I just racked my first 5 gal. batch of medium show mead. The OG reading was 1.10 and now almost 3 weeks later it is 0.39. What am I missing here?
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“Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.” - George Burns
Grancru, if your gravity is 1.039 three weeks after starting, you do have a very sluggish fermentation. With a traditional mead (or a show mead), there can be several reasons but one of the most common is a pH issue.
Please give us the full details of your recipe (type of honey, yeast, temperature, etc.) and if you can measure the pH that may help to get you the best possible answers.
15.5 Cups Windmill Farms Wildflower
4.5 Gal Spring Water
10 oz. Lalvin D-47 Yeast
2 tsp. Yeast Energizer
2 tsp. Yeast Nutrient
OG 1.1
Piched on 1/20/10 (19 days)
Temp 64-66
It is a beautiful creamy, golden color.
The reading now is 0.39 not 1.039. I may be wrong but I tought it should only drop to around 1.0 +/- not all the way down to 0.39. The fermentation was not sluggish. It began almost immediatly, remained agressive until the last couple days when it slowed to a bubble every 20 secs.
__________________
“Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.” - George Burns
__________________
“Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.” - George Burns
More than likely, your pH is low. If you can check it that will give some useful information and can get you back on track. If the pH is below 3.0, it really needs to be fixed or this fermentation may never get done.
You also look to be a little light on the nutrients. At this stage of fermentation the yeast won't be able to assimilate DAP very well, but if you give it energizer (about 4 tsp or 16 grams) and yeast hulls (1 gram per gallon they bind yeast toxins) that may help you. The nutrients tend to raise the pH slightly which may help, and if the yeast are hungry, this will help. Your racking has already taken care of aerating it further, so you should be okay from that standpoint.
Endeavor to persevere!
Medsen
P.S. Just one clarification on terminology. What you have here is a traditional mead. A "Show Mead" is one made from only honey, water, and yeast, in which no nutrients are used (per BJCP guidelines).
Yes, mine is a common hydrometer begining with .990. My reading is just below the .40 mark. The OG reading read at the 10 mark below the 1.100 in the middle of the hydrometer.
__________________
“Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.” - George Burns
I used Ken Schramm's recipe from The Complete Meadmaker which he titles it a Medium Show Mead. I do not have the ability to check PH at this time.
I do have energizer, fermaid K and Go-ferm but no yeast hulls.
__________________
“Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle.” - George Burns
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