Cider separating during secondary fermentation?

[Arkie]

I made a batch of cider using the same recipe I have had success with in the past with the exception of using Nottingham Ale yeast. I thought it was stalled but then it blew up on day 3 because I did not have a blow off tube. Took 3 weeks to get down to 1.000 gravity and now it appears to be separating after about 2 months in secondary fermentation. It is dark on top 4 inches of the carboy, looks kind of like the color of the honey I used to back sweeten.

What happened?

 

[Leithoa]

Sounds like the pectins separated out sort of like what happens in keeving. http://www.piltoncider.com/cider/keeving or http://cidersupply.com/Linked Images/Main-Keeve.jpg show keeved cider.

 

[DaMonkey]

I made a batch of cider using the same recipe I have had success with in the past with the exception of using Nottingham Ale yeast. I thought it was stalled but then it blew up on day 3 because I did not have a blow off tube. Took 3 weeks to get down to 1.000 gravity and now it appears to be separating after about 2 months in secondary fermentation. It is dark on top 4 inches of the carboy, looks kind of like the color of the honey I used to back sweeten.

What happened?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[Arkie]

yep, that is what it looks like...

Thanks!