GROUP BREW: Strawberry Mead - Page 5

jaxn · 01-24-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyweed

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

Yeah. After 2 consecutive mornings of waking up to an airlock 5ft from the fermenter and stawberry sludge all over the place, I'm changing to a blow-off tube.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poobah58

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

Yeah. It was about the same for me.

**Poobah58** · 01-24-2010, 11:27 PM

Got mine started. Only put 1/2 the honey in for now. Gonna split it up into two 3-gal batches and add Zinfidel juice to one. Will put more honey in other batch during secondary.

jaxn · 01-25-2010, 04:21 AM

I added some more Ferm K and DAP today (day3), then stirred. About 3 seconds into stirring, my carboy turned into Old Faithful.

I just stared in awe for a few seconds then grabbed the blow-off tube. It's still going.

Strawberry is everywhere!

flyweed · 01-25-2010, 08:23 PM

LOL...I just pitched my 1116 this morning. SO my batch is now going. My initial readings before pitching yeast are: Temp: 65F S.G. 1.138 or 33 brix.

So now, time to watch and wait for the strawberry blowoff to start.

jrss13 · 01-25-2010, 08:39 PM

I pitched my yeast almost 48 hours ago. How long til i should start seeing activity?

jaxn · 01-25-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrss13

I pitched my yeast almost 48 hours ago. How long til i should start seeing activity?

That's about when it started for me.

**Poobah58** · 01-26-2010, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrss13

I pitched my yeast almost 48 hours ago. How long til i should start seeing activity?

Only takes a few hours to see activity.
1) Did you rehydrate with Go-Ferm?
2) Did you use nutrients?
3) Did you aerate at innoculation.
4) Did you aerate the next day?
5. Are you punching the cap down several times a day?

**Poobah58** · 01-26-2010, 04:01 AM

Poobah's Strawberry Pizazz Brew Log:

15.0 lbs Honey (7# Wildflower, 6# Blackberry, 2# Blueberry)
0.5 gals Zinfandel Blush Grape Juice
12.0 lbs Strawberry (Pri)
4.0 lbs Strawberry (Sec)
0.5 lb Coconut Shreds, Dried (Sec)
3.0 Vanilla Beans (Sec)
1 Pkgs Lalvin - K1V-1116

Notes:
As you can see I deviated a bit. Really wanted to use the grape juice up. Also wanted a drier mead. I just bottled a sweeter one last month.

1/24/10: Mixed honey, added strawberries and 5 campden tabs. OG: 24 Brix (1.103).
1/25: Morning: Added 1.5 tsp pectin (all I had). Evening: Rehydrated yeast with Go-Ferm. Added 4.5g Fermaid-K & DAP. Pitched and aerated w/oxygen.
1/26: Aerated with O2. SG = 22 Brix (1.084).
1/27: Added 2.8g Fermaid-K & DAP. 20 Brix (1.070)
1/28: Added 1.8g Ferm-K & DAP. 16 Brix (1.041)
1/29: 14 Brix (1.028)
1/30: 10.5 Brix (1.005)
1/31: 10 Brix (1.002)
2/1: Racked to secondary, 9 Brix (0.995). Added strawberries.
3/10: Racked, added coconut, vanilla and 2# honey w/water.

jrss13 · 01-26-2010, 11:09 AM

I used a yeast nutrienr prior to pitching... as well as energizer twice now. I've stored it up multiple times and left a paper towel on top to allow air in. It is in a closet at about 60 degrees... I've had no problem getting my regular mead going down in my basement at 52. Should I pitch more yeast?

**Poobah58** · 01-26-2010, 11:58 AM

What happens when you give it a stir? Does it foam up? What was the OG and what is it now?