smells from airlock

[izumidai]

I just brewed my second extract batch, which was a hefe-weizen. Fermentation has been going crazy for a few days now, but I noticed an odor coming form the top of the air lock every time it bubbles. I'm not even sure how to describe this smell. I never checked for an odor on my first batch, but I am assuming it was there too. My questions are:

1) is this normal?

2) what kind of smells should I expect?

Also, I am not sure what temp my fermenter went up to while I was at work yesterday. The room was just under 70 when I got home and I think the temp strip on my bucket said 74. (colors were lighter than normal). How long at a temp above 75F would it take to start making fusels and would I smell them coming from the airlock?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Lufah]

The smell coming from the airlock is normal. You'll get differnet smells with different yeast and types of beer.

74 is pretty warm for you to be fermenting at. I would try to cool the fermenter down some. Tub of water with some ice or a fan or something.

You won't smell the fusels coming out of the airlock. I don't think your in a big risk of having problems with fusels at that temp. It will probably just be a fruit bomb from the yeast.

Travis

[bub]

All beer will smell like this... Hefes and sometimes Lagers are notorious for this.. Hefes will usually smell like banana, clove, bubblegum, cat shit, etc... ok not catshit.
Lagers will usually smell like egg farts... for real (h2so4) Hydrogen Sulfide gas. YMMV but don't worry yet.
BUB