Fermenter overflow into blowoff tube

Question

I just started my first batch of homebrew using a kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop, and 15 hours in, I seem to have a problem: The fermentation seems to be very vigorous and I have this foam/gunk/residue that has made its way into my blowoff tube (pictures attached). As of this writing, it looks like some wort has also gotten into my jar of sanitizer as well.

Should I be concerned about this? Is this a contamination risk? At this point would it be better to clean out the blowoff tube, or would I be better off waiting for the fermentation to subside and to replace the blowoff tube with the airlock a couple of days later as recommended in the instructions?

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Answer 1

No worries. This is exactly the point of a blow-off tube: to blow-off excess fermentation products (krausen and wort trapped in the bubbles) in a controlled, "sanitary" way. There's basically no contamination risk. Swap out the contents of the blowoff container if it gets too nasty, starts attracting fruit flies, &c. But leave the blow-off tube in place until fermentation subsides. At that point, as you say, probably best to replace it with an airlock, or just cover with tin foil or whatever.