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JAOS mead crisis!

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NeedForMead

NewBee
Registered Member
Sep 18, 2011
7
0
0
Hi, I tried a batch of Joe's Ancient Orange Spice mead and it seemed to be going alright for the last 3 weeks or so, but I noticed some weird white sediment crawling up the sides. Is this just yeast or some kind of mold or something? I tried searching the forum for a while but didn't see anything related. Thanks.

Here's a pic:
IMG_20110918_133652.jpg


IMG_20110918_133659.jpg
 

Loadnabox

NewBee
Registered Member
Apr 17, 2011
849
3
0
Ohio
that's just looks like yeast crawling up the sides no worries it appears everything is just fine
 

AToE

NewBee
Registered Member
Jun 8, 2009
4,066
3
0
Calgary AB Canada
99.9999999% of the time anything scary is going to be up on top of the liquid/fruit - that just looks like sediment settling on the slope towards the bottom to me.
 

NeedForMead

NewBee
Registered Member
Sep 18, 2011
7
0
0
Ok, phew. I thought it was odd that mold would be grown underwater and not on the surface.
 

AToE

NewBee
Registered Member
Jun 8, 2009
4,066
3
0
Calgary AB Canada
Even if you see a white gunk on the surface, it can just be yeast and wax that's floating, so smell is generally your most important sense when looking for spoilage. I freaked out the first time my batches got white stuff on top, ended up losing a lot of mead that I didn't need to lose! (Well, I only tossed about the top 1/3 of each batch, but that was 6 1 gallon batches so it made me sad to lose it!).
 

Chevette Girl

All around BAD EXAMPLE
Moderator
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Apr 27, 2010
8,443
53
48
Ottawa, ON
Don't sweat it, looks like what I call "yeast tracks", just some yeast starting to settle out and sticking to the sides where the bottom of the carboy starts to taper. If you twist the carboy a few times it'll usually settle down with the rest of the lees (yeah yeah, it breaks the warranty a little but nobody else will know).
 

huesmann

Worker Bee
Registered Member
Aug 22, 2011
190
4
18
As mentioned, that looks like yeast settling. What happens is that at the start, the yeast falls to the bottom, basically sliding down the curved slope as far as it will go. Over time, the yeast collects at the bottom of the slope, so any additional yeast falling will not be able to fall as far down (because the space is already occupied!). Eventually, you have yeast "piling up" on the higher parts of the slope.

Also, sometimes a particle will fall and collect itself on a flaw or protrusion in the glass, and once it sticks, other particles will stick.
 
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