Traditional Mead Question about my Secondary Fermentation

[Reww]

so my mead has been aging in my frig with the bung and air lock on it for about 9 months now in secondary and i been tasting it along the way, i never added potassium metabisulfite or potassium sorbate. i want to back sweeten and bottle now, should i take this mead out of the secondary and add both potassium meta and potassium sorbate let it sit another day and then bottle?

 

[Seamonkey84]

There could still be viable yeast if it was in the fridge, how long was it in secondary before you put it in?

 

[Reww]

i didnt add anything yet, i wanted to add them both, is that fine? its been in secondary in my frig for like 8months without any potassium metabisulfite.

 

[Seamonkey84]

If your going to add the stabilizers, then yea you’ll be fine. rack off any lees that May have settled over time, then let it warm it up and add your sulfite and sorbate, wait a day, then sweeten.

 

[Reww]

ok cool thank you, also why do i need to let it warm up? what will happen if i put the sorbate and sulfite in and put it back into my frig for a day?

 

[Seamonkey84]

I haven’t done it at all myself, but RPH says it won’t dissolve or comes out of solution in cold

 

[Reww]

ok guess im going to follow you on that lol, think it will be bad if i let it warm up since its been in the frig for like 9months?

 

[Seamonkey84]

No, you’ll be fine, just add your sulfite first if your worried about oxidation, but mead is very forgiving to that.

 

[Reww]

how long do you think i should let the sorbate and sulfites sit in the mead before bottling?

 

[Reww]

so i took out the mead to let it get to room temp and these little foamy white spots are sitting on the top of the mead. anyone know what this might be? i dont want to keep opening it up and tasting, there are no sulfites in it yet or sorbate, also about 3weeks ago i made a tea with raisins and orange peel(boiled it and let it steep for about an hour) that i added to the mead.

 

[CKuhns]

Looks like CO2 coming out of suspension to me.

Nothing to worry about.

 

[Reww]

thank you i just transferred it to a third jar added 1 tsp of sorbate and 1 campden tablet going to leave it for a day then back sweeten with honey i think