Another Newbie question..

[ThirstyPawsHB]

I've read so much about awful meads when they're young that I'm wondering if these were flukes or does anyone else experience the 'fruits' of their labor after 8 days? Since these were my 1st batches thought I'd give it a whirl after the latest de-gas and nutrient addition. I could bottle the peach now and be ecstatic! It's a bit sweet, but the mead flavor is there along with honey...not much peach as expected with adding to primary. The blueberry has a slight odd flavor but nothing to scream about. Both are running about 9% right now. Also, I was wondering about sulfates. Is this something I truly need to do and when? Thanks for all whom came before me and cheers!

 

[ThirstyPawsHB]

 

[bernardsmith]

I have deliberately experimented with traditional meads (just honey, water, nutrient and yeast - no fruit), albeit at low ABV's (1 lb of honey to the gallon , and so a starting gravity of about 4.5% - as much alcohol as a session beer) and they were very drinkable after a week. Not prize winning meads by any stretch of the imagination - Or rather they ought NOT to be prize winners but they were very pleasant. The secret is that you need to ferment these babies gently and you need to be sure to remove any and all stress from the yeast.