Mead - the homebrew thread

[jivex5k1]

Check ur seal? Did you Stagger the nutrient or just all 1 day.

I didn't put any nutrients in it. That's probably my problem eh? I'll pick some up tonight.
I've got plenty more of the brett culture around too so I can pitch more into it.

 

[RunninMixz]

I didn't put any nutrients in it. That's probably my problem eh? I'll pick some up tonight.
I've got plenty more of the brett culture around too so I can pitch more into it.

I'm honestly not sure how brett works, but I added nutrients and energizer over a few days, 1,3,4,7 I think.

 

[doobiegoobie]

I didn't put any nutrients in it. That's probably my problem eh? I'll pick some up tonight.
I've got plenty more of the brett culture around too so I can pitch more into it.

yeah i'd put some nutrients in there, especially since it was such a high gravity. i talked to sergio from melovino meadery and he said they aren't necessary if doing a lower gravity, but i imagine the brett needs nitrogen just like a sacc strain. let us know how it turns out! i'm curious about sour meads, and after listening to golden coast meadery talk about their process on got mead live, i feel like there's a lot to be figured out still (especially by ppl who understand bugs) so the more info the better.

 

[Naegerbomb]

Is there a way to measure ABV when I forgot to take an original gravity? Also other than watching the bubbles how can I know when fermentation is complete? With the extra headspace in my carboy I dont want it to sit too long after its maxed out to avoid oxidation.

You can measure it with an ebulliometer (expensive) or you can guesstimate (free). Alternatively you can send a sample out for testing; there are many homebrewer-centric lab service companies that can do ABV - it might cost $20-30.

When your gravity is stable and the pH has reached a stable (low) reading it is usually done. When your readings stabilize, wait another 2-4 weeks. If said headspace was filled with CO2 from fermentation I wouldn't worry (although if you're anxiously taking readings frequently there will be O2). You can always purge the headspace with a CO2 cylinder or a can of wine preserver if you are concerned.

 

[RunninMixz]

You can measure it with an ebulliometer (expensive) or you can guesstimate (free). Alternatively you can send a sample out for testing; there are many homebrewer-centric lab service companies that can do ABV - it might cost $20-30.

When your gravity is stable and the pH has reached a stable (low) reading it is usually done. When your readings stabilize, wait another 2-4 weeks. If said headspace was filled with CO2 from fermentation I wouldn't worry (although if you're anxiously taking readings frequently there will be O2). You can always purge the headspace with a CO2 cylinder or a can of wine preserver if you are concerned.

So I could safely leave it in the carboy even with the headspace as long as I need to, so long as im not opening it.

 

[jivex5k1]

yeah i'd put some nutrients in there, especially since it was such a high gravity. i talked to sergio from melovino meadery and he said they aren't necessary if doing a lower gravity, but i imagine the brett needs nitrogen just like a sacc strain. let us know how it turns out! i'm curious about sour meads, and after listening to golden coast meadery talk about their process on got mead live, i feel like there's a lot to be figured out still (especially by ppl who understand bugs) so the more info the better.

I wonder if it will sour up. There's definitely lacto plantarum in there. I've found in beer the lacto doesn't do a lot if you don't give it a head start, but it does still sour slightly.

 

[doobiegoobie]

I wonder if it will sour up. There's definitely lacto plantarum in there. I've found in beer the lacto doesn't do a lot if you don't give it a head start, but it does still sour slightly.

yeah i think the brett might tear through all the simple sugars before giving the lacto a chance to do much. i was worried about that too with my first batch so i ended up putting some maltodextrin in there. it's definitely tart now, though still has some sweetness to it so i imagine there's some work to do yet. i'm most likely going to use it in a blend with some sours/tart saisons, though it'd be kind of cool to do a blend of just sour meads.

 

[Naegerbomb]

So I could safely leave it in the carboy even with the headspace as long as I need to, so long as im not opening it.

For a reasonable length of time, if the headspace was filled with CO2 from fermentation and if the airlock seal is good and if you don't tinker with it - I'd give it a few months. Air locks do breathe a bit.

 

[Jb123]

Mexican vanilla and orange. Fantastic mouthfeel and taste. Lacking the orange that was going for but still tastes very good, to me anyways.

 

[Naegerbomb]

Mexican vanilla and orange. Fantastic mouthfeel and taste. Lacking the orange that was going for but still tastes very good, to me anyways.

Where my bottle at

 

[RunninMixz]

For a reasonable length of time, if the headspace was filled with CO2 from fermentation and if the airlock seal is good and if you don't tinker with it - I'd give it a few months. Air locks do breathe a bit.

Thx!

Congrats BTW

 

[Jb123]

Where my bottle at

When I bottle it and Come to ferndale you got it.

 

[RunninMixz]

When I bottle it and Come to ferndale you got it.

I'll def bring in one of mine too no matter how bad

 

[sliverx]

Picked up 5# of local 'fall flower' honey today ($20). It's supposed to be bolder than regular wildflower, it's certainly darker.

