I've got a dry traditional mead in a carboy now that's been aging for almost six months. I'm planning to bottle it Thanksgiving weekend.
The bad news: I was looking at it today and I think there may be mold floating on it. I say "think" and "may" because I haven't seen anything definitive. I keep my fermenting vessels in a pretty dark closet, and when I went in to check them with a flashlight, I saw what looked like green fuzz floating on top. But when I moved the carboy out into the light, I jostled it so much (oops) that anything that might have been floating on top got submerged. So I don't know for sure, but if it was mold, it probably got into the mead.
The good news: I took a sample immediately after. The mead smells and tastes just fine, so I'm planning to just rack under the mold and bottle it as planned. I figure at this point, I've got nothing to lose.
From what I've been reading, it seems like a good idea to add Campden tablets if I'm going to bottle potentially infected mead. I haven't added any yet, which I suppose might be why I had this problem in the first place. If I were going to use them now, when would be the best time? A few days before bottling?
I also might want to add a clarifier. Which one would be best to add now, shortly before bottling - and when? Could I add a clarifier at the same time as the Campden tablets, or should I wait a few days between adding each one?
The bad news: I was looking at it today and I think there may be mold floating on it. I say "think" and "may" because I haven't seen anything definitive. I keep my fermenting vessels in a pretty dark closet, and when I went in to check them with a flashlight, I saw what looked like green fuzz floating on top. But when I moved the carboy out into the light, I jostled it so much (oops) that anything that might have been floating on top got submerged. So I don't know for sure, but if it was mold, it probably got into the mead.
The good news: I took a sample immediately after. The mead smells and tastes just fine, so I'm planning to just rack under the mold and bottle it as planned. I figure at this point, I've got nothing to lose.
From what I've been reading, it seems like a good idea to add Campden tablets if I'm going to bottle potentially infected mead. I haven't added any yet, which I suppose might be why I had this problem in the first place. If I were going to use them now, when would be the best time? A few days before bottling?
I also might want to add a clarifier. Which one would be best to add now, shortly before bottling - and when? Could I add a clarifier at the same time as the Campden tablets, or should I wait a few days between adding each one?