No foam 24 hrs after pitching, strong smell

[subtlephilo]

Hi, this is my first attempt at a 5gal kit. I brewed a Black Rock IPA HME kit and added hops during boiling. My wort had a nice foam going about 12 hours after going in the fermenter and was developing kraeusen, but after 24 hours, has no foam whatsoever and has a very strong smell (it stings my nose). It took me about 45 minutes to cool my wort down to pitching temp, is this a result of contamination?

 

[klyph]

is this a result of contamination?

Probably not.


tranquilize, don't anguish, imbibe an amateur manufactured fermentation of glucose solution.

 

[subtlephilo]

Haha, I'm sure that everyone worries this much during their first fermentation. The reason I'm asking is that I bought an RJ Spagnols kit from the grocery store for my equipment. The secondary (carboy BB) has a stopper and airlock, but the primary just has a plastic lid, no airlock. Will this be a problem?

 

[klyph]

Yes.

Install the airlock on the primary's lid. If the lid isn't an airtight seal, it will probably be alright, since the pressure will keep any contaminants out, but if it's sealed, it will overpressurize and either rupture or stress the yeast.

 

[jmo88]

The stinging nose sensation is due to the yeast producing CO2. High concentrations of CO2 does this. Very normal. No problem

 

[subtlephilo]

Thanks for the advice I think that the lid isn't absolutely airtight (at least, it doesn't seem to be). Would it be a problem for me to transfer to secondary after about 3 days if I'm worried about contamination?

 

[bonzombiekitty]

Thanks for the advice I think that the lid isn't absolutely airtight (at least, it doesn't seem to be). Would it be a problem for me to transfer to secondary after about 3 days if I'm worried about contamination?

Don't transfer. 3 days isn't enough time (though I bet someone will argue that point). Generally people wait at least a week to transfer to secondary. Don't worry about contamination. If it gets contaminated it will be obvious (see contaminated beer pictures thread), and it's very unlikely your beer will get contaminated in the first place.

Don't concern yourself with the krauzen. Sometimes there's lots of it, sometimes there's little/none. Use your hydrometer. If the hydrometer readings are dropping, then it's fermenting.

Just sit back and let the beer do its thing.

 

[lunchbox]

Couldn't he transfer to secondary and repitch yeast? Would it not be better to have an airtight vessel to ferment?

 

[bonzombiekitty]

Couldn't he transfer to secondary and repitch yeast? Would it not be better to have an airtight vessel to ferment?

1. There's no need to re-pitch. There's no evidence here that fermentation is stuck.
2. He'd have more of a chance of getting an infection by transfering and repitching.
3. While it's better to have an "airtight" seal, it's really not necessary. The act of fermentation iteself goes a long way to protect the beer. There will be a positive pressure in the fermenter until fermentation is complete, that will keep air from flowing into the fermenter. As long as the fermenter is covered to keep stuff from falling into it, it's very unlikely that it will get infected from things floating around in the air.

 

[lunchbox]

1. There's no need to re-pitch. There's no evidence here that fermentation is stuck.
2. He'd have more of a chance of getting an infection by transfering and repitching.
3. While it's better to have an "airtight" seal, it's really not necessary. The act of fermentation iteself goes a long way to protect the beer. There will be a positive pressure in the fermenter until fermentation is complete, that will keep air from flowing into the fermenter. As long as the fermenter is covered to keep stuff from falling into it, it's very unlikely that it will get infected from things floating around in the air.

Gotcha.
10char

 

[subtlephilo]

Wow, thanks for all the info, guys
I'll take a hydrometer reading tonight and check it our.

 

[pinkfloyd4ever]

jeezz, dont noOObs ever read the https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/stone-cold-lead-pipe-lockd-n00b-advice-54362/ anymore?

 

[subtlephilo]

Took a hydrometer reading, and it's dropped 0.02 already. Looks like it's going well, I guess. Thanks for all the help