Cherry Mead Reserve

I started it on 12/09/12 ill check the gravity in two weeks.
Original gravity 1.195
1 gallon jar
Water
80 oz of honey
1.5 cups frozen cherries
1 Teaspoon Yeast nutrient

I used Lalvin k1-v1116 yeast

OG of 1.195? You have a hydrometer that goes that high?!?! Or is that a typo?

Lol no when i took the gravity it was alittle past 1.190 so i guessed. Lol

Timper-325 said:

Lol no when i took the gravity it was alittle past 1.190 so i guessed. Lol

Click to expand...

That's funny. The absolute highest I've ever seen a hydrometer go is 1.170, and that's not all that common. You must have a hydrometer for specialty distilling or something.

Anyway, it might ferment a bit but it should stop while incredibly sweet and cloying. I wouldn't try it.

I got the recipe from Redstone meadery when i went to Boulder Colorado a few months ago. The tour guide was very informative. He said there would be a likely hood that the gravity would be really high.

Redstone makes it. And theirs was alittle cloudy and sweet. It was awesome.

12/30/12

Cherry mead reserve is complete and its amazing. A beautiful dark red with a string sweet cherry flavor.
ABV ended at 21.5%

I will definitely be doing this again.

Mmmmm 21 ABV

I'm interested in trying this recipe. Can it be brewed in the same method as a JAOM, or do I need more specialized equipment?

I fermented in a 1gallon glass jar.

Seriously doubt you'll get much above 18% with K1V with as little nutrient as you used (or listed). You would need to oxygenate/aerate and degas the living snot out of the batch to get above that. Even then, it's possible that it will just quit at/around 18%.

Typically, to get above 18% you do a stepped honey addition schedule. Basically, you start off with a lower OG and add honey as the yeast goes through the original amount. I would have held off on adding the cherries until the batch was finished fermenting too. Using them when you did means that a good amount of what they would add has been blown out the airlock already.

Howd you put this thing together? mix honey water etc into 1g carboy. Then rack into secondary without cherries? OR did you leave traditional and rack onto cherries in secondary. Or pm me your steps. Thanks. It sounds delicious

I mixed all ingredients into a 1 gallon glass jar. 2.5 weeks i racked the liquid to a clean jar (off cherries). 1 week later i racked clear liquid off remainder of dead yeast. My end result was a beautiful deep red clear liquid with an amazing sweet flavor with a strong 21.5% ABV. And yes i double checked ,it was 21.5%. The ABV was stronger than i wanted but i am extremely happy with my results.

I am so happy with my results that i have given half of it away with nothing but praises. A co-worker has sense used my recipe and is looking forward to his mead.

Golddiggie, thank you for your comment. I dont expect everyone to have the same results as i did however i would expect something extremely close. I encourage you to try it for yourself. Despite getting 21.5% i would have been just as overjoyed woth 18%. My goal was not a high ABV. I just wanted something i would enjoy. I succeeded.