Is there a "minimum batch size"? Single-bottle "micro-batch" Mead?

[Paul_F]

I've been away from Mead making for a couple years, and finally have the space to start up again ( I moved, and am finally getting unpacked properly!).

I received a gift set of 8 different honeys for Christmas, and though I haven't weighted them to see how much is in each one (probably not enough) but it did get me thinking...

Is there a "minimum batch size" that can be made? Could one make a dozen 750ml bottle-batches of Mead? Say, to test different honeys with the same recipe?

Other than simple scaling-down, are there any special considerations making "mini-batches"? Any conditions the yeasties don't like?

Your thoughts appreciated!
Paul F.

 

[bernardsmith]

I cannot speak definitively about a minimum batch size but I have made 1 quart batches to test different varietals of honey 'coz all I had was about 8 - 10 oz of honey. Bottom line: I was able to bottle one 750 cc wine bottle and had enough mead left over to fill another 250 cc beer bottle. Why would the yeast care how small or large the fermenter was. (PS I used one pack of yeast for each).

 

[CanadianJesus]

I personally would use a 1L mason jar with a large enough hole drilled in the lid to fit a bung or airlock to make enough mead to bottle 750ml. When racking/bottling there is always going to be a 'loss' due to settled yeast that you DO NOT want to end up in the finished mead.

If done right, there really is no 'minimum batch size' so long as you have a suitable fermenting vessel for the chosen batch size. Just try to use a vessel that a hydrometer can float in. With batches that small, moving so much of the batch back and forth between the jar (or whatever) and a hydrometer test tube can expose it to too much oxygen which can cause issues if primary fermentation is over.

 

[karch]

Just try to use a vessel that a hydrometer can float in. With batches that small, moving so much of the batch back and forth between the jar (or whatever) and a hydrometer test tube can expose it to too much oxygen which can cause issues if primary fermentation is over.

If you have a refractometer or are willing to buy one, you can use a drop or two of liquid to get a reading on specific gravity