White Gunk in Airlock...

[bredler]

I have noticed a faint off-smell lately when checking my mead...and today I noticed that there is some white gunk that looks like snot in the airlock.

So a couple questions:
-What is this?
-Will it harm my mead?
-Is the smell probably coming from this or probably from my mead?

 

[s3n8]

I would replace the airlock immediately. What do you have in the airlock? Water? Vodka? I use starsan or vodka.

 

[bredler]

I would replace the airlock immediately. What do you have in the airlock? Water? Vodka? I use starsan or vodka.

Water, but that was my thoughts as well. Refilling it with vodka asap.

 

[s3n8]

Make sure you clean it very well if you replace the same one.

 

[bredler]

Will do. I'll give it a hard scrubbing and use some sanitizer and HOT water.

Also, while I've got you here; activity in the airlock is zero now. I only have two fermentation/aging vessels and I wanted to start up another batch of mead. What are your thoughts about aging in the bottle vs aging bulk?

 

[KenSchramm]

The smaller the container, the faster the aging process occurs. If it's done, my inclination would be to get it in bottles and make another batch.

 

[bredler]

The smaller the container, the faster the aging process occurs. If it's done, my inclination would be to get it in bottles and make another batch.

Thanks! Ha, I thought that name was familiar...then I looked next to me on the desk and saw it on written this book about mead or something...I don't think that guy can spell very well . Just kidding, great book! Thanks for the chime-in.