I made my first batch of mead -dandelion mead- last spring. Bottled it awhile after it cleared, and the bottles have been laying on their sides in my basement for the last 8-9 months. Tried a bottle at Thanksgiving time and it tasted okay - but noticed a small bit of sediment in it and a few others, from the spices I used I am presuming.
Went down to taste a bottle today, and there's just a bit more sediment - still not much - except that now it "sticks" to the side of the bottles - leaving a brown almost gooey looking residue. I uprighted one, and the spice particles dropped to the bottom - but there is a translucent yet cloudy mass (almost ropelike, forming small round balls at the very bottom of each) left behind and floating where the sediment had been laying all this time. It's more pronounced in some bottles than others. I thought I had sanitized well... but keep in mind this is my first batch. I'm thinking I shouldn't drink this.... am I right?
Went down to taste a bottle today, and there's just a bit more sediment - still not much - except that now it "sticks" to the side of the bottles - leaving a brown almost gooey looking residue. I uprighted one, and the spice particles dropped to the bottom - but there is a translucent yet cloudy mass (almost ropelike, forming small round balls at the very bottom of each) left behind and floating where the sediment had been laying all this time. It's more pronounced in some bottles than others. I thought I had sanitized well... but keep in mind this is my first batch. I'm thinking I shouldn't drink this.... am I right?