First mead OG dropped like a rock...

[binkman]

Started a 1 gallon, 1.080 must of water, honey, nutrient and activator according to bottle directions. WLP720. Airlock activity in three hours. This was Friday night.

This morning I popped it open to add more nutrient and took a gravity sample of 1.018!

Did it really drop .062 in less than 72 hours? Fermentation appears to be chugging along yet, almost as hard as ever and I expect the gravity is even lower, but the bubbles were forcing the hydrometer up.

 

[Ckarsanac]

How were your temperatures when you measured your SG? Could fermentation warmed it up to give you a falsely lower SG?

 

[binkman]

My hydrometer is also a thermometer. The gravities I reported have been duly calibrated.

 

[Ckarsanac]

Well... That was my guess. I've made three meads so far, and all are still on the primary. I haven't rechecked the SG yet. But, if it helps at all, I used champagne yeast and had airlock activity within the first hour! So, it seems reasonable that you could have a huge drop after 3 days...

Some one with more experience is bound to come along shortly...

 

[Insomniac]

My first two meads had completed in 4 days and they were much, much sweeter to start with (in the 1.2 region). It can happen!

 

[commonsenseman]

Oh yeah, 20 points per day is quite possible, especially if you aerate & add nutrients.

Meads are often quick to ferment, but slow to age.

 

[BryanThompson]

I did a mead with peach juice and it fermented in three days. Aeration and nutrients are what I think did it.