honey smells of ferment

[Gypsi]

I ended up with a comb or 2 from the October 31st valve box cutout, and had intention of crush and strain and tossed it in the strainer top of my honey bucket, put the lid on and went to work. I did get it crushed and strained a couple of days later, but the honey smells odd. Almost fermented.  I haven't eaten it. Doesn't smell of bug spray, woman did not know the bees were IN the valve box (she did spray a few on her bushes but they likely did not make it back to the hive she had wasp spray).  I suspect there was a shb in there and how can I tell if this honey is spoiled.

I was just going to use it in my tea, about 8 ounces of it.

[tbonekel]

If there is any question at all, I wouldn't use it. I would probably just feed it back to the bees. I have a friend that does cutouts and he sells all of the honey out of those cutouts. I don't think I would do that. You just don't know sometimes.

[tefer2]

If it's only a comb or two, I wouldn't take the risk. Chuck it into a hole and bury it.
We do a bunch of cutouts during our season up here. Folks lie about spraying them because they fear you won't take them away.
When talking to them now, we ask them when was the last time they sprayed them.
Not if they sprayed them.
They normally blurt it out before they realize it.
I then charge them double cause it contaminates all my equipment. 

[brooksbeefarm]

If i thought it was fermented i wouldn't feed it to the bees, it can cause sever dysentery. I don't eat anything that doesn't look or smell right, life is to short as it is. Jack

[riverbee]

i agree with others gypsy, if the honey smells odd, and almost fermented, then chances are it is or something else.  i wouldn't consume it, and like jack, i wouldn't feed it back to the bees.

[Lburou]

Gypsi, have you tasted broomweed honey?  I sounds a bit like broomweed honey.  I'm getting a similar smell from my hives that built up (after harvesting) with broom weed. 

[Gypsi]

no one KNEW where the hive was, so I am pretty sure they weren't sprayed. I just happened to park near it and know what I was seeing as they came in and out.

I am NOT feeding to my bees. One round of EFB convinced me that honey can carry viruses and it is not a chance I will take. The bees appeared healthy but the queen took off after I dropped them at ledifini's.

  It is definitely a fall honey, very dark, probably a lot of ragweed, doesn't have a bad texture like it is fermented.  I think I will see what it tastes like in a spoon.  Just me. So if I die and my kids log in, tell them I just had to try it.  I am quite allergic to ragweed so it would be a very beneficial honey for me