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strong sulfur odor

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J

JaredFine

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Registered Member
Dec 31, 2006
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www.bayoumovie.com
I've I pitched my first Bavarian hefeweizen, and there's an evil sulfur smell emanating from the bubbler. My roommates are not amused. Here are my ingredients:

  • 6lbs wheat malt extract
  • 1 gal. strained grain wash (wheat malt & Munich malt)
  • 1oz. Hallertau hopps
  • purified water to 5 gal.
  • White Labs WLP300 Hefeweizen Ale Yeast (liquid)

I prepped the yeast in 1/2cup of warm 70o wort before pitching (no energizer / nutrient additions). I didnt notice much happening for about 12 hrs, so I gave it a good shake, and by 24 hrs had a lively fermentation (about 40 blips/min). The bubbler gas smelled like sweet wort, but there was a hint of something "toxic". At 36 hrs I noticed a strong sulfur odor coming from the bubbler. SO2 maybe? Its still fermenting like crazy, so whatever is in there is very much alive. Should I be concerned about this smell / how do I reverse it?

Please advise!
 
I've never used that yeast before, but I've heard it can make some interesting smells. Belgian yeasts can smell weird too (that I know firsthand). Chances are good that you are fine, and the smell will go away in a day or two.

To minimize the smell, I keep my fermenters in a closet. Short of that, go hang out at a buddy's place tonight and hope it's ok tomorrow.

For next time, you can step up the yeast before pitching. Make a small starter (1L should do for a beer of similar gravity) a day or two ahead of brew day. Pitching more yeast (but not too much!) cuts down on the lag time and speeds up the overall fermentation timeline by a day or two. It will smell bad for less time, but it will probably still smell bad.

Don't worry, it should be fine.
 
Keep an eye on that Hef. I've seen a number of Hef's go ballistic and blow the airlock right off the top. I just cover the top on my Hefs and a few others (fruit beers and stouts with additional secret ingredients) because they tend to go ballistic. Once they're over the foaming volcano state I airlock them and let them go.

Cheers,

Oskaar
 
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