Goldenrod Honey Smell

• Past few weeks, the hive has taken on a strong odor, like musty, yeasty, cheesy.  Just not exceptionally good.  But all activity looks great.  I have read that goldenrod nectar/pollen causes this, esp. in the fall when it blooms.  So it seems most nectar and pollen (bright orange) coming in must be goldenrod.

Does your bee yard have a strange smell this fall? Are you wondering about that pungent smell emanating from your hives? What could it be?

GOLDENROD is in bloom here in NE Ga. (Goldenrod, botanical name Solidago, is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the asteraceae family.) The fields and roadsides are awash with the beautiful yellow color of this “weed”. Goldenrod and the late blooming asters provide a wondrous blooming finale for our nectar and pollen gathering little friends.  Goldenrod also provides the bee yard with a peculiar smell. It is different from the usual pleasant beehive smell.

The first year I had bees, I anxiously awaited the fall flow. The fall flow would help me determine whether I would need to feed or not. I was not prepared for the smell! I thought my bees were dead or had some serious issues going on inside the hives!

Some descriptions of the smell are:

• stinky feet
• dirty gym socks
• yeast
• cheese
• musty

I got on the WWW to read up on what could be causing the smell and discovered two possibilities.

• Goldenrod
• American Foulbrood

Of course I assumed the worst! I just knew my hives were diseased! I immediately got my gear together and started checking hives. (Since then I have learned AFB apparently has the smell of a dead rotting animal.) Everything in the hive was normal. With relief, I proclaimed my hives were suffering from the goldenrod honey ripening process.

I do not harvest from the fall flow so I cannot say what the ripened honey tastes like. It is my understanding it does not tastes like it smells though.

When I talk with fellow beekeepers, especially new ones, I warn them about the smell during the fall flow. They still get concerned and inspect their hives.