First brew, but ferm bucket is not airtight

[Veronis]

Hi all,

I'm new to brewing beer. I'm really glad to have found this forum - very informative posts. I've learned a ton already, and I'm already stockpiling recipes. EdWort's Apfelwein sounds awesome.

I got a brewing starter kit and an extract kit last week knowing nothing about homebrewing, so sorry if I misuse any terms.

• Kit: Midwest Supply, Irish Dry Stout (extract)
• Yeast: Munton's 6g dry yeast (http://www.chicompany.net/images/Muntons Ale Yeast.jpg) - no starter, pitched ~75-80 F
• OG 1.046
• 36 hours later (today) SG is 1.029 - pics attached

The fermentation bucket has an air leak so the airlock is idle. I'm pretty sure it's a faulty proprietary gasket...it looks like it's cut crooked.

What should I do differently, if anything, since I don't have an airtight seal?

And what's the floating stuff? Is that yeast? Krausen? It doesn't look like any pics I've seen.

I have not contacted Midwest yet. I just noticed the air leak tonight.

Lastly, just a note - when I returned the lid, the airlock tossed a bubble every 1-2 seconds until the Star San I wiped all over the gasket evaporated. Now it's idle again.

 

[hercher]

The floating stuff is the remnants of your krausen. It will drop out.

Don't worry about your lid not being airtight. You don't need to do anything different. Your beer will be fine.

 

[Veronis]

Thanks, hercher.