Raspberry Melomel BOMM

[buzzerj]

Started an Orange Blossom BOMM today. Looking to make a Raspberry Melomel BOMM by adding raspberries to the secondary. But at the start it's a traditional BOMM.

1 gallon of still Raspberry Melomel BOMM

Target O.G. = 1.080 F.G = 0.995 % ABV = 11.2%

2.5 lbs. Orange Blossom Honey (La Luz Honey - Valley Center
Produce $12.99 for 3 lbs.)
1 Tsp. Pectic Enzyme at must preparation
0.25 Tsp. Potassium Bicarbonate (KHCO3) at must preparation
0.5 Tsp. Fermaid K at must preparation
0.25 Tsp. DAP at must preparation
0.5 Tsp. Fermaid K at 1/3rd sugar break (~1.073)
0.25 Tsp. DAP at 1/3rd sugar break (~1.073)
0.5 Tsp. Fermaid K at 2/3rds sugar break (~1.035)
0.25 Tsp. DAP at 2/3rds sugar break (~1.035)
Activated Wyeast 1388 Belgian Strong Ale yeast smacked for 2 hours+
Purchased Arrowhead spring water to one gallon
12-18 oz. frozen raspberries

Honey was crystalized and gritty. I used a 3 lbs. quart jar of Orange Blossom honey. Needed to stir it up with a butter knife to get it to flow. I put just less than 2.25 lbs.of honey in. Hard to get an O.G. reading – looks like 1.080ish. Everything was shaken well so it's very oxygenated. Added the Wyeast 1388 yeast after a couple hours. It's just over one gallon to start. Planning to secondary this in a sanitized 2 gallon bucket with frozen/thawed raspberries in a muslin bag for a week with some strategic squeezing. Following that, the plan is to rack back into a sanitized one gallon glass jug to age. Everything worked well thus far. Any comments?

 

[loveofrose]

Sounds good. Raspberries can sometimes give tannins that need a bit of aging and/or sweetness to round out. If not taken out after a few weeks, the tannins can get rather harsh. Save some honey to backsweeten.

In addition, don't be afraid to add honey up to 1.12 upfront. I routinely do this with my BOMMs with no issue.


Better brewing through science!

See my Current Mead Making Techniques article here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/current-mead-making-techniques.html

 

[buzzerj]

Thank you Bray. Agreed. I am not going to push any raspberries more than a week, shouldn't have to. More worried about potential for oxidation. And the plan will be to sweeten afterwards. What's raspberry without some sweetness? Don't want it too dry. I wanted to start out with less ABV and check it out. I've made meads that were stronger but they took a long time to age. And that's definitely not the idea here.

 

[buzzerj]

Turning out to be a lot of fun and now I have enough 1388 yeast built up for three more gallon BOMM batches. Hitting the secondary bucket with 24 oz. of raspberries for a week. Then will rack back into a gallon glass jug to clear, sweeten up and bottle. Such a well behaved fermentation and it's clearing nicely now. I heartily recommend everyone try a small batch BOMM when you're getting into it. And it's a great way to make a Yeast Starter for successive batches.

 

[buzzerj]

Adding a photo at one month after letting it sit on raspberries for a week. The tannins did come in showing a final tartness. Will sweeten this further in the coming weeks. But the raspberry nose and color is sure there. This looks to be coming out well.

 

[kopfjager]

Sounds good. Raspberries can sometimes give tannins that need a bit of aging and/or sweetness to round out. If not taken out after a few weeks, the tannins can get rather harsh. Save some honey to backsweeten.

In addition, don't be afraid to add honey up to 1.12 upfront. I routinely do this with my BOMMs with no issue.


Better brewing through science!

See my Current Mead Making Techniques article here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/current-mead-making-techniques.html

Hey Bray! I am thinking of this for my first batch of Mead! I was wondering, because I would like to do at least 2 gallons, if I could make a starter with the 1388, and split amongst the two gallons?

I will probably leave one as a traditional Mead, and the other try for the raspberry or blackberry melomel. I appreciate any advice you have to offer!

 

[loveofrose]

Splitting the starter will work just fine. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have as you go.