Odd smell

Ever · 04-22-2007, 10:21 PM

Have an odd smell coming from my fermenter. This is my first time using hops so I'm not sure if it is an infection or just the natural process. It is sort of a very light sulfur/egg smell mixed with beer, which has me very worried. Yeast Strain was White Labs Hefewiesen VI WLP380. I pitched it Friday night and it was probably a bit warmer than it should have been. Any thoughts?

**Rook** · 04-22-2007, 10:26 PM

What do you mean its your first time using hops? Have you been making hop-free beer?

Are you fermenting in a pale or carboy? You're not dryhopping in the primary are you?

And how hot is it where the fermenter is?

Ever · 04-22-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rook

What do you mean its your first time using hops? Have you been making hop-free beer?

Are you fermenting in a pale or carboy? You're not dryhopping in the primary are you?

And how hot is it where the fermenter is?

The other time was a kit. This is the first time I have used a recipe.

Fermenting in a pale and I am not dry hoping in the primary. The beer had a very pungent hop smell when I finished boiling the wort.

It's probably 74 where the fermenter is.

**Kayos** · 04-22-2007, 11:05 PM

Let it be for a few days. The sulphur may be the yeast working hard. It is not the hops, though. I would 3 more days then take a hydro reading as well as a sample. It should taste like beer by then. If it smells like vinegar that is a worse symptom. ...Here is some reading by Palmer.

Ever · 04-22-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayos

Let it be for a few days. The sulphur may be the yeast working hard. It is not the hops, though. I would 3 more days then take a hydro reading as well as a sample. It should taste like beer by then. If it smells like vinegar that is a worse symptom. ...Here is some reading by Palmer.

Thanks. Yeah, that is the plan, I suppose.

When I take the hydrometer reading, am I looking for normal fermentation gravity? Or can the hydrometer tell me whether there was an infection by being too high or low?

Thanks again.

**Kayos** · 04-22-2007, 11:20 PM

It is more for a taste sample than anything. Whether it is done or not fermenting, it will taste good or bad. Then you'll know for sure. My bet? 90% you are fine.

Ever · 04-22-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayos

It is more for a taste sample than anything. Whether it is done or not fermenting, it will taste good or bad. Then you'll know for sure. My bet? 90% you are fine.

Very reassuring. Thanks.

AGBrewer · 04-22-2007, 11:37 PM

The smell is the nature of the beast with the 380 that you are using, sulfur and bananas, nothing to worry about

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 04-22-2007, 11:42 PM

Sulfer smells are very common to be coming out of airlocks.

McKBrew · 04-23-2007, 12:25 AM

Hefe yeast=sulphur smell.