On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 17:29:26 -0600, "Quinn Knight" <acjones@bellsouth.net>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>When brewing my first batch of beer I used a plastic bucket to ferment.
>After I put the lid on the bucket I pushed the airlock into the hole in the
>lid. When I did this the rubber grommet/gasket got pushed through the hole
>and fell into my beer. I washed my hand and arm well, but had to go in up to
>my elbow to find it. After 10 days this stuff smelled and tasted more like
>something you would clean a carburetor in than beer. Is the sticking in of
>my arm likely the problem or something else?[/color]

I'd say that's one possibility. There are many others. You don't say whether you
sanitised anything. More than washing is required. Everything needs to be
sterile.

On the subject of airlocks I suggest throwing it away. They are more trouble
than they are worth. Just cover the fermenter with some plastic wrap. Works
perfectly. I've been doing it for years without a single failure.

Have a look at these;

[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer1.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer2.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer3.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer4.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer5.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer6.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer8.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer14.jpg[/url]
[url]http://www.geocities.com/spinning_wings/beer15.jpg[/url]

Shill #312
--
Homer no function beer well without.
Homer J. Simpson