Jao - Funny Smell

[furby83]

hey all,

i just bottled my JAO that i put down on 4-Jul.
i racked it in September because the fruit was not falling and it was developing a strong overripe fruit smell but still wasn't clearing.
i went on holidays at the end of November still wasn't clearing & returned at the end of December still wasn't clear.
now halfway through January & have decided to bottle. bottling into 1L clear Grolsch style bottles ($2 from Kmart).
i put about 2 tsp of vanilla essence into each bottle but there is still a lingering overripe fruit smell.

is there anyway to get rid of the smell or is it a case of wait & pray or dump & start over?

 

[brettprevans]

you would get more responses if you just tacked this question onto the exsisting JAO thread. but moving on...

what does it taste like? there was overrripe fermenting fruit in your JAO so I would expect there to be that smell. mine did. not 'off/rancid' fruit but an overripe sweet smell yes.
if it tastes good then its probably fine.

regarding your bottles. I hope your not carbonating the mead, as those cheap bottles wont hold pressure and youll have exploding glass.

 

[furby83]

you would get more responses if you just tacked this question onto the exsisting JAO thread. but moving on...

what does it taste like? there was overrripe fermenting fruit in your JAO so I would expect there to be that smell. mine did. not 'off/rancid' fruit but an overripe sweet smell yes.
if it tastes good then its probably fine.

regarding your bottles. I hope your not carbonating the mead, as those cheap bottles wont hold pressure and youll have exploding glass.

i get a slight "buzz" from just the fumes. before i racked it it was heading toward the rancid that's why i racked to get it off the fruit.
i'm not carbing it and have a bottle in the fridge to taste later tonight.
i'm going to "cellar" the bottles that aren't in the fridge. (see linen cupboard)

 

[Greg.L]

Sounds to me like it might be acetaldehyde, a common fault that gives off pretty strong fumes (smells like nailpolish remover). If it is its caused by oxidation, and there's no cure.

 

[furby83]

Sounds to me like it might be acetaldehyde, a common fault that gives off pretty strong fumes (smells like nailpolish remover). If it is its caused by oxidation, and there's no cure.

it might be that but since bottling it has dissipated and the smell no longer gives a buzz (has been about 48hrs since bottling) but the fruit smell still lingers.

 

[brettprevans]

Sounds to me like it might be acetaldehyde, a common fault that gives off pretty strong fumes (smells like nailpolish remover). If it is its caused by oxidation, and there's no cure.

Acetaldehyde dirsnt smell fruity though. Im guessing it hust fruit. Esp at room temp or slighty warmer, its pretty heady. Thats why I suggested tasting it and see what its like

 

[Greg.L]

I'm not sure if you have a fault or not, but maybe it's just a noseful of co2, that might give you the fruity fumes you are describing.

 

[brettprevans]

I'm not sure if you have a fault or not, but maybe it's just a noseful of co2, that might give you the fruity fumes you are describing.

yeah could be what he's smelling. i know with my ciders when you take a sniff right after taking the lid off that its fkn potent and far too overpowering. he CO2 really carries those fruit aromas

 

[furby83]

Acetaldehyde dirsnt smell fruity though. Im guessing it hust fruit. Esp at room temp or slighty warmer, its pretty heady. Thats why I suggested tasting it and see what its like

OK. i had a taste of it last night (both warm & chilled) and noticed that there was a bitter taste upfront that lingered well after.
had to wash my mouth out with Jim Beam: Black Cherry
i'm going to take a small sample to my LHBS as there is a guy that does mead there.

i'm going to try again what can i use instead of fruit to get the acid needed into the mead?

 

[furby83]

ok after taking it to my LHBS and getting an expert opinion (well more expert than me) he recommended sealing it and shoving it in the back of the cupboard for a year +- then try it again.