GROUP BREW: Strawberry Mead - Page 4

jaxn · 01-22-2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoMomma

Yes wait 24 hours before you pitch as camden will kill your yeast fast. I used the camden as to deter any wild yeast from interfering with my batchs. I typically use fresh picked berries right from the farm, so there is no telling whats on them. LOL

1/3 honey to 2/3 water usually gives you a reading of 1.150 on your hydrometer. Strawberries will drop your SG to about 1.128 or so being they do not have a high concentration of sugar in them. So your right one the money or real close. I highly suggest you get a hydrometer or using one on every batch. Its the only real way you can reproduce a winning mead.

When taking your specific gravity when using fruit, use a turkey baster and syphone below the cap. This leaves the chunks behind. YMVV

Sweet. Thanks for the tips, yo.

I'll take the OG tonight before I pitch.

**Poobah58** · 01-22-2010, 11:18 PM

Crap, forgot to buy strawberries today!

jaxn · 01-23-2010, 12:51 AM

I just mixed it up really well. Got the strawberries and everything pretty well mixed and an OG of 1.138. Then I mixed it up again and got an OG of 1.115.

Do you guys typically have trouble getting good OG readings with this much fruit floating around and dissolving in primary?

I pitched the 1116 today.

I'll just take another SG reading tomorrow and figure out which was closer.

cheesecake · 01-23-2010, 12:57 AM

i might be in on this one....just have to pick up the ingredients anyone break this down for a 3 gallon batch yet..

jrss13 · 01-23-2010, 05:28 PM

I just started my 1 gallon batch (OG 1.140). I only used half of my yeast packet... and have left over honey... plus an empty 1 gallon carboy. I guess I need to go get more strawberries to start a second batch... because I'm pretty sure this stuff is gonna go fast once its finished.

flyweed · 01-24-2010, 01:18 AM

I too started my batch today..I am going to be using a yeast starter..it is on the stirplate now, and will pitch tomorrow. I will post my initial measurements at that point. Hope you are all doing well. Yomamma...did you get another batch whipped up???

vulture1963 · 01-24-2010, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxn

I just mixed it up really well. Got the strawberries and everything pretty well mixed and an OG of 1.138. Then I mixed it up again and got an OG of 1.115.

Do you guys typically have trouble getting good OG readings with this much fruit floating around and dissolving in primary?

I pitched the 1116 today.

I'll just take another SG reading tomorrow and figure out which was closer.

I have made a recipe like this 4 or 5 times now: http://www.utahpagans.org/StrawberryBanana.html

The chopped up (I use frozen) berries make it virtually impossible to get an accurate gravity reading, so I take the reading before adding the berries - I like 1.142 at about 4.2 gallons.

The cap can be a pain. BE VERY CAREFUL when degassing this thing or feeding it. IT WILL FOAM-UP LIKE NOTHING ELSE!

flyweed · 01-24-2010, 06:00 PM

yep...don't put a lid on, or airlock at this point...keep a lint free, cotton cloth over the top of it..so you can punch and watch for "overflow"

Dan

**Poobah58** · 01-24-2010, 07:01 PM

Holy crap, $42 for 16# of frozen strawberries!!!

flyweed · 01-24-2010, 07:22 PM

yeah..but it is gonna be $42 worth of drinking goodness!!