Question on Milestone fermenting

[marky66]

I started a Milestone Crusader kit on Monday night, made a yeast starter, boiled up 50g of cascade in the water rinsed out from the tins, and all appeared to go well. Im using a brewbelt to keep the temp stable, seemed to ferment as normal yesterday, but today not much foam on top , the yellow cloudy colour and a strong sulphury smell. Is this normal Im tempted to leave as is , as I read Fivetide had a similar experience and it all came out ok , but any advice would be welcome.

[marky66]

I meant to add the OG was 1040 now dropped to 1018

[fivetide]

It's a very weird colour ferment isn't it and that sandy colour obviously comes back with a rouse. But after 10 days you should be there. I used a secondary and got it quite bright before racking to a corni, but you can get the same result with a nice long, warmish primary fermentation. I haven't tried this one yet, it's still cold conditioning.

[marky66]

What about the disconcerting smell, did this dissapear, I was worried about a possible infection

[fivetide]

If it's just an eggy smell, this is more than likely a normal byproduct of the fermentation and will dissipate over the next few days. It's strong vinegar smells you need to be worried about, generally (not the powerful carbon dioxide twang, which is also normal, but an unmistakable vinegar smell).

I'd imagine it's fine, because I remember thinking the whole process was a bit different, smellier, more colourful and slow with that one. Lovely coloured beer when I racked it though and I'm looking forward to checking it out.

[buzzrtbi]

dont worry both of the Milestone kits I had did the same. it takes several more days to get the gravity to drop. It will look as though nothing is happening.

get a sterilised spoon and gently rouse the sediment every day or so and you should be ok. keep checking the gravity. mine got down to 1011 before I racked it for secondary. 3/4 weeks later before it clears though...

[marky66]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys, once again there is no substitute for experience, bad sulphury smell seems to be waining now a bit. Though had to ask the missus to check this as I have the cold from hell, even missed out on filling the house with hop aroma on Mon night - due to blocked nose. Thanks to Fivetide for advice- you may notice Im following a couple of your kit adjustments - looked good on your posts - definitely going to try the steam beer - looks a great pint

[fivetide]

The Steam Beer is great, although it's quite an expensive route really, buying two premium kits and getting 20 litres. Also it's the only beer I've ever 100% bottled, and I made really smart bottles to offer to friends and family at a party and now I'm drinking them, which is a bit silly really! I need to drink a kegged one instead!

If you're looking for a really good tasting kit beer perfect for the spring, I highly recommend getting a Woodforde's Great Eastern. Aerate it to within an inch of its life, use a rehydrated sachet of Safale S04 rather than the supplied yeast and keep it nice and cosy. Dryhop for a week in the warm with an ounce of something citrus like a Cascade, Amarillo or Styrian and let it condition out for a month in the cool - it's a great drink and easy to make.

[marky66]

Thanks for all the advice, Ive tried a woodefordes kit before , had a bit of the usual yeast trouble but in the end it turned out quite nice, but I may try what you suggested sounds a nice light ale.
I kegged the Milestone last night ,had two readings of 1008 on consecutive nights , so went for it. I bottled five litres in 500ml Fullers bottles, primed 5 with orange blossom honey as an experiment , 5 with glucose and my KK with 80g glucose, now warm week commences, Ive got high hopes for this one , hope I can wait till its ready