Peach Melomel: more peaches?

[slcalex]

Hi all,

Made a mead for the first time and it's about finished fermenting. I'd like to give it a bit more peach flavor by racking on top of 4lbs in the secondary, but not sure what effect more peaches would have? If the yeast peaches it's alcohol tolerance does it just stop fermenting resulting in a bit sweeter mead? Recipe below along with gravity readings. TIA

Peach Melomel
5 gal
15lbs honey
8lbs peaches
Lalvin 71B-1112 (2 packs)

OG 1.108
Day 2 1.097
Day 3 1.076
Day 5 1.037
Day 7 1.012



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[Arpolis]

Yes if the yeast is at it's ABV limit then it usually stops fermenting and any additional sugars just add additional sweetness or gravity. Adding 4lb of peaches will not add much in the way of sweetness.

If you are at day 7 and a gravity of 1.012 then you have a way to go. 71b can take your gravity down to 0.998 - 0.992ish. Then it should be at about its ABV limit. But even then yeast can be tricky and when you are just right on that limit level if you add sugars too soon then fermentation can pick up and just crawl giving you a cloudy mead for weeks - months.

It would be safe to let this go in primary for a minimum 30 days and probably no more than 60 days and then rack the clear liquid over to secondary. At that point add more peaches and also add a double dose of pectic enzyme to keep from having a hazy mead.

Final bit of advise to consider. 2lb of peaches per gallon usually gives a slightly peachy mead with focus on the honey. 3lb per gallon is closer to a balanced mead with peach character. Finally if you want a good amount of peach flavor then 4lb per gallon split at minimum 50/50 between primary and secondary and leaning towards more in secondary over primary. For you I would suggest a minimum of 8lb of peach in secondary if you want the peach flavor to pop. You may also need some additional honey to bring the gravity up to a minimum of 1.002 - 1.004 just to bring out the peach flavor without it being sweet.

 

[slcalex]

Great info thank you!

Just checked the gravity tonight and it's sitting at .996 with still a bit of airlock activity.

I think I'll let it sit for a while then rack onto 8lbs with some more pectic enzyme as you suggest.


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