Sif
New Member
Good morning!
I am on my first batch of mead. I used wildflower honey 3# honey/1 gallon water and one packets of champagne yeast. I started on 17 September 2011 in a Northern Brewer food grade bucket. Part way through, it stalled so I added another pound of honey and another packet of yeast. It was pretty good, but had a slightly bitter hoppy flavour that confuses me. I have aerated it twice by shifting it from one bucket to another. I am using an airlock filled with vodka. For nearly two days now I have not heard the gurgle of living things. All tools and buckets have been cleaned and sterilsed using the soloution from Norther Brewer for this purpose. I also scrubbed the daylights out of the tools and buckets before use.
My problem: it's not bad, it's just a bit bitter and I was hoping for something sweeter, more honey-like.
1. How do I fix it?
2. And what is the sludge in the bottom? Is that the must I hear of? I thought that was on the top?
3. Can I leave it in the bucket and pull off what I need when I need it?
Thank you for your time.
Peace
Sif
I am on my first batch of mead. I used wildflower honey 3# honey/1 gallon water and one packets of champagne yeast. I started on 17 September 2011 in a Northern Brewer food grade bucket. Part way through, it stalled so I added another pound of honey and another packet of yeast. It was pretty good, but had a slightly bitter hoppy flavour that confuses me. I have aerated it twice by shifting it from one bucket to another. I am using an airlock filled with vodka. For nearly two days now I have not heard the gurgle of living things. All tools and buckets have been cleaned and sterilsed using the soloution from Norther Brewer for this purpose. I also scrubbed the daylights out of the tools and buckets before use.
My problem: it's not bad, it's just a bit bitter and I was hoping for something sweeter, more honey-like.
1. How do I fix it?
2. And what is the sludge in the bottom? Is that the must I hear of? I thought that was on the top?
3. Can I leave it in the bucket and pull off what I need when I need it?
Thank you for your time.
Peace
Sif