First Mead - topping off

[FuzzyIguana]

Long time reader first time posting. Just getting in to Mead brewing. Basic recipe of water, honey, orange slices, rasins, cinnamon stick, and whole clove.

Fermentation is going as planned. After a week or two when it settles down how far up do you guys and gals top off with water?

 

[MarkKF]

Looks great! How do you get the oranges out later?

 

[Deafmeadmaker]

Looks great! How do you get the oranges out later?

Very carefully.
Seriously, after racking the mead the peels are just so much mush. Turn that carboy upside down and get creative. I used a landscaping pin that was laying on a shelf.

 

[FuzzyIguana]

Thanks for the like! FG should be about 11.1% ABV when all is said and done. I'm expecting it'll take about 2 months until it clears on its own.

I hadn't thought much about a technique about getting oranges out. I was just going to turn the jug upside down and put my shop-vac nozzle on the opening to suck them out.

Should I top off all the way up with water or would you leave a little headspace?

 

[FuzzyIguana]

Very carefully.
Seriously, after racking the mead the peels are just so much mush. Turn that carboy upside down and get creative. I used a landscaping pin that was laying on a shelf.

I used the rhine and all [emoji106]

 

[CKuhns]

For JAOM after it has settled down, I have brought it up with water to just under the bottom of the handle. Just be sure it has settled down a good bit. .

 

[MarkKF]

My usual technique either with topping off or racking is to have the fluid level right in the center of where the loop meets the neck. Just don’t push the stopper so deep the airlock tube is close to the fluid.

 

[FuzzyIguana]

For JAOM after it has settled down, I have brought it up with water to just under the bottom of the handle. Just be sure it has settled down a good bit. .

Thanks for the help.

 

[FuzzyIguana]

My usual technique either with topping off or racking is to have the fluid level right in the center of where the loop meets the neck. Just don’t push the stopper so deep the airlock tube is close to the fluid.

Thank you, sir.

 

[Deafmeadmaker]

Just leave about 2 inches of head space to be on the safe side.
MarkKF is right

 

[FuzzyIguana]

Just leave about 2 inches of head space to be on the safe side.
MarkKF is right

Great thanks. I just added my first staggered yeast nutritent addition and degassed the Mead wort. Appreciate your help.