction on the head space would be negligible compared to an air lock. So I don't think it would be much different than having a bucket wide open.

I am considering this because I don't have an area that is clean enough to just let something sit open for a fermentation. Especially, if I want it to be in a temperature controlled environment like a fridge.

Topic open-fermentation techniques fermentation equipment homebrew

Category Mac

1
answered at

Well, I've done an open fermentation like this for wine. Left a 6G plastic bucket of wine open for primary, covered with some sanitized plastic wrap. Had other problems with the wine (it was neglected for awhile in some hot temperatures, but that's another story!) but the primary turned out just fine. Go for it!

Perhaps you could tent the foil (or even build a little "top hat" out of foil) on top of the bucket, allowing even more headspace room while still keeping stuff from falling into your beer?

1
answered at

traditionally open fermentation meant open. It was said about some of the old belgium ales that you could smell the farmyard off them! Not sure if using foil would allow enough exposure to ensure that you get fermentation.

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