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Author Topic: Solvent Odor in Fermentation  (Read 1993 times)

Offline Brewtopalonian

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Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« on: June 13, 2018, 10:02:12 am »
Hi all,

I recently brewed a batch of Hefewezien to which I added 5 lbs of apricots during secondary.  I made a "must" as you would in wine making by mashing my apricots and adding a little (ro) water and then crushing a couple campden tablets up and mixing those in.  I was very careful about sanitation but from what I can find, it seems as though this odor is caused by a bacterial infection (?).  If this is the case, how do you guys make your fruit beers safely?

edit:  It should also be noted that I did open fermentation, so perhaps that is my problem.
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Offline denny

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2018, 10:16:10 am »
Don't get hung up on thinking the fruit is the problem to the point where you might overlook other possible causes.  FWIW, I've put unwashed, unsanitized mushrooms into secondary many times without problems.  So, while you shouldn't rule out the fruit, neither should you be certain it's the cause.
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Offline jeffy

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2018, 10:28:16 am »
When I think of solvent odor, I think of hot fermentation byproduct.  How warm did your fermenter get during this phase?
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Offline Brewtopalonian

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2018, 10:30:40 am »
When I think of solvent odor, I think of hot fermentation byproduct.  How warm did your fermenter get during this phase?

Never got above 68*F.
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Offline BrewBama

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Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2018, 10:40:06 am »
I like to taste the product as it moves thru the process (after mash, after boil, after ferment visual completion, just before I package, etc) ...so if something does go awry I can point to a culprit a little bit easier.

In your case I’d taste the hydrometer sample before adding the fruit. If it tasted (smelled) good, I’d have a possible culprit.


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« Last Edit: June 13, 2018, 10:42:49 am by BrewBama »

Offline Brewtopalonian

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2018, 10:40:11 am »
Don't get hung up on thinking the fruit is the problem to the point where you might overlook other possible causes.  FWIW, I've put unwashed, unsanitized mushrooms into secondary many times without problems.  So, while you shouldn't rule out the fruit, neither should you be certain it's the cause.
The only reason I've gone straight to that line of thinking is because the fruit is the only variable I've changed with this recipe which I've brewed several times before.

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Offline denny

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2018, 11:10:16 am »
When I think of solvent odor, I think of hot fermentation byproduct.  How warm did your fermenter get during this phase?

Never got above 68*F.

The beer itself?
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline Brewtopalonian

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2018, 11:13:36 am »
When I think of solvent odor, I think of hot fermentation byproduct.  How warm did your fermenter get during this phase?

Never got above 68*F.

The beer itself?
Correct, the beer itself. Thermo well with a temp controller.

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Offline Brewtopalonian

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2018, 04:51:24 pm »
So I just dumped it.  But this is what it looked like.... Definitely some infection of sorts I'd say.

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Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2018, 07:30:06 pm »
Looks like mold....gotta watch those things.
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Offline Brewtopalonian

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2018, 07:33:21 pm »
Looks like mold....gotta watch those things.
Right, well you can't tell when you put it in.
 

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Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Solvent Odor in Fermentation
« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2018, 06:21:38 am »
Next time clean with a heavy soak, sanitize like crazy and never open the lid to peek and then just hope for the best....

For this one, rack from under the pellicle and see what you have.  Probably not salvageable, but you never know!
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