Started my first batch two days ago, an extract porter recipe I chose with the brew kit I picked up at my LHBS, (beerathome.com if your in the north Denver area) started happily bubbling about twelve hours later. Now, I cant take my eyes off it. There is a fruity like banana smell coming from the airlock, I sniffed it, hehe. Is this normal? Anyway, sitting back sipping on a 1554 and watching it bubble hoping its as good as what I'm drinking.
Cant stop watching the bubbles
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jkatz419
Well-Known Member
It's almost certainly normal, but for reference sake, what yeast did you use? Fermentation has all kinds of wonderful odors depending on the yeast used. I ferment in a chest freezer so the smell is always super concentrated. Sometimes I stick my head in and take a big whiff and get light headed since it's all CO2 
caution: CO2 can make you pass out, do not attempt at home like I do,
caution: CO2 can make you pass out, do not attempt at home like I do, jkatz419
Well-Known Member
Oh, and at what temp are you fermenting? A high temp (70+) could cause fruity esters to form and be the smell.
jgln
Well-Known Member
It's almost certainly normal, but for reference sake, what yeast did you use? Fermentation has all kinds of wonderful odors depending on the yeast used. I ferment in a chest freezer so the smell is always super concentrated. Sometimes I stick my head in and take a big whiff and get light headed since it's all CO2
I have had it set off my carbon monoxide alarm before.
Mpavlik22
Well-Known Member
jgln said:
Id check out something else in your house, you may have other issues.
CO (carbon monoxide) & CO2 (carbon dioxide) are two different things.
Fermenting beer releases CO2 which WILL NOT set off a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon dioxide is naturally occurring in the atmosphere also.
KoedBrew
Well-Known Member
Weirdo, you look at air bubbles in a fermentation lock...ha, they say you can find anything on the internet...
KoedBrew
Well-Known Member
Just kidding, there isn't a person here that hasn't sat in front of a carboy and watched that yeast porn!
If you ever listen to the Brewing Network, they have a little promo from one of there shows where Justin says something like - Grab a paper towel, sit down in front of that carboy, and watch those yeast have sex!
Wait you are probably using a bucket for fermentation aren't you?? Oh man, you may be missing out on the best part.
When you have a glass carboy you can watch five gallons of wort swirl without any help from you.
Watching the Bubbles only and not seeing the fermentation in the carboy is like watching the Commercials and not the Super Bowl itself!
If you ever listen to the Brewing Network, they have a little promo from one of there shows where Justin says something like - Grab a paper towel, sit down in front of that carboy, and watch those yeast have sex!
Wait you are probably using a bucket for fermentation aren't you?? Oh man, you may be missing out on the best part.
When you have a glass carboy you can watch five gallons of wort swirl without any help from you.
Watching the Bubbles only and not seeing the fermentation in the carboy is like watching the Commercials and not the Super Bowl itself!
beergolf
Well-Known Member
When I did my first brew I fermented it down in the basement. I almost wore out the basement steps going down there to watch the bubbles.
I wanna watch yeast porn! But, I am scared to skunk my beer, so I leave it in opaque buckets and hide them in a dark closet.
What happens in the closet stays in the closet.
The sounds and smells that come out of there disturb the wife and the dog, but the yeasts' secret is safe with me. In exchange they let me watch their sex bubbles.
What happens in the closet stays in the closet.
The sounds and smells that come out of there disturb the wife and the dog, but the yeasts' secret is safe with me. In exchange they let me watch their sex bubbles.
No you havent. Cordon Monoxide (mono=1 mole of oxygen) Carbon Dioxide (di=2 moles oxygen). Even your carbon monoxide detector knows that.
Sometimes I stick my head in and take a big whiff and get light headed since it's all CO2
Can it be dangerous to put the fermenter in a chest freezer in a small appartment?
I have no idea about potential danger situation with CO2 concentration in a room.
It's almost certainly normal, but for reference sake, what yeast did you use? Fermentation has all kinds of wonderful odors depending on the yeast used. I ferment in a chest freezer so the smell is always super concentrated. Sometimes I stick my head in and take a big whiff and get light headed since it's all CO2
I used White Labs English Ale liquid yeast, it did smell kinda fruity when I opened it up. The temp in the room I am fermenting in is kinda unstable. Its very hot here in Colorado right now and I only have a swamp cooler to keep the house cool and unfortunately the temp in the house varies from day to night but it hasn't reached 80 degrees in the room so I am thinking it should be okay, I hope. If I stabilize the temp for the rest of primary and keep it stable through out secondary it should be cool, right? I will be racking it into a carboy in another day or two.
Jayman931
Well-Known Member
I think I am worst....I have a "Stop Watch" function on my phone and clock it! At one time it was under a second per blow off...now its at 46...
starrfish
Well-Known Member
NICE JAYMAN! embedded custom Smilie
wish i was that smart! and not just creative. May not be unemployed! time for the old dog to learn new tricks, I guess.anyway had a video on my old phone of my first batch in 10years happily bubbling away! she later blew the top and sprayed 2' above air lock, hitting wall. could have been worse, could have had to repaint the ceiling!
Hatchbrew
Well-Known Member
strange not to, especially when first start out. I still raise a glass to my brews once they begin actively fermenting.
jkatz419
Well-Known Member
There's no danger, your fermenting beer couldn't fill your apartment as the CO2 will dissapate much too quickly. I have a small chest freezer and it'll fill up with CO2, I often stick my head down in it to read the temp on the side of the carboy. Just don't breathe all the CO2 in at once.
jkatz419
Well-Known Member
I haven't used WL English Ale (that I can remember anyway), but generally English ale yeast is a bit fruitier then American ale yeasts, it's part of their character. As far as temp goes, your beer will be fine since you haven't gone over 80.
starrfish
Well-Known Member
CO2 in confined space is bad BUT not much more than 2 in a bed lol
just watch confined space like a kegerator.
starrfish
Well-Known Member
I put ferm tank on AC vent and swamp cool seems to stay in s reasonable zone
thood6
Well-Known Member
I thought everyone stopwatched their bubbles!
jgln
Well-Known Member
Maybe not then, but it started the morning after pitching yeast the day before and it was violently spitting out of the airlock and the detector stopped alarming after I opened the doors/windows. Sure, that would make sense. But it was summer so the only thing maybe running was the AC. After that it has not alarmed since. Figured that was the cause.
You should definitely have an HVAC/furnace inspector come and make sure you don't have a bad furnace or something. Beer should not produce that much if any CO. This is a potentially deadly problem.
jgln
Well-Known Member
That was a few years ago and only happened that one time.
You say that now, but let's see who only almost died one time when your house decides to fill with CO.
Skarekrough
Well-Known Member
Enjoying the bubbles is fine.
Clearing out your weekend to do so means you have a problem according to my wife.
Clearing out your weekend to do so means you have a problem according to my wife.
VillageBrew
Well-Known Member
That is why we should get our wives involved in brewing. Then both of us can sit in the closet and watch the yeast porn!
Just wanted to update and say that the Porter turned out great! I was I little worried in the beginning but after 22 days in the bottle it is very drinkable. So, for those just starting out like me, RDWHAHB. Words to live by. My wife is very involved she holds my steeping bag while I pour the grains in. hehehe. Later all, thanks for the responses.
