What is this gas, or smell ot whatever

Kelvin · #1 07-27-2012, 01:36 AM

Ok, so each time so far that I have fermented in buckets whenever I open the lid and have a smell it knocks my head back it is so powerful and I don't know how to explain it. It's like a blast of something that almost burns my nose and knocks me back. This does not happen in the carboys. Is this normal? Does anyone know what it is?

mediaguru · #2 07-27-2012, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Ok, so each time so far that I have fermented in buckets whenever I open the lid and have a smell it knocks my head back it is so powerful and I don't know how to explain it. It's like a blast of something that almost burns my nose and knocks me back. This does not happen in the carboys. Is this normal? Does anyone know what it is?

Not sure what smell you are experiencing, but this is my very first batch and I am doing 5 gallons in a 6 gallon bucket, and not noticing any weird smells... just pretty "normal" yeasty ones, like what I would smell while letting bread dough rise. I definitely get a hint of banana as well, but nothing super strong or overwhelming or unpleasant...

Could the smell just be that you have more gas built up and concentrated in the bucket than you would in carboy? (I'm assuming your bucket holds a greater volume than your carboy does. For example, I am doing 6 gal bucket but will rack to 5 gal carboy... in this scenario, when I remove the lid I am going to be facing something like 5x-10x as much built-up gas as I would be if I had filled up the carboy with the same volume)

Riverat · #3 07-27-2012, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediaguru

Not sure what smell you are experiencing, but this is my very first batch and I am doing 5 gallons in a 6 gallon bucket, and not noticing any weird smells... just pretty "normal" yeasty ones, like what I would smell while letting bread dough rise. I definitely get a hint of banana as well, but nothing super strong or overwhelming or unpleasant...

Could the smell just be that you have more gas built up and concentrated in the bucket than you would in carboy? (I'm assuming your bucket holds a greater volume than your carboy does. For example, I am doing 6 gal bucket but will rack to 5 gal carboy... in this scenario, when I remove the lid I am going to be facing something like 5x-10x as much built-up gas as I would be if I had filled up the carboy with the same volume)

That would be correct! Pure CO2 is pretty rough on the nose (technicaly poisionous but don't sweat it) thus the reason we were tought to "cup" a handfull of what we wanted to smell in chemistry class instead of stickin our face there, and yes I figured that out after sticking my face in my first bucket of mead too LOL

Kelvin · #4 07-27-2012, 09:04 AM

I thought that might be the case but eh a chemist I am not and a newb I am. I just wanted to be sure it wasn't something bad.

akueck · #5 07-27-2012, 04:27 PM

Every now and then you hear of an industrial accident due to someone sticking their head into a commercial-scale fermenter. Turns out CO2 knocks you out. Your 5-gal size isn't enough to do it, but it sure will make you notice!

Kelvin · #6 07-27-2012, 05:02 PM

Oh yeah! I noticed it! Hehe thanks man : )

Chevette Girl · #7 08-04-2012, 09:57 PM

That burns-the-nosehairs thing? Yeah, don't sniff so closely

And especially don't pop off the airlock and push the top of the bucket down to cause a whoof of the headspace gas to blast you in the face...

I think the reason it hits you with a bucket way more than a carboy is simple exposure, you're only getting a 1.5" diameter exchange area with a carboy whereas you're getting a 12" diameter area with a bucket.