My Beer Smells!!

[heyblackwolf]

So my beer has been in primary for 5 days and it smells like rotten eggs. Anyone know why or if it is ruined? It's a vanilla cream ale.

 

[broadbill]

what does it taste like?

 

[dcp27]

sulphor can be a natural byproduct of some yeast, give it another week or 2 and it should be gone

 

[Shooter]

It is ruined, the vanilla has soured the wort. Sorry, you're going to have to dump it before the infection gets into the fermenter.

Okay, okay, sorry, not really. Sulfur/rotten egg smells are pretty common from certain yeast strains. I wouldn't worry too much at this point.

 

[fixitoscar]

give it some more time, and don't worry about smell. give it another week ,take a gravity reading, and taste your sample. fermentation can sometimes smell good, other times smell horrible it doesn't mean anything is wrong.

 

[Revvy]

Fermentation is ugly and stinky....and that's when it's perfectly normal...like now. Look up "rhinofarts" on here and you'll know...or even lagering, and why folks lager.....

Give it time, you'll be fine.

 

[SwampassJ]

Just let it sit for a few weeks. I wouldn't bottle it till that **** is gone.

 

[heyblackwolf]

i havent tasted it since its only been 5 days. here is my recipe

Malts
3 pounds extra light DME
3 pounds light wheat DME
1 pound Caramel 60L (steeped for 45 minutes at 150'-165')

Hops
1oz Cascade for bittering (60 minutes)
.5 oz Saaz for flavor (20 minutes)
.5 oz Tettnang for aroma (end of boil)

Yeast
Wyeast German Ale

Extras
1 tsp Irish Moss (10 minutes)
4oz Lactose (15 minutes)
3 oz real vanilla extract in primary

 

[birvine]

The smell is likely H2S which will dissipate over time in the primary. I just went through the stinkiest primary in a while a few weeks ago - and now the beer is divine.

B

 

[heyblackwolf]

thanks. i guess the phrase "sit back, relax, have a home brew" really does apply.