Type of yeast

[SSD]

I'm new to mead making and making some tomorrow. The recipe calls for lalvin d 47 yeast. My local brew store does not carry lalvin. They have small selection of mead yeast. They have wyeast sweet mead and wyeast dry mead. Which one do I use?????

 

[shanecb]

The D47 is kind of right in the middle of both as far as attenuation goes. I guess the question is really just do you want a drier mead or a sweeter mead? Either one will work fine.

 

[paraordnance]

Get a dry mead wyeast. You can always backsweeten later. I love d47, makes nice melomels.

 

[tweake]

i would keep clear of all of the above. wyeast mead yeast keeps poping up as a hard yeast to use. D47 is not newbie friendly either.

if you can tell us what wine yeasts they stock i'm sure someone can suggest something.

 

[liquidavalon]

wyeast mead yeast keeps poping up as a hard yeast to use.

I have never used the wyeast mead yeast, but wanted to try it. Just wondering what issues people were having with it...

 

[tweake]

have a read through....everything from not starting, not finishing, stuck ferments etc.
no idea if its temp/nutrient related or if there is any decent info on what it needs. lack of info is often a big problem with most brands.
i do not know the difference between the two yeasts, but considering there is a LOT of yeast that can be used, why bother with something thats iffy.

 

[liquidavalon]

but considering there is a LOT of yeast that can be used, why bother with something thats iffy.

...and not to mention expensive! Wyeast Sweet Meas yeast is $6 to $7...Lalvin D47, maybe $1 to $2 ( or cheaper! )

 

[huesmann]

What's the deal with the Dry vs. Sweet mead yeast, anyway? Isn't dry vs. sweet all about the amount of residual sugar after the ferment is done, and isn't that basically a function of the alcohol tolerance of your yeast vs. the amount of sugar in your must?

 

[SSD]

So I ended up using wyeast dry mead yeast. Its been about 15 hours since I pitched I it. Is mead yeast supposed to go off like beer yeast. After reading one of the above posts, I'm concerned my yeast is not starting. If that is the case, what can I do.

 

[ExoticMeadMaker]

My local brew store does not carry lalvin.

always the internet vendors, most are local homebrew shops that have gotten into the online game.

 

[Bhunter87]

What's the deal with the Dry vs. Sweet mead yeast, anyway? Isn't dry vs. sweet all about the amount of residual sugar after the ferment is done, and isn't that basically a function of the alcohol tolerance of your yeast vs. the amount of sugar in your must?

The max abv is difference. Sweet maxes at 12% dry maxes at 18%

So if you have a decent sized mead and use sweet, sugars will remain post ferment if the yeast maxes.

 

[Bhunter87]

So I ended up using wyeast dry mead yeast. Its been about 15 hours since I pitched I it. Is mead yeast supposed to go off like beer yeast. After reading one of the above posts, I'm concerned my yeast is not starting. If that is the case, what can I do.

Give it 3 days

 

[ExoticMeadMaker]

So I ended up using wyeast dry mead yeast. Its been about 15 hours since I pitched I it. Is mead yeast supposed to go off like beer yeast. After reading one of the above posts, I'm concerned my yeast is not starting. If that is the case, what can I do.

Not always. it can take 24-36 hours before seeing visible signs of fermentation. and visual queues are very unreliable for judging fermentation.

 

[Bhunter87]

Not always. it can take 24-36 hours before seeing visible signs of fermentation. and visual queues are very unreliable for judging fermentation.

+1

Mead is a slow moving beast. Let it ride.

What temp did you pitch at??

 

[SSD]

Instructions said between 70-75 I pitched at 72-73.

 

[tweake]

...and not to mention expensive! Wyeast Sweet Meas yeast is $6 to $7...Lalvin D47, maybe $1 to $2 ( or cheaper! )

OUCH ! ! !
you could get a whole 500g pack for that price!

Mead is a slow moving beast. Let it ride.

i think thats quite a poor statement.

mead ferments are not any slower/faster than others.
speed is dictated by factors such as yeast strain, temp and nutrition. wither you ferment honey or sugar or grape juice, it really doesn't make much difference.