[thirsty]

Do not take the lid off a bucket of beer that has been fermenting for a week, put your face about an inch away from the beer and deeply breath in the aroma.

Trust me on this one.
 I think I hurt my nose and I got dizzy for a few seconds.
 

[theDarkSide]

CO2 Blast!!!  I get the same thing when I open my chest freezer that I ferment in.

[babalu87]

Lay on the floor of your bathroom (I was painting) while there are 15 gallons of beer fermenting in there................. I about passed out

[mikeypedersen]

Yeah, I ferment in a chest freezer that holds 6 carboys.  There have been times where there are 4 beers in primary in there and I am trying to move stuff around, so my head is in the freezer.  About 30 seconds and some deep breaths and I have about fallen over and passed out.  That CO2 can be mean!   

[MrNate]

Do not take the lid off a bucket of beer that has been fermenting for a week, put your face about an inch away from the beer and deeply breath in the aroma.

Trust me on this one.
 I think I hurt my nose and I got dizzy for a few seconds.
 

I did the exact same thing last month. Felt really smart after that. Who would've thunk your brain needs oxygen?

[narvin]

If you don't like the CO2 blast, definitely don't stick your face in the blowoff tube bucket at a commercial brewery.

[captnjohnny1618]

Do not take the lid off a bucket of beer that has been fermenting for a week, put your face about an inch away from the beer and deeply breath in the aroma.

Trust me on this one.
 I think I hurt my nose and I got dizzy for a few seconds.
 

Yup, I learned that lesson on my 2nd batch of beer.

[dimik]

I think everyone had this experience. I keep repeating it though... with every batch. I just can't help sniffing my beer!

[thirsty]

I usually remember not to do it, but I was transferring the beer and it just looked so good! I couldn't resist.

The sample was yummy at least.

[yaleterrace]

Do not take the lid off a bucket of beer that has been fermenting for a week, put your face about an inch away from the beer and deeply breath in the aroma.

Trust me on this one.
 I think I hurt my nose and I got dizzy for a few seconds.
 

I'd also add that this might not be too helpful for your beer mid-fermentation, if you care about keeping bugs out.

[smitty]

I disagree.  I look forward to do this with every batch. 

[weithman5]

this may not be real good either:  noticed somebody nocked the airlock off my fermenter.  fortunately i check temperature everyday and it could not have been too long.  hopefully not enough O2 to skunk the beer.

[dbeechum]

hopefully not enough O2 to skunk the beer.

<pendant>
That wouldn't be skunking you'd be fearing - it would be the beer getting oxidized.

Skunking is a very specific reaction between UV light and isomerized alpha acids that results in the creation of mercapatan, the chemical best recognized as the smelly stuff in skunk spray.
</pendant>
 

[weithman5]

i appreciate the correction.  fortunately the oxidation is occurring in the dark, so i have that going for me.

[dbeechum]

No problem.. lots of people use skunking as a catch all term for "beer going off" when it applies to a very specific set of cirumstances.