strange fermenting of a wow wine

[Tay80]

Hi there I was wondering if anyone had ever had this problem, I started a wow last night with all the usual stuff nutrient, young's super wine compound etc , it didn't hardly start fermenting it had a short burst for an hour then I noticed small black grains in the bottom and looks like no yeast in the bottom? I added more yeast today and it seems like its fermenting at the top but nothing going on in the bottom? Its seems like a layer in the bottom of the demijohn that has no yeast only black bits in the bottom all the yeast is staying about 4 inch from the bottom, I'm baffled to what has happened got new yeast and I sterilise properly has anyone else had this problem? Any help appreciated

 

[Twostage]

Picture might help if possible.

What was the recipe ? I'm wondering if there is a layer of dense sugar like liquid at the bottom and the yeast is resting on top of that ?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have just started a RGJ and apple and i didn't see a bubble for 48 hours, give it a swirl and see what happens.

 

[Tay80]

It is fermenting but I am a bit worried about the black bits but surely it can be an infection, I was wondering if it could be over heated sugar also I added a little bit of maple syrup to the pan of sugar and juice maybe its to do with that, I tried to upload pictures on here before but I am on my phone and it doesn't work thanks for the replies and its not the end of the world to lose a gallon I got plenty of demijohns to fill :

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I am fairly sure its the Bentonite, i always have this left in the DJ/FV after racking. :thumb:

Bentonite is a common additive used to clarify wine.

Youngs SWYC Ingredients: Bentonite, Dried Wine Yeast, Diammonium Phosphate, Trace vitamins, Trace Minerals

Diammonium Phosphate stimulates yeast growth.

 

[tonyhibbett]

That yeast always produces these 'black bits' and I don't know why. If the must is warm (30 c) fermentation starts within a matter of hours. At lower temperatures it takes a lot longer to get started and if the yeast is old and stale it takes even longer.

 

[Tay80]

Thanks for this I actually never used the young's super compound until recently normally just wine yeast, it makes sense that its bentonite especially as it has no off smell and is bubbling away I was paranoid that something I added was dodgy all new stuff as well, happy days I'm getting another 3 demijohns on tonight One with prune juice that is basically pure plum juice and doing a pomegranate then a pineapple which I haven't tried yet the pomegranate is amazing I use pomegreat its a good one

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Hi there I was wondering if anyone had ever had this problem, I started a wow last night with all the usual stuff nutrient, young's super wine compound etc

You said in the OP you used YSWYC so i assumed that was the reason for the black bits, as you didn't i haven't a clue what it is, does the yeast you used say it has bentonite in it?

 

[Tay80]

Yes chippy I used the young's super yeast compound it is strange though as I got 6 demijohns on the go and the all have a yeast cake on the bottom, this is fermenting but nothing on the bottom apart from black particles a taste test will be the only way to tell