Do I need to use a cover and an airlock on the fermenter?
For centuries beer was fermented in open (uncovered) fermenters and a few traditional breweries still use this method. If you practice reasonable sanitation you may wish to open ferment your beer. It’s a good idea to place a piece of cloth or plastic over the fermenter to prevent anything from falling into the beer. And open fermentation is not recommended after fermentation has ceased or if the beer is racked to secondary for aging.
