Primary smell

[IBrewthere4Iam]

So I have about 6-8 batches under my belt. It seems as my skill set increases my primary gets more stinky. It smells like wonderful uninfected beer. I just used a new primary and even after pbw wash I can smell a faint hint if the last brew.

I also noticed this today in my new primary.

Will this hurt the next batch and is it normal?

 

[pdxal]

What are you fermenting in? What are your practices for cleaning/sanitation?
I use glass carboys for fermentation and never have any lingering smell from previous batches, including stinky ones...

 

[CastleHollow]

Completely normal if you are brewing in buckets, when empty they always smell like beer. Avoid using anything abrasive when cleaning & sanitizing, and you should be fine. After hundreds of batches, my very first brew bucket (1993) is still in service (and has always smelled like beer!)

 

[ricshayne]

The ghosts of brews past will guide you

 

[IBrewthere4Iam]

Thanks, I do a PBW wash soak and then mild scrub with a cloth.
Fermentation in a bucket.

 

[PrinceOfThePoint]

Are you sure you aren't smelling carbon dioxide? It doesn't have a "bad" odor but can seem sort of sour... and if you take a big breath of it you start to cough... Just saying

 

[IBrewthere4Iam]

Nope positive that this is beer. Because it smells wonderful, not strong but wonderful.

My big concern was it affecting the next batch. No longer worried as CastleHollow confirmed.

 

[nickelmcgee]

BTW - I love that smell

 

[EdMerican]

Be not afraid, fledgeling brewer. Its just the smell of old brews showing the new the way.