 

[bigk84]

Bottled up my buddies Raspberry mead for wedding favors. abawol01 even helped with this one

 

[bigk84]

Since I know you guys are going to ask, this was a giant batch, ended up with just over 15 gallons, 60 lbs clover honey, 120 lbs raspberries, 32 oz raspberry concentrate.

 

[jivex5k1]

Added nutrients for the third time, been adding a little every two days. Must started to bubble up like a science fair volcano.
Also, realized I was only able to fit about a half gallon of water into the gallon carboy with 5# of honey. So according to that simple recipe this **** is going to be pretty sweet unless the brett can tolerate some high abv. I think drie can and that's in the culture.

 

[jivex5k1]

Since I know you guys are going to ask, this was a giant batch, ended up with just over 15 gallons, 60 lbs clover honey, 120 lbs raspberries, 32 oz raspberry concentrate.

Jesus man that's a crazy amount of raspberries.

 

[bigk84]

Jesus man that's a crazy amount of raspberries.

I have another batch I did with 24 lbs of honey, 40 lbs of raspberries and 32 oz of concentrate, I netted just over 3 gallons. Insane raspberry jam. That's a crazy amount of raspberries.

 

[jivex5k1]

I have another batch I did with 24 lbs of honey, 40 lbs of raspberries and 32 oz of concentrate, I netted just over 3 gallons. Insane raspberry jam. That's a crazy amount of raspberries.

So what you're saying is you crammed all that into a 6.5 gallon carboy and then added water? Do you puree the raspberries?
I've got another gallon carboy that will be ready for another mead experiment this weekend. Would love to throw some fruit in it.

 

[bigk84]

So what you're saying is you crammed all that into a 6.5 gallon carboy and then added water? Do you puree the raspberries?
I've got another gallon carboy that will be ready for another mead experiment this weekend. Would love to throw some fruit in it.

8 gallon bucket, I pureed the fruit with an immersion blender. I think there are pics posted above.

I blew the carboy out with co2...I actually got more volume than I thought I would

 

[sliverx]

8 gallon bucket, I pureed the fruit with an immersion blender. I think there are pics posted above.

I blew the carboy out with co2...I actually got more volume than I thought I would

libbey

 

[harrymel1]

What's a typical number of pounds honey per gallon?

 

[Beerontwowheels]

What's a typical number of pounds honey per gallon?

I believe 12 is pretty accurate.

 

[harrymel1]

I believe 12 is pretty accurate.

Twelve pounds of honey per gallon of mead? Man, dat's spensive.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Twelve pounds of honey per gallon of mead? Man, dat's spensive.

I misinterpreted your question. A gallon of honey weighs about 12 lbs.

How many lbs of honey per gallon of mead? 2 - 4lbs of honey per gallon of mead depending how sweet you like it.

 

[Indytruks1381]

Question for the experienced guys. I have 5 gallons of traditional mead in primary. It has dropped from 1.110 to 1.025, going to give it at least another month in primary to hopefully see it drop below 1.020. I have about 5 lbs of fruit I want to add to a secondary to make one gallon fruited mead, should I get a 1.5 gallon glass jar so that I can actually fit one gallon of mead in with the fruit, or just add enough mead to a one gallon jar and hope to get 2/3-3/4 of a gallon of fruited mead out of it? I am going to take another gallon and spice it with whatever fun concoction teh wife comes up with, and leave the remaining 3 gallons traditional.

 

[Indytruks1381]

I have another batch I did with 24 lbs of honey, 40 lbs of raspberries and 32 oz of concentrate, I netted just over 3 gallons. Insane raspberry jam. That's a crazy amount of raspberries.

24 lbs of honey, 40 lbs of raspberries, 32 oz of rasp concentrate, and you only were able to get 3 gallons out of it? Is it 40% alcohol or just pure sugar? I don't understand how that volume of fruit/sugar only came out to 3 gallons of finished product. What am I missing?
Best pricing I can think of is $3 a lb for honey, and $2 a lb for raspberry, so over $150 of fermentables for 3 gallons. That is dedication.
*This post is not at all meant as disrespect, just pure curiosity.

 

[ExPimp]

24 lbs of honey, 40 lbs of raspberries, 32 oz of rasp concentrate, and you only were able to get 3 gallons out of it? Is it 40% alcohol or just pure sugar? I don't understand how that volume of fruit/sugar only came out to 3 gallons of finished product. What am I missing?
Best pricing I can think of is $3 a lb for honey, and $2 a lb for raspberry, so over $150 of fermentables for 3 gallons. That is dedication.
*This post is not at all meant as disrespect, just pure curiosity.

That's like 30 x 375ml bottles at $5 a pop, which is pretty cheap given mead prices (moonlight ~$12-15, Schramms ~$20-$25).

 

[Indytruks1381]

That's like 30 x 375ml bottles at $5 a pop, which is pretty cheap given mead prices (moonlight ~$12-15, Schramms ~$20-$25).

Still one of the most expensive homebrewed product I've heard of.