Mead gunk!

[velocerandy]

Just a month into primary fermentation of my second batch of mead. The fermentation seems to have slowed and there is a thick spongy presence floating on top. I'm guessing the fermentation has slowed naturally anyway but this stuff. Has it spoiled??

 

[TartanSpecial]

??Have you got a pic??.... also what does it smell like (mead like or foul smelling?? )

 

[velocerandy]

Smells like mead. Slight yeasty odour to it.

 

[TartanSpecial]

are those tendrils on the right hand side working their way into the mead??..if so could be fungal infection (if not could just be yeast). Also some of the colours on the top look a bit iffy though might be reflected light. If it smells OK I'd carefully rack it making sure none of the top layer gets transferred...maybe easier said than done (use a sanitised spoon to shift it from the side to get a tube through). Then keep an eye on it over the next few weeks after checking gravity assuming the rack liquid still smells good.

 

[velocerandy]

I'll do it tonight. Thanks.

 

[velocerandy]

Out of interest. Should secondary be kept warm or cool?

 

[brumbrew]

What honey did you use? Could be wax or other impurities in the honey?

 

[velocerandy]

It was cheap honey from lidl. Just racked it off but some of the **** still got through. I'll do it again when it settles. It's reading at 10.5° so I know it's brewed.

 

[TartanSpecial]

if its finished its primary fermentation i'd keep in a cool room indoors. If its still producing CO2 I;d keep it in the warm for another week or so (until it stops) then transfer to a cooler room.

 

[brumbrew]

As long as it tastes ok :-)

Are you using a refractometer ? I need one! Have just been looking actually ;-)

 

[velocerandy]

Don't know what a fractometer is.

 

[brumbrew]

Hydrometer reading. Glass tube in a sample jar.

Refreactometer small sample that you look through a lens. ;-)

 

[velocerandy]

Yeah I use a hydrometer.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Don't know what a fractometer is.

 

[brumbrew]

Your post with readings shows that of a brix reading (from a refractometer)