First Mead

[Mungus]

This is my first mead, 4 extract beer brews completed. I used 3 1/4 lbs. of mixed honeys, 1 Orange blossom, 1 wildflower, 1 clover, 1/4 of a local, for a 1 gallon batch. Wyeast 4184, one packet of Fermaid, OG was 10.80? Sound close? My eyes aren't what they used to be. Looked like it would finish at 10%. Question, how long typically would you leave it in primary? I plan to rack it on 1 lb. of my fall raspberries, in secondary, with another packet of Fermaid.
Thank you

 

[Whatsgoodmiley]

I would rack the mead once after a month and then once every 2-3 months. The reason for racking is the fear of autolysis of the yeast. I've read some sources say to rack every month and others say every 3 months. If you army able to avoid oxygenating your brews during transfer, I'd limit the amount of transfers to a minimum.

 

[porterpounder]

Take a look at staggered nutrient additions and degassing schedule. Jut be careful because it will foam pretty hard. Should finish out in 2 weeks if done properly, then you can transfer it carefully onto the fruit and let it sit until it tastes like you want it to. Bottle and age/enjoy. I like to use fruit in primary right from the start. Eliminates a transfer and nothing is really lost that I can taste/smell.

 

[Mungus]

I racked this mead to secondary with SG 1.007 ABV 10.13. Taste test was phenomenal. Definitely will improve with aging. To me and my FIL, it had 2 separate layers. One alcohol, one sweet grape like wine. I would imagine that it will blend and mellow with time. I held off on any additional fruit this time.

 

[bernardsmith]

Hi Mungus. Cannot help feeling that there is something wrong with the information you are providing. You say you used 3.25 lbs of honey to make a 1 gallon batch. If so then by calculation 3.25 x .035 = 1.110 (approx) and not 1.080 as I think you suggest. And that might finish at about 14% or 15% ABV. That is a fair amount of alcohol (even before you add any sugar from the berries) and so that may take a wee while to age.

 

[Mungus]

Hi Mungus. Cannot help feeling that there is something wrong with the information you are providing. You say you used 3.25 lbs of honey to make a 1 gallon batch. If so then by calculation 3.25 x .035 = 1.110 (approx) and not 1.080 as I think you suggest. And that might finish at about 14% or 15% ABV. That is a fair amount of alcohol (even before you add any sugar from the berries) and so that may take a wee while to age.

I'm fairly certain that I read the Hydrometer correctly, SG 1.080, and racking at 3 weeks to secondary at 1.007. I'm not sure sure if Wyeast 4184 is going much higher than it has. My next mead will be a different animal. I picked up 10 lbs of super dark honey from an Apiarist in the mountains of NH. She recommended making a dry mead, so I'll be trying a different yeast

 

[Mungus]

Mead buddy app does say that it should finish at 15 %. Maybe the commercial honey was diluted

 

[AkTom]

Hi Mungus. Cannot help feeling that there is something wrong with the information you are providing. You say you used 3.25 lbs of honey to make a 1 gallon batch. If so then by calculation 3.25 x .035 = 1.110 (approx) and not 1.080 as I think you suggest. And that might finish at about 14% or 15% ABV. That is a fair amount of alcohol (even before you add any sugar from the berries) and so that may take a wee while to age.

/\ this. Costco honey at 3 # is typically right at 1.100. This is just my experience.