Melomel w/o Campden Tabs

**coldrice** · 10-05-2010, 04:11 PM

I am a purist, I suppose. I am making a blueberry/huckleberry mead today and I intend to not use Camden tabs to kill any wild yeast. I know this is also practiced by many pros, too. My berries have been frozen since June, but I believe many wild yeasts can survive freezing-even that long. I just thought I would post this and see if anyone could think of any reason to try to stop me. I think 2 packs of D47 will overwhelm any punkass wild yeast...so what say ye? Any red flags, anyone?

**weirdboy** · 10-05-2010, 04:27 PM

I made a blackberry melomel around 16 months ago, and didn't have any troubles with wild yeasts. I just washed the fruit normally before sticking it in sanitized containers in the freezer, then "distressed" the berries before racking the mead on top of them in secondary after about a month or so in primary.

**david_42** · 10-05-2010, 06:42 PM

I simply fermented the honey, then added the blackberries. I figured at 10% ABV and an active fermentation, I didn't have to worry about wild yeast. Turned out fine.

LightningInABottle · 10-06-2010, 02:15 PM

I used campden tablets on my first melomel and have made 3 since then not using any. I didn't have any problems. Be sure to practice SNA so that your yeast gets a good fast start. I tend to use half the fruit in primary and half in the secondary. Yeast used was d47 and 71b.