How much does it smell?

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orrisma

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I have never brewed anything, but I would like to try.
Could any one tell me how much homebrewing smells? I live in an apartment, so I don't have a lot of room to vent it. If I kept everything in a closet would it be able to be detected in the room?
Thanks
-Matt
 
Hehe...I find this question a little sus...
:D


The one part that will really stink the place up is the boil. When it's fermenting, you'll get some smell, but not much, depending on how fast fermentation proceeds.

I would think that if you stuck your fermenter in a cupboard, it shouldn't be detectable from the room.
 
When I do the initial boil, it stinks up my entire house. Do you have windows and ventilation fans? If so, and if you use them, it won't be too bad. Lots of people get a propane turkey frying setup and do the boil outside for this very reason. If you have to do it inside, though, it's definitely only a short term thing.

Once it is in the fermenter the smell is minimal. The most recent batch I am making has made my basement smell, but it's actually a very pleasant aroma. (I can't wait to get the stuff bottled and start drinking it)! The batch before that didn't really smell at all. A carboy in a closet won't cause any problem at all.
 
My favorite part is the smell of the gains and malt. My wife thinks it stinks my son thinks it smells like cheez-its. Me I think it smells great and that something really good is going to come from it. Just like sour kraut some people think that it smells great others think they are going to puck.
 
I agree with Cap - I take exception to the term "stink." To me, it is the smell of possibilities, the scent of a future of profoundly good sipping. However, my wife and daughters would not argue with the word! :cross:
 
How much does it smell?

Not nearly enough! This is my first batch and I must admit, I have on several occasion stood there bent over with my nose over the fermentation lock just to get a wiff of whats going on in that bucket.
 
Growing up on, and around farms all my life Pappy used to take a deep breath of the fresh aroma of pie rising from the moist earth - Cow Pie that is. He'd say, "Mmmnn, the smell of money..."

Same thing with this whole process.

I know - bad analogy. But anyway, I've never noticed any smell, except during the main boil. I love the smell during the boil because I enjoy the whole process, although some who do not brew may find the smell a bit odd. Then if you decide to go all grain - you'll notice that instead of any strange odors during the boil, the aroma will be very pleasant - even to others.
 
The boil smells. Alot. I think it smells good, and my roommates are getting used to it :D but friends that happen by on brew day often have a range of reactions.

I love the smell, particullarly the hops. Only thing that caught me off guard the first time was how hungry it was making me :eek: :)
 
I'm brewing a pumpkin beer currently and I used real pumpkin. This is only my second beer, and the first one didn't smell at all when it was fermenting, but this one has a distinct milky sort of aroma. Milky and bready. Kind of good, but not like pumpkin at all. I believe this is ok, but I don't know. Any thoughts?
 
The Pilsner I have fermenting right now STINKS. It has a very strong sulpher smell. Everytime I open the freezer to check on it, I'm overcome with that horrid smell.

But for some strange reason, I stick my head in to get another whiff... :confused:
 
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