literal skunk smell

[rkrichard]

So I have a rather embarrassing question. A skunk sprayed in my back yard a little while ago, and there is a very dense sulfur smell throughout my entire house. I have a few fermentations going on: One IIPA that just started yesterday and a cyser thats been in primary for two and a half weeks. I've read a lot about how to handle smells that come OUT of the fermenter, but my question is, can outside smells (especially ones as strong as fresh skunk spray) get INTO the fermenter? If anyone knows about this, or has an educated opinion, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Ogri]

Generally you're only going to have CO2 coming out of your fermenter and that will pretty much keep anything from getting in. Unless, of course, the lid of your fermenter is compromised and little bastard pissed directly in there:fro:

 

[DroolingNeoBrewery]

So I have a rather embarrassing question. A skunk sprayed in my back yard a little while ago, and there is a very dense sulfur smell throughout my entire house. I have a few fermentations going on: One IIPA that just started yesterday and a cyser thats been in primary for two and a half weeks. I've read a lot about how to handle smells that come OUT of the fermenter, but my question is, can outside smells (especially ones as strong as fresh skunk spray) get INTO the fermenter? If anyone knows about this, or has an educated opinion, I'd appreciate it.

I've not heard of skunk smelling like sulphur before. What does often give off sulphur smells are stressed fermentations, and apple and other fruit fermentations are you sure your issue is the skunk?

 

[BryceL]

If you have your fermenter set up with an airlock, it should keep any outside air from coming in which should also keep out whatever smell you have from getting in. Plus like others said, you have the CO2 pushing out...I wouldn't be too worried about it.

 

[unionrdr]

It doesn't get in. Between skunks & the cat box,my beer stays good sealed away in there with an airlock.

 

[rkrichard]

Awesome. All of these replies re-affirm what I had thought, and what my local home-brew store guy has told me. Funny how, when that happened, the first thing I was concerned about was my beer. Never mind my dogs, my clothes or my car... I have to make sure the beer is okay! Thank you for your replies.

 

[Ogri]

Even if the stench had been able to penetrate your fermenter it wouldn't have been a big problem, you could have just told everyone it was a Heineken clone

 

[unionrdr]

Hey,some guys have mention how their beer tasted like a$$,but dang. That's a whole new category...
Here's a related story. When we still lived in our previous house we've since sold,it was a .51 acre lot running from one street in front to the other in back. I was taking the garbage outside the back gate one night. I was just getting back to the deck in back of the house when I saw this huge skunk whirl around,flag up,oooooh shizz! I lept for all I was worth toward the deck & just missed getting sprayed as the stream shot behind me like a freakin spray hose. By some act of mercy,she didn't get the bbq pit either. I guess it was just barely out of range. Turned out to be a pregnant female when I had a guy come & trap it that does that sort of pest control. Never forgot that one.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah,this guy I used traps skunks,racoons,etc with live traps & peanut butter. Dang thing had a nest in the crawl space.

 

[IslandLizard]

Once the glands are removed they make wonderful pets, so I've heard.

 

[JLem]

I've not heard of skunk smelling like sulphur before. What does often give off sulphur smells are stressed fermentations, and apple and other fruit fermentations are you sure your issue is the skunk?

The skunk smell is from a cocktail of sulfur-based compounds (thiols)...maybe skunks don't smell of sulphur per se, but certainly of sulfur derivatives

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Once the glands are removed they make wonderful pets, so I've heard.

They do, they're pretty much like ferrets. If you socialize them properly, they're awesome li'l critters.

 

[finsfan]

i dont think i could see myself with a domesticated skunk running around the house

 

[unionrdr]

Me neither,he'd piss off my mouser...

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Yeah, me neither. I dated a girl in college who had one, and he was a cool pet. Super friendly, very used to people. Not for me though, nor my cats. My Bengal would tear a tame skunk to shreds in minutes.

 

[finsfan]

I dont think ive even heard of someone keeping one as a pet before now, let alone knowing someone with a skunk!

 

[unionrdr]

We saw one for sale at Petsmart once. We def loled at the thought of it with our yuppy neighbors. Just think of the possibilities...

 

[finsfan]

they would be running scared!

 

[andy6026]

Awesome. All of these replies re-affirm what I had thought, and what my local home-brew store guy has told me. Funny how, when that happened, the first thing I was concerned about was my beer. Never mind my dogs, my clothes or my car... I have to make sure the beer is okay! Thank you for your replies.

Gather all your most precious belongings and climb into the fermenter alongside your beer (sanitize yourself first). It'll create a skunk-smell free and delicious temporary home for you and the beer.