1st shot at mead.. lots of questions

[steved26]

ok, so I decided to follow stormthecastle to make a fruit mead. I am using his 2nd method, which is add the fruit in the 2nd fermentation. now I used the 3lbs of honey, 1 package of 71b-1122 yeast. I made (2) 1 gallon batches and I did not have a hydrometer at the start. I have one now.
batch 1 was a little lighter in color than batch 2.
so I tested the sg last night which is 9 days since I started the mead.
batch 1 - came in at 1.040 which was 3lbs of honey
batch 2 - came in at 1.090 which was a little over 3lbs of honey.

now I just started the basic joes ancient orange mead last night and I tested the 3lbs of honey/water and its starting sg was 1.120 & 15% potential

so looking back at the fruit meads it seems like the fermentation is working and I am having the bubbling in the airlock..

let me know If these #'s look right?

Thanks
steve

 

[CKuhns]

Looks to me like you are on track. From my experience everything does make sense and you are well on your way. The 3+ pounds is fermenting a little slower but that is OK. You may want to consider adding a little nutrient to your first two but certainly not required and would not be recommended below 1.035 or so for your "lighter" Mead.

The only suggestion i have based upon seeing your pictures. Is that when you read your hydrometer ensure it is not touching the sides of the graduated cylinder. I tend to just lightly spin the hydrometer. The spin tends to keep it in the middle of the cylinder and as it slows or nearly stops allows for a pretty precise reading without the potential interference form the side of the cylinder..

Oh and if you read the JOAM recipe then for goodness sake don't touch it!

 

[steved26]

Thanks,
can I add a little nutrient to it now? yeah I am leaving the joam alone...

 

[Maylar]

Yeast can't assimilate nutrient above about 9% alcohol, so after 9 days I'd say don't bother.

 

[Kent88]

This is the first you are thinking about using yeast nutrients? 11 days into it?

You certainly can add some nutrients, it might help. Maybe yeast energizer would be better?

Have you looked into staggered nutrient additions? Usually with mead some nutrient is added up front, and then I think there are a couple nutrient additions over the next few days.

 

[Lefou]

Yeast can't assimilate nutrient above about 9% alcohol, so after 9 days I'd say don't bother.

My JOAM made last October with S-05 ale yeast, de-gassed and staggered with nutrient additions has an ABV of approximately 14%. It sits in a secondary and is still clearing.
OG was 1.120, checked with hydrometer before secondary measured gravity was 1.012. I have a strange suspicion as this mead ages and clears the ABV will go up because I am STILL getting a minor bit of CO2 being released.

I would have to say the yeast's advertised alcohol tolerance might exceed a 9% limit. The calculator I used led me to believe that S-05 would cease around 9.75% near a wine's 8-10% ABV, but I got a surprise. Truthfully, for me, 14% is a bit beyond my drinking tolerance and I intend to use the mead as a cooking wine instead.

 

[steved26]

ok so just an update.... I didn't have a hydrometer at the start.
bottle #1 estimated og at 1.120
10/16/16 - sg was 1.040
10/23/16 - sg was 1.020
10/30/16 - sg was 1.000

bottle #2 a little extra honey added?? og ??
10/16/16 - sg was 1.090
10/23/16 - sg was 1.064
10/30/16 - sg was 1.050

on 10/30/16 I racked them for the 2nd fermentation with the fruit in the secondary. what I am wondering is if I should have waited on bottle #2 but I figured I am adding in fruit it will ferment with the addition of sugar in the fruit..

 

[CKuhns]

Bottle 2 is slow but still going, no harm in adding fruit and yes will add additional sugars. May actually jump start it a bit. As long as it has not stalled you should be OK.