First Mead - Did I screw up?

[d00b]

Hi. I made a 5 gallon batch with 10lbs honey, 1 tsp of energizer, 3 tsp of nutrient and ec-1118 yeast. It had been fermenting for 8 days(yesterday).

I guess I was reading last night about mead and realized that I wasn't aerating my mead each day. Just once when I started. So I opened the lid, took a reading. It had fallen from og of 1.07 to 1.48 in eight days. I stirred it and put the lid back on.

This morning I noticed that there was no bubbling in the airlock whereas before I messed with it there bubbling every 10-15 seconds. I opened the lid and could hear hissing. I then stirred it again and sealed it. Did I screw up my mead?

 

[sfgoat]

No it will be fine. When I make mine I mix them up really good before pitching yeast and once yeast is pitched I leave it alone. Just let it be for a while I usually let mine sit about a month before I touch it.

 

[butterpants]

Some people step feed and degas in the first week of fermentation which is sort of similar to what you did. No big deal. Your OG is pretty low for mead, 1118 will completely eat through your must in short order. Be prepared to have a low alcohol very dry finished product.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Home Brew mobile app

 

[d00b]

Thanks guys. I just noticed bubbling in my airlock now. I guess I was Getting excited. lol

 

[d00b]

Some people step feed and degas in the first week of fermentation which is sort of similar to what you did. No big deal. Your OG is pretty low for mead, 1118 will completely eat through your must in short order. Be prepared to have a low alcohol very dry finished product.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Home Brew mobile app

If this finishes fermenting and my fg is .990 then from the abv calculator says 10.5% That is okay isn't it?

 

[sfgoat]

If this finishes fermenting and my fg is .990 then from the abv calculator says 10.5% That is okay isn't it?

That is actually the strength that I like to shoot for so I think it's ok.

 

[butterpants]

oh yea it's fine, just a little low on abv. 1118 can go upwards of 18%, hard to not just keep feeding those little beasties

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Home Brew mobile app

 

[d00b]

So it's been 36 days and I took a reading that is 1.02. Should it had stopped there or should I take another in 2 days to see if it's the same? If it's the same do I pitch more yeast? Like I said I used ec-1118.

 

[fuelish]

I'd personally give it more time ... have you racked to a secondary yet? ....have used 1118 before and never had the FG be above 1.0....typically in the mid to upper 0.90's - it's a must eating beast of a yeast....give it more time, add some patience, then some more time. Patience is your ally when making mead I like 1118 for sparkling mead, as it will ferment all sugars and still want more, unless you use a HUGE amount of honey. If I want a sweeter mead, I use a lower alcohol tolerent yeast so it tuckers out before the sugar's all ate up - I try to avoid chemicals as much as possible, so chemically stopping fermentation doesn't appeal all that much to me - not to mention I'm just to lazy to be bothered with stabilizing/backsweetening

 

[d00b]

I'd personally give it more time ... have you racked to a secondary yet? ....have used 1118 before and never had the FG be above 1.0....typically in the mid to upper 0.90's - it's a must eating beast of a yeast....give it more time, add some patience, then some more time. Patience is your ally when making mead I like 1118 for sparkling mead, as it will ferment all sugars and still want more, unless you use a HUGE amount of honey. If I want a sweeter mead, I use a lower alcohol tolerent yeast so it tuckers out before the sugar's all ate up - I try to avoid chemicals as much as possible, so chemically stopping fermentation doesn't appeal all that much to me - not to mention I'm just to lazy to be bothered with stabilizing/backsweetening

Thank you for your reply. It's still in primary. How long does it normally take for fermenting to be done?

 

[fuelish]

Thank you for your reply. It's still in primary. How long does it normally take for fermenting to be done?

Tricky question, as there are so many variables......I can only say that there is no "normal" ....depends on OG, yeast, fermenting temp, among other things. I usually wait until it "appears" to be done fermenting, then transfer to a secondary and let it sit for weeks, usually more....after a good amount of time (you want it crystal clear, ideally), take a few gravity readings several days apart to confirm that it has fermented completely...well, as far as it's going to go - don't rely on airlock activity as an indicator that fermenting is complete (consecutive gravity readings is the surest way, and it gives you a few chances to sample your unaged product as well ) What I do while waiting (and waiting and waiting some more) is buy some more good beer to stock up on usable empty bottles...there's no such thing as too many empties or too many carboys - the more available carboys you have, you'll fell less hurried to get another batch started My wife complains about the amount of glass I have, but she sure loves the meads I make