Leap Year Mead 2

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Advice Please....
I fed my mead the last few pounds of honey. I just heated it a little and poured it in. I didnt see very much more bubbling after I added it. Should I add more yeast nutrient?

 

[Don "Ho"]

Mine is a 5 gallon batch!
Thinking about adding the last of my honey also.

Don "HO"

 

[nealf]

Mine is only a one gallon batch. I'll probably transfer to secondary sometime next week. I'm no mead expert by any means but I'm afraid of autolysis by leaving it on that old yeast for so long. Gotta stop by Whole Foods and hope they have vanilla beans.

Neal!

 

[Quilyn]

I'm a little late, but I got my mead in the fermenter today.

Quilyn

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

I'm a little late, but I got my mead in the fermenter today.

Quilyn

My vote is that it still counts.

 

[Tusch]

If he can still wait a full four years, he sure as hell deserves it to count haha

 

[BigKahuna]

Me 2.
N00b (at least to this forum) off to a great start.

To quote the great Dale Dribble..."WELCOME FRIEND"

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Me 2.
N00b (at least to this forum) off to a great start.

To quote the great Dale Dribble..."WELCOME FRIEND"

I thought it was Gribble

 

[BigKahuna]

Ya....You're right. Guess It's a good think I'm sa dang good looken...cause I don't spell sa good alth time.

(Sorry, Just finished watching Larry the Cable guy.)

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Ya....You're right.

Now thats something new for me.

 

[Gavzilla]

How is everyone's L.Y.M going anyways? Mine is still managing a bubble every hour or so, and it smells awesome. Haven't had a taste or measure yet, gonna probably test this weekend.

When are people planning to go to secondary? I'm looking forward to throwing some vanilla beans in...

 

[Tusch]

I have not yet crack it open or touched it in anyways since it first started off. Mine is going strong, but I was unable to use any nutrient, hence why mine is going slower. I still need to bottle two batches, once that is done I will have 2 open carboys for secondaries.

 

[BigKahuna]

mine still has a LOT of bubbles still visible in the carboy, but the airlock is only kicking out about every 30 to 40 seconds or so. Gravity measured 1.010 on or about the 29th. I am sure that I am another month or so from going to secondary. I'm totally not afraid of leaving this on the yeast for too long, so I am going to wait until the bubbles stop, the mead begins to clear, then BAM Right onto the beans.The real question is how long do we sit on the beans? I'm sure we will need to rack again, but when?

 

[Gavzilla]

I'm not in any hurry to get it off the yeast either. I should really look up my notes of which yeast I used to find out whether or not this is a good idea....
It's still got a lot of clearing to go by the look of it.

I guess we can let it sit on the beans in secondary for quite some time? I've really no idea, but I imagine it would be the longer the better right?

 

[JustMrWill]

4 x 365 = 1460

1460 - 34 = 1426

ONLY 1426 Days left

Can ya tell that I am not a patient person

-JMW

 

[nealf]

I racked mine off a few days ago; mainly because fermentation was already done(.998) and I might as well move it to get it off of the old yeast I thought. So its on the vanilla beans at the moment... Some of the yeast (I assume) is attaching itself to the ends of the vanilla beans, which are floating on top, and it looks like a crazy infection; but I can't see anything living in that hostile(alcoholically) of an environment besides the yeast... So I will just assume thats all it is.

I have no idea how long to leave the mead on the beans... anyone have any input?

Neal

 

[Yet41]

Racking already? I'm nowhere near that point. I have bubbles in the airlock about every 4 seconds. It'll be a few weeks before I can rack.

 

[JustMrWill]

My airlock has been in-active...I still see some tiny bubbles surfacing....but what has me worried is there is a couple of 2" - 3" patches of whitish stuff floating on top..and the same stuff thinly along the glass. It is probably nothing...but I am going to get a new hydrometer (I really need an un-breakable one) tonight so I can check the gravity. I am going to order my vanilla this weekend and probably rack next week (assuming that the gravity is stable).

