National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Chit Chat => Topic started by: Brewer Gerard on August 30, 2014, 07:03:23 PM

Title: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Brewer Gerard on August 30, 2014, 07:03:23 PM
How do people generally find there starters smell. I'm more specifically talking about lager strains. I just dumped a 2L WLP833 into my latest attempt but when i take a whiff from the conical, i have to be honest, i dont feel like it's an aroma i want to be adding to my beer. If it ferments DME and bangs out a whiff like this can i expect much different from the main fermentation. Am i on my own here?
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Garry on August 30, 2014, 08:07:15 PM
Was it a sulphury smell? Lager yeast can do that. If so, it will be fine after a few weeks.
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Brewer Gerard on August 30, 2014, 09:48:48 PM
Not too sure really, i'm not great at identifying the off flavours/smells. It's a hard skill to learn from a page of a book. You know when there's just 'something' in there that you don't want. Suppose i'll see round Christmas time when it's ready
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Dr Horrible on August 30, 2014, 10:10:46 PM
I did a starter of 833 a while ago and it stank of rotten eggs, which would be the sulphur smell Garry is talking about. Made a great beer. I wouldn't be too worried about it, drive on and see how it turns out.
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Will_D on August 30, 2014, 10:39:27 PM
Simple Aroma detection 101:

Fahrt: Is a sulphur/bio gas problem: maybe OK
 
Vinegar: Acetic bacteria is present:  BAD

Anything else: Prolly BAD!
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Brewer Gerard on August 31, 2014, 01:48:38 PM
It's chugging away steadily in the chamber at 5.5°C. Nothing to do now but wait and see. 3 months! Bloody lagers
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: brenmurph on August 31, 2014, 08:13:22 PM
5.5c...r u tryin to torture those poor yeasties?  Curious why 5.5c?
Title: Re: Aroma from starters?
Post by: Brewer Gerard on September 01, 2014, 04:03:50 PM
It's a fermentation profile that i use for making pilsners that i've got the best results from. i start at 5 and over 12 days ramp it up to 9. It works for me + I had the methodology confirmed when over in the Czech republic recently with a Phd brewer working in a university. He said he lagers @ 0.0°C for 8 weeks. Check out what they do here (http://"http://www.czu.cz/en/?r=4891&i=&mp=ects.subjectInfo&code=TGT48E&course=63&branch=91&plng=1&a=")