First AG brew is it ok?

[Frisfur]

Hi All

Firstly thanks to everyone on this forum I have read and learnt so much over the past few weeks.

So I have embarked on my first AG brew on Sturday and all went well (TTL clone with S05 yeast)

Its now day six and there is still activity, but also I am getting a strong alcoholic smell from the brew, so much that it hurts the back of the nose! Not the sort of smell assciated with beer

Is this normal or could it be an infection?
Sorry be to paranoid about my first baby

Thanks
Chris

[BarryNL]

Probably carbon dioxide - that stuff really stings.

If all you're getting is the stinging sensation when you lift the lid and inhale then that's almost certainly the cause. If there's other unpleasant smells in there too then, well, that's probably just normal fermentation smell too. You're better off tasting a bit to see how it's doing. It probably won't taste great yet, but it should taste pretty much like beer.

[DarloDave]

I thought that too, the stuff smelled like it was gonna be about 40%!

[bikedoc]

Yep, I'll bet 100% Barry's right -co2 'smell'. All's well
bikedoc

[Frisfur]

Thanks guys thats reasuring

One thing that puzzles me is that the FV comes with a hole for an airlock, But the FV bins are not air tight around the lid, Whats the point of it? The excess co2 will probably vent through the edge of the lid anyway with or without the airlock
Just wondered

[bikedoc]

My H and G 10 gall FV has an airtight lid and I just love the quiet bubbling in the back of the kitchen - gives me hope for the world and takes worry away - oh and useful reassurance that ferment's started and when abating, and lowers tempataion to peek inside and disturb that lovely blanket of co2. Why not try taping lid down?
bikedoc
cornwall

[Frisfur]

Lid is well and truley down, You have to be arnie Schwartznegger to get the bugger off
must just be a cheap one from localHB shop

I will have to invest in a better one!

[BarryNL]

One thing that puzzles me is that the FV comes with a hole for an airlock, But the FV bins are not air tight around the lid, Whats the point of it? The excess co2 will probably vent through the edge of the lid anyway with or without the airlock

I think the lid should seal pretty well; sometimes the grommet around the airlock tends to leak. I have used some Aquaseal on one of mine to seal all around the grommet and it works fine now.

[Frisfur]

Well its day 8 now and its stopped fermenting.

I have just tried a sample, I must admit it has a bit of an anantiseptic tang (tcp) to it. Would this be the styrian Goldings and will disapear over time?
Also I like my beers not too fizzy, Is it worth putting priming sugar in the barrell?

I want to bottle about a third of it and want a fizz like brakspears Oxford Gold, nice and smooth not harsh like the Crouch Vale brewers gold I tried after. Will bottle conditioning produce the softer fizz? and is it necesarry to prime the bottles as well as the barrel?

Thanks

Chris

[Frisfur]

I passed the water through a GAC filter but did not treat with CRS

Would that be the cause?