Dextersmom

Recipes 

Long story short I didn't buy enough honey. I was going to make a short batch of mead (mainly because I had no idea how expensive honey has become). Basically I've screwed up my water amounts and only have about 1.5 pounds of honey per gallon of water. Since the wheels were already in motion and the honey was used I didn't want to trash what I had spent my money on already. The "Weak" mead is fermenting away but I was wondering if it is possible to add honey to my fermenter to help bring the ratio of honey to water back up to a more reasonable amount.

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Planning: Empty
3Gal Carboy: Whispering Wheat
Primary: Ye Olde Black Pilsner
Primary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
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Gallons Brewed This Year: 8

CBBaron

Recipes 

Yes it is possible and given that you are starting with a weak mead it should be no problem. I would suggest adding the extra honey to an equal amount of warm water and mixing well, then mix this into your fermenting must. It is best if you add this extra honey while the must is still fermenting.

Or, you could allow your current mead to finish. When it is done you can either add a small amount of honey and bottle condition it for a light sparkling mead. Or you can add sulphite and sorbate to prevent renewed fermentation and back sweetened to your desired level.

By not uping your OG to the 12%+ ABV amounts you will get a different mead that will be ready to drink much earlier. Just something to consider.

Craig

Dextersmom

Recipes 

Cool, got some stuff to consider. Its only been fermenting for three days now and I have space in the carboy to add more. Do you think i'll have to worry about anything like oxidation when adding more honey / water mixture to the must?

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Planning: Empty
3Gal Carboy: Whispering Wheat
Primary: Ye Olde Black Pilsner
Primary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
Priming / Conditioning: Empty
Drinking: Empty

Gallons Brewed This Year: 8

CBBaron

Recipes 

If you add it during active fermentation the yeast will use the O2 preventing and oxidation. Adding it later may result in some problems.

Craig

Dextersmom

Recipes 

Cool, I think I can get that done today and not worry about oxidation then. Would it be ok to gently swirl the carboy after the honey mixture has been added and the airlock has been put back into place?

__________________
Planning: Empty
3Gal Carboy: Whispering Wheat
Primary: Ye Olde Black Pilsner
Primary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
Priming / Conditioning: Empty
Drinking: Empty

Gallons Brewed This Year: 8

CBBaron

Recipes 

I think it would be a good idea to stir the added honey mixture into your must well. At this point I don't even think it is a bad idea to add additional O2 to the must. but the new honey mixture will be much heaver than your current must and will sink to the bottom unless you mix it well.

I'm still a newbie, especially on mead, I am just going based on what I have been reading here and at gotmead.com.

Craig

Dextersmom

Recipes 

cool thanks! yeah i've done some reading there too.

__________________
Planning: Empty
3Gal Carboy: Whispering Wheat
Primary: Ye Olde Black Pilsner
Primary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
Secondary: Empty
Priming / Conditioning: Empty
Drinking: Empty

Gallons Brewed This Year: 8