And....nothing

Nimrod1193 · 12-28-2011, 05:42 PM

Couple of days ago I tried my hand at mead for the first time. I used the basic mead recipe in Papazian's book, but I used a Wyeast 4184 Sweet Mead Yeast smack-pack. I didn't use additional yeast nutrients since they were already in the pack. I got the water to 120 degrees, added the honey and other ingredients, cooled it to 76 degrees and pitched the yeast, which had swelled up in the pack nicely.

After checking on it the next day, I’m seeing no activity in the airlock. I aerate it a couple of times to try and get thing going, but no luck. Yesterday I decide to add nutrients and some yeast energizer. I draw off some of the must, add the nutrients and energizer and add it to the must. Today, I check again and I am still seeing no activity in the airlock. What am I doing wrong here? Have I completely botched it, or is this batch salvageable?

Onihige · 12-28-2011, 05:57 PM

Honey can be hard to ferment, and one packet of yeast is not always enough (they contain a certain amount of yeast cells, I think 100 billion). Making a starter with the yeast is often recommended, although I have yet to go there myself.

And what do you mean by no airlock activity? No bubbles or simply no pressure? The airlock itself isn't meant to see if it's fermenting or not, it's to prevent air from getting in and to help gas escape.

It can still ferment even though there are no bubbles in the airlock. Is there some light foam build up on the surface of the must? It doesn't have to be much.

I recommend you add additional nutrients. And wait.

Devo9 · 12-28-2011, 06:03 PM

What is your OG? And check what your SG is. It may be fermenting without you knowing it.

And what is the recipe you used? If it isn't fermenting, maybe we can spot a potential problem.

MedsenFey · 12-28-2011, 06:05 PM

That yeast happens to be particularly finicky and has probably frustrated more new mead crafter than any other strain.

However, I'd suggest opening it and checking the gravity to see if it is dropping. Meads often produce little foam, and airlock are not a reliable indicator. Let us know what your numbers are.

**fatbloke** · 12-28-2011, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedsenFey

That yeast happens to be particularly finicky and has probably frustrated more new mead crafter than any other strain.

However, I'd suggest opening it and checking the gravity to see if it is dropping. Meads often produce little foam, and airlock are not a reliable indicator. Let us know what your numbers are.

+1

Medsen knows his onions..... if he hadn't mentioned the problems with this yeast, I'd have put it more bluntly i.e. its a PITA.

If its not doing its thing, get some nutrient/energiser and a pack of K1V-1116 and pitch that.

urbanmyth · 12-28-2011, 06:53 PM

I am currently fermenting a mead that took about four days to get going, and that is with one smack pack in only one gallon. Baby it for the first few days, aerating and such, until it starts to get foamy when you aerate. After that, you know fermentation has started, and it should be good.

I started that mead about three weeks ago, and it is still chugging along. Probably has something to do with the basement being 62* in the wintertime, but once it started, it kept going.

Nimrod1193 · 12-28-2011, 07:12 PM

OG was 1.112. Recipe was The Antipodal mead from Papazian's Joy of Homebrewing. I'll check the gravity when I get back from work.

Thanks everyone!

tweake · 12-28-2011, 10:25 PM

15 lbs Honey (Grade A clover)
1 tsp Yeast nutrient
1 Tbs Acid Blend
1 tsp Irish Moss
0.5 tsp Gypsum
Water to 5 Gallons
Packet Pasteur Champagne Yeast

if thats the recipe i can see a few things that are not good.
low in nutrient, massive amount of acid blend (which can cause the yeast to stop) and Irish moss which is not really needed.

Nimrod1193 · 12-29-2011, 01:59 AM

Gravity is still at 1.112. Must temperature is at 66 degrees. Didn't realize the acid blend was too much; just going by the recipe. Do I need new yeast? Do I need to move it to a warmer part of the house? Or am I just hosed?

Thanks for the help so far. I really appreciate it.

tweake · 12-29-2011, 03:31 AM

if theres no drop i would repitch with a much better yeast.
the catch may be the acid mix in it. really need a PH test and see how low it is. if its to low it will need to be corrected.
you will also need additional nutrient. i don't really know the wyeast products but from what i see the nutrients in the pack is the minor stuff, it will still need DAP.