Okay, I think this is bad...

I've been brewing for about 6 months or so, and have around 10 batches under my belt.

Thought I was doing well enough to try racking a new brew on top of my yeast cake, since I have read of people doing it, and having good success. I am not quite ready to save and wash and reuse, (mostly because I have to be completely comfortable with step 4 before attempting step 5) so I thought this would be a good way to get comfortable with used yeast.

I went to change out the ice bottles for temp control, and caught a whiff of rotten eggs, dirty feet, wet garbage, whatever. You get the picture. Pulled the top off and saw this. At first glance, it looked okay, since I racked it 5 days ago, and expected to see some action on top. Looking closer, I see that it is foamy. hmmm... That a first.

After taking the picture, I don't smell it anymore either because I aired it out, or because it was the old ice water bottles that smelled. I'm thinking that racking on top of the cake was okay, but I didnt clean the sides of the bucket well enough? I used a paper towel soaked in StarSan to wipe down the sides, and washed the lid well.

Last batch was fine. Any opinions?

 

I'd only be worried if that's not the color of your beer....

 

Opinion, leave it alone and let it ferment, but that's just my opinion.

 

That's beautiful! No probs at all

 

I agree, let it do its thing.

 

The pictures are a little low res, but that just looks like krausen to me

 

I am extremely relieved you guys said that. I figured it was lost, so I changed the ice and put it back !!

I racked a Weizenbock onto the cake from an Oktoberfest. Now that I think about it, I never made a wheat before...

 

There are some yeast strains that are known to smell like rotten eggs when fermenting.

 

Lager yeasts throw off sulfer...