While racking my Mead last night I realized I never started a thread, with the recipe and statistics. Since this was my first Mead I decided to just do a 1 gal experimental batch. I choose Orange Blossom Honey, since that's my personal favorite in tea or on a biscuit.
Recipe:
3lbs Orange Blossom Honey
Water to 1 gal
1 packet Montrachet yeast
Yeast Nutrient
Yeast Energizer
Procedures:
Warmed 1/2 gal of water plus honey to 150 and held for 15 minutes, stirring constantly to ensure sugar dispersal, and oxygenation. Cooled must in ice bath, while yeast re-hydrated in 1/2 cup warm water. Added 2 cups of must to bloomed yeast, while I prepared the primary (20 minutes). Added must to primary, added yeast mixture to primary, topped up with water leaving 4 inches headspace. OG was 1.084. Since my homebrew shop didn't have the same name brand nutrients that Hightest calls for, I bought their equivalents, then followed the bottle's instructions for 1 gal. I added half of each nutrient after 24hrs, then the remaining half after 1 week, swirling after each addition. Last night made 4 weeks in primary. FG was 1.004 (11.1 percent according to BrewCalcs). I racked into sanitized glass jug, and topped up with 1 1/2 cup sterile water to make up for loss in Hydro, and to yeast. I plan on letting this ride for another 3-4 weeks, then rack. Depending on clarity, I'll go another 3-4, and re-rack or bottle.
My goal is to have some either for Christmas or New Year's Eve. I drank the sample and oh man it was good. Extremely floral. But even with that much alcohol SWMBO thought it was a touch sweet. I did the calculations and told her, don't go crazy because it will knock you on you but.
I'm really excited after this success. I plan on starting a 3 gal batch with Clover honey in the next couple weeks. I'll add a couple pounds of fresh Strawberries to the secondary to that one.
Recipe:
3lbs Orange Blossom Honey
Water to 1 gal
1 packet Montrachet yeast
Yeast Nutrient
Yeast Energizer
Procedures:
Warmed 1/2 gal of water plus honey to 150 and held for 15 minutes, stirring constantly to ensure sugar dispersal, and oxygenation. Cooled must in ice bath, while yeast re-hydrated in 1/2 cup warm water. Added 2 cups of must to bloomed yeast, while I prepared the primary (20 minutes). Added must to primary, added yeast mixture to primary, topped up with water leaving 4 inches headspace. OG was 1.084. Since my homebrew shop didn't have the same name brand nutrients that Hightest calls for, I bought their equivalents, then followed the bottle's instructions for 1 gal. I added half of each nutrient after 24hrs, then the remaining half after 1 week, swirling after each addition. Last night made 4 weeks in primary. FG was 1.004 (11.1 percent according to BrewCalcs). I racked into sanitized glass jug, and topped up with 1 1/2 cup sterile water to make up for loss in Hydro, and to yeast. I plan on letting this ride for another 3-4 weeks, then rack. Depending on clarity, I'll go another 3-4, and re-rack or bottle.
My goal is to have some either for Christmas or New Year's Eve. I drank the sample and oh man it was good. Extremely floral. But even with that much alcohol SWMBO thought it was a touch sweet. I did the calculations and told her, don't go crazy because it will knock you on you but.
I'm really excited after this success. I plan on starting a 3 gal batch with Clover honey in the next couple weeks. I'll add a couple pounds of fresh Strawberries to the secondary to that one.