Can anybody identify this?

[Brewdigar]

Not sure if this is just residual yeast flocculating or what... It's at the bottom of most (but not all) my bottles. This mead was in secondary for over two months and bottled about 1 month ago. Just noticed this. Any ideas?
Thanks
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1450826709.064892.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1450826721.554667.jpg

 

[TandemTails]

I had something like that happen to one of my ciders. I just assumed like you did that it was yeast that dropped from bottle carbing.

I drank it and didn't die so you should be fine? haha

 

[FrodeM]

How does it act if you shake it around a bit?

It almost looks like colonies of something, maybe some kind of mold or lactobacteria or something. Someone more experienced than me might be able to give more light on the case. If it is, then it problably got in during bottling as it's not in all of the bottles.

How did you prepare the bottles?

 

[Terek]

looks like strait up mold to me.

That said. If it does not gross you out, mold really isnt bad for you, and deff. will not kill you. If it tastes good, i say drink it

 

[Brewdigar]

New bottles, short pbw soak, star San rinse... I definitely agree that it looks like colonies of something. I thought it was a little weird they were on the bottom like that. It's fairly dusty. If I move the bottle around lightly it holds together somewhat but any sort of light swirl starts to kick it up

 

[Terek]

sounds pretty sanitary. What i do. I have never made mead, but lots and lots of cider. Had one bottle once that kinda looked like that, but not so much of it. Just one small circle over in the corner. I drank it, and tasted fine.
Yeast tends to settle evenly in kind of a blanket, like snow. Dont think its yeast, it just does not settle like that

 

[FrodeM]

If you washed the pwb throughly away before Star San was added (and no washing after Star San), then the bottles should have been fine... Pwb is an alkaline and Star San is acid. Any pwb left when Star San is added will neutralize and reduce the sanitizing ability of the Star San.

It might come from elsewhere as well. Just one single mold cell and a bit of bad luck anywhere in the whole process is enough to get things going.

 

[ReDim]

Does the mead smell or taste funny ? If this is mold, I would assume there would be a way to confirm it.

If you ask me, you should give it a name and keep it as a pet !

At what % alcohol would kill off all mold, how much alcohol do you have in there right now ?

I think OP should tell us more about what's inside that bottle? What Yeast were you using ? maybe it's just yeast. Yest is usually that color unless your adding something (fruits) that alter that.

 

[Frognostic]

Strange.

I always thought of mould as growing on top of the liquid rather than at the bottom of the container.

 

[DungMonster]

I swear I posted to this but yes mold would not generally grow in or underwater without outside interference. That being said, that is almost certainly colonies of a bacteria. Some yeast brands contain bacteria if I recall right. If you bottled this and somehow grabbed a few colonies of the bacteria it is likely they multiplied. Funny thing is I bet you boil your honey or buy store honey that has been pastuerized? This generally only happens in boiled (heated above 120deg F) or pastuerized honey as it destroys the antibacterial effect honey naturally has, even in mead this effect is present to a degree. Anyways if it bothers you just rebottle it without your buddies.

 

[ReDim]

I swear I posted to this but yes mold would not generally grow in or underwater without outside interference. That being said, that is almost certainly colonies of a bacteria. Some yeast brands contain bacteria if I recall right. If you bottled this and somehow grabbed a few colonies of the bacteria it is likely they multiplied. Funny thing is I bet you boil your honey or buy store honey that has been pastuerized? This generally only happens in boiled (heated above 120deg F) or pastuerized honey as it destroys the antibacterial effect honey naturally has, even in mead this effect is present to a degree. Anyways if it bothers you just rebottle it without your buddies.

Yeast is a bacteria lol ! Live yeast is white (unless it picks up coloring from what is being brewed and looks....

We really need more from from OP, before the probability that this is yeast that has settled down is out-ruled

 

[DungMonster]

Yeast is a bacteria lol ! Live yeast is white (unless it picks up coloring from what is being brewed and looks....

We really need more from from OP, before the probability that this is yeast that has settled down is out-ruled

So since My resolution is to be less of an ******* to people I will bite my tounge a bit on this response :smack: Ok so many people do commonly think yeast is a bacteria when it is actually classified as a fungi, if I recall it is a higher fungi in the fungi kingdom. Feel free to google fact check it all you want though I am willing to bet the only responses that say it is a bacteria will be from non fact checked sources and opinions or possible people trolling kids trying to get help with thier biology homework and are too lazy to just crack the textbook. As for the bacteria I was referring to. I do believe that there was mention of a yeast using lactobacillius to control the fermentation process. now stop making me use my brain and let me go back to acting like a country bumpkin.

 

[ReDim]

So since My resolution is to be less of an ******* to people I will bite my tounge a bit on this response :smack: Ok so many people do commonly think yeast is a bacteria when it is actually classified as a fungi, if I recall it is a higher fungi in the fungi kingdom. Feel free to google fact check it all you want though I am willing to bet the only responses that say it is a bacteria will be from non fact checked sources and opinions or possible people trolling kids trying to get help with thier biology homework and are too lazy to just crack the textbook. As for the bacteria I was referring to. I do believe that there was mention of a yeast using lactobacillius to control the fermentation process. now stop making me use my brain and let me go back to acting like a country bumpkin.

Happy new year dude !

 

[DungMonster]

Hehe same to you. Wonder what this guy decided to do. I hope he just re bottled it or drank around them colonies.

 

[Brewdigar]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I haven't messed with them yet but my intent is to open, taste, and if ok, bottle anew and drink at my leisure!

 

[Brewdigar]

Update: well I may have waited too long. One bottle burst and every other gushed like crazy when (carefully) opened. Whatever was in there had added and earthy aftertaste to what was left of the mead. It may actually have been good had it been able to properly condition... Alas. Just means I'll have to try again!