Help. My brew smells of poo!

[brewnoob]

Brewing my third batch of beer. It's a Cooper's Wheat Beer and I used 1000g of honey. It's two days into fermentation at it has the most god-awful stench.

I was just wondering could this have anything to do with the honey?

Did I add too much?

Should I be worried or is the stench a normal thing?

Dan

 

[abeyptfc]

if it smells of ***** then you're in trouble, if it smells of rotten eggs then your ok. my coopers european stunk like hell after about 6 months in the bottle then finally lost its smell.

 

[user 1684]

I had one that absolutely REEKED of rotten egg. So much so that the wife banished it to the outside shed.

It cleared up fine after a few weeks. Just give it some time.

 

[brewnoob]

It certainly did reek. I think it's starting to calm down now as I use to be able to smell if from the living room and now I can only smell it when I'm in the same room. Think I'll leave in the fermentation bin for a bit longer than usual so hopefully the smell can reside some more...

Dan

 

[blackrat]

Made a wheat beer last month, it was very good. Sorry no odd smells, think you might have a problem

 

[brewnoob]

Ahh well... sigh. I'll carry on like normal for now and let you know

 

[klaus]

Why would you put 1 kg of honey into a wheat beer.
Sorry if I am mising something here.... I mght be wrong but honey imparts a strong aroma onto the brew.
Perhaps, that's the "poo" smell ???

 

[brewnoob]

Why would you put 1 kg of honey into a wheat beer.
Sorry if I am mising something here.... I mght be wrong but honey imparts a strong aroma onto the brew.
Perhaps, that's the "poo" smell ???

Possibly, yes. No idea why I did it just experimenting I guess..

Maybe if I add 1kg of manure it'll come up smelling of honey?

I'm sure that's how it works, right.

Dan

 

[klaus]

I am all for experimenting, and perhaps your brew will turn out tops.
Maybe I am getting old, but a wheat beer should taste of wheat ....
Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Muddy Funker]

Maybe if I add 1kg of manure it'll come up smelling of honey?

I'm sure that's how it works, right.

Dan

:lol: Give it a try.

I'm sure your beer will be okay just give it some time. Try a little sample near the end of fermentation to see how it's bearing up.
If it tastes of poo then it might be best down the drain?

 

[brewnoob]

I'll keep you updated.

Happy to say that the smell has resided even more so now...

That, or my cold is getting worse.



Dan

 

[rickthebrew]

Did you boil the honey before you added it? I have used honey as an addition and not boiled it and it has infected the brew - maybe natural yeasts? I always boil the honey in some wort to be safe

 

[brewnoob]

Did you boil the honey before you added it? I have used honey as an addition and not boiled it and it has infected the brew - maybe natural yeasts? I always boil the honey in some wort to be safe

That sir, is a top shout.

No I didn't boil it but it seems kind of obvious now that I should have.

The smell is still getting weaker and weaker though through the days. I certainly won't be moving it to keg for at least another week.

Live and learn I suppose

Dan

 

[Wolverine]

Depends on what honey as to wether you need to boil it I know that holland and barrat 907 g jar is pasteurised so no need but if it's local hippy honey straight from a bees **** then you might be looking at the answe to your smell

 

[brewnoob]

I used normal clear honey from Tesco so I don't think it would have anything nasty in it. But you never know, I guess. Next time I'll be sure to boil it in some wort before adding it to the rest.

 

[SamWise72]

If you boil it, you'll lose lots of aroma and some flavours. Mead makers would suggest that heat but NOT boil it, and lots would suggest only enough to dissolve it.

 

[brewnoob]

Right, it's still in the FV and the smell has now virtually vanished It actually smells good and the honey scent is coming through. I guess I'll be kegging it tomorrow now :P

Dan

 

[eggman]

Use your hydrometer just to check it's finished fermenting, it should of done as it's been nearly 2 weeks. Also a qc sample as you're kegging will give you an idea of final taste, all the best with your brew :

 

[critch]

be a fermentation by product imo some yeast produce some god awful smells when theyre working k1 wine yeast(i uses it in moi cider)makes yer eyes water.....