What is the best airlock for homebrewing lager?!
It's a cheap and easy method that works well. As the fermentation gases build up, the balloon and the holes expand allowing the CO2 to escape. As the fermentation dies down, the balloon collapses and the holes close up, preventing outside contamination from getting in.
Answers: An S-curve bubbler airlock such as this one http://www.ejwren.com/catalog/1462.jpg is traditionally what's used (comes in both glass and plastic), but it's pretty tough to properly clean the passage inside it. There's another type of bubbler airlock I prefer that's made of plastic and comes in 3 pieces such as this one http://joshmadison.com/misc/projects/bee... and it can be easily disassembled for cleaning. Or, you could just use a rubber balloon with a few pinholes punched through it such as in the following photo: http://www.myheap.com/notebook/honeymead...
It's a cheap and easy method that works well. As the fermentation gases build up, the balloon and the holes expand allowing the CO2 to escape. As the fermentation dies down, the balloon collapses and the holes close up, preventing outside contamination from getting in.
it's hard to go wrong with a bubbler air lock...i actually fill it with vodka instead of water....kills anything that tries to sneak inside. just watch for evaporation..may have to top off once in a while for a long ferment
Any of them will work. I've used S-curve, bubbler, and blow-off valves. If used properly, there is no difference.
after spending several dollars for some fancy ones
I went to the hardware store and got some plastic tubing for the aquariums and bent it with a hair dryer,,