-Will

 

[BigKahuna]

what has me worried is there is a couple of 2" - 3" patches of whitish stuff floating on top..and the same stuff thinly along the glass.
-Will

Relax...I've got that too....It is just some of the yeast coming to the top instead of settling.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Ive got that 2 along the sides. Also have a few large bubble that are sitting on the top and not popping. Not worried tho.

 

[BigKahuna]

Hay Buffalo...What happened when you fed your second part of honey? Did it flat take off again?

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Nope almost nothing.

 

[JustMrWill]

Bought a new 5 gallon carboy.
Ordered vanilla beans yesterday.

Checked gravity last night - .998.
Once beans are delivered I will re-check gravity...if the same, gonna rack to secondary with bean.

-JMW

 

[Tusch]

Ok, so how many beans per gallon did we decide on, 2 or 3? And which variety of beans is everyone using, would be interesting to see the varying products we all end up with. I mean we aren't all using the same honey, or the same amount, or the same yeast, or the same beans or how many haha.

I like it this way, because we are all making a similar vanilla mead but in the end each of ours could be vastly different. Who thinks, if we can remember in like 3.9 years, that a bottle trade would be cool?

 

[BigKahuna]

I just measured at 1.006. This is going SOOOOO SLOOOOOWWWWW. What the heck is causing mine to take so long. I had fresh yeast, and I've used the nutrient I used before and since...it's fine.
I just started a batch of Apfelwein in my other 5 gallon glass. Maybe when it's done I'll rack.

I am using Madagascar beans, and 2 per gallon. I wish someone would give me an idea of how long to leave on the beans. Since I'm waiting on Apfelwein, I'm just going to use that as my timer. I'll make Apfelwein when I rack, and when it's done, I'll come off the beans. I don't know about that, but it's what I'm thinking today.

I'm all in for a bottle swap. Maybe not in 3.9 years...but when we finish bottling.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

I just measured at 1.006. This is going SOOOOO SLOOOOOWWWWW. What the heck is causing mine to take so long. I had fresh yeast, and I've used the nutrient I used before and since...it's fine.
I just started a batch of Apfelwein in my other 5 gallon glass. Maybe when it's done I'll rack.

I am using Madagascar beans, and 2 per gallon. I wish someone would give me an idea of how long to leave on the beans. Since I'm waiting on Apfelwein, I'm just going to use that as my timer. I'll make Apfelwein when I rack, and when it's done, I'll come off the beans. I don't know about that, but it's what I'm thinking today.

I'm all in for a bottle swap. Maybe not in 3.9 years...but when we finish bottling.

Are you already on the beans?

 

[BigKahuna]

Are you already on the beans?

Nope.
Maybe when my Apfelwein (In the other glass carboy) is finished. I started it on April 6th...so I am looking at going as late as possibly the end of May before I go to beans. If I'm ready...the mood strikes me...I get the wild hair before then, I might buy another 5 gallon glass. I think Patients is a virtue here, so I'm going to try and wait.
I don't think I want to head out of the Primary before all is done fermenting...I just think I'm a little stuck right now, but still progressing. I want to give everything time to do whatever it's going to do. I should not think we'd worry about anything funky happening....Champaign yeast seems to be pretty clean.

 

[JustMrWill]

2 bean per gallon???!?!?! Argh! Yup...just went back and re-read the original post...

I had it stuck in my head 1 per...and I ordered 10 beans (some for a co-worker)...hmmm... maybe he will only want a couple...So..think 7 or 8 beans for a 5 gal batch will come out good?

-JMW

 

[homebrewer_99]

My mead was at 1.000 two weeks ago. It is very clear now.

I'm just waiting for a coworker to bring in some wine bottles...I also have a Prickly Pear mead that I brewed last July that needs bottling...

 

[BigKahuna]

I'm just waiting for a coworker to bring in some wine bottles.

Story of my life.