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Yet another odd smell

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NewBee
Registered Member
May 28, 2007
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So ... I have been a brewer for the past decade and I decided to try a mead. Simple recipie: 12# Clover Honey, yeast nutrient, package of red star dry champagne yeast, water to 5 gal. I finally brought it up from the cellar after 10 months and it's a nice, sweet beverage but it's got an odd smell. Definitely something out of organic chemistry, estery, slightly fruity, slightly reminiscent of band-aids.

Hasn't killed me yet but I'd like to avoid it in future batches. ;)
 
Oskaar

Oskaar

Got Mead Partner
Administrator
Dec 26, 2004
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What you have there are phenolic flavors with some estery flavors

A couple of questions for you:

What kind of clover honey did you use (Costco, Sams, or was it from a honey farm}?

What kind of container was the honey in (thick plastic bucket, thin plastic jug)?

At what temperature did you ferment your mead (above/below 75F)?

What did you use to sanitize your equipment (bleach, iodophor, StarSan, etc.)?

Lemme know,

Oskaar
 
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NewBee
Registered Member
May 28, 2007
3
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I obtained the honey from a reliable brewing supply house that I use (Midwest). It looks like they buy bulk and repackage it because it came in a thin plastic plastic "milk" jug with their sticker applied.

The mead fermented in my cellar, and I haven't done temperature readings down there, but if I had to guess I'd say the temp. varies from 50 - 80 farenheit depending on the season. I really should get a thermometer.

I use bleach to sanitize my equipment.

Thanks Oskaar

RLL
 
Oskaar

Oskaar

Got Mead Partner
Administrator
Dec 26, 2004
7,874
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The OC
OK, good answer.

I buried the bleach in the other questions so as not to "bias" the answers you gave. many times the bandaid flavor is a result of not rinsing enough when using bleach as a sanitizer. I'd recommend RABID, NEUROTIC and generall COMPULSIVE rinsing with copious amounts of scalding hot water...or you could just switch to Iodophor or Star San and not have to hassle with the rinsing.

Cheers,

Oskaar
 
C

Chimerix

NewBee
Registered Member
Nov 13, 2006
121
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Hey! Some people actually LIKE the taste of old band-aids! I remember this kid back in 3rd grade... he'd eat any old band-aids that other kids were willing to part with.

Funny thing... he grew up to be a doctor, and specialized in ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Genuine faux verite story!
 
R

RunLengthLimited

NewBee
Registered Member
May 28, 2007
3
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Hmm, so the bleach may be the culprit. Of the more sophisticated sanitisers which do you prefer?

Any way to rescue the current batch?

RLL
 
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