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n00b JAOM, different fruit, low temp. Help?

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CelticBrew

NewBee
Registered Member
Jun 23, 2013
3
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Hi all.

This is my first attempt at mead so I've gone for a gallon of JAOM, but I substituted chopped dates for the raisins (because we had them already) and left out all spices, but put in one cardamom pod.

I haven't noticed much fermentation at all - there's one bubble through the airlock every 20 seconds.

I'm wondering if that's because it's the middle of winter and our house is cold? I waited a week or so before topping off the water and gave it a swirl or two to mix it but it looks a little separated.

Is it the cold weather that's retarding the fermentation? Were my dates a big mistake? Should I just chill out?

Thanks for reading ;D
 
akueck

akueck

Certified Mead Mentor
Certified Mead Mentor
Jun 26, 2006
4,958
11
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Ithaca, NY
JAO likes it hot, so yes it's probably the cold. Bring it somewhere warmer, 22-24 C or so. That should perk it up.
 
C

CelticBrew

NewBee
Registered Member
Jun 23, 2013
3
0
0
Oh, thanks. Will it be a problem if I don't put it somewhere warmer though? There's no way I can. At most I can warm it up to about 18 once a day but it'll drop back to about 5 again overnight. I'm a little worried about constant changes in temp ruining it.

Will it just be slower to ferment if I leave it in the cold?
 
T

THawk

Crazy Martian Cat
GotMead Patron
Mar 15, 2011
637
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On one of 7000+ islands in the Pacific
CelticBrew said:
Oh, thanks. Will it be a problem if I don't put it somewhere warmer though? There's no way I can. At most I can warm it up to about 18 once a day but it'll drop back to about 5 again overnight. I'm a little worried about constant changes in temp ruining it.

Will it just be slower to ferment if I leave it in the cold?
Click to expand...

you could always place the jug behind the fridge or in the laundry room by the dryer if you have one... :)
 
TheGiantGinger

TheGiantGinger

NewBee
Registered Member
Mar 17, 2013
49
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0
Melbourne, Australia
Buy a heated pet mat and use a combination of the heating element and towels/eski's to find the right, stable temperature. The output of the pet mat that I bought ($15 from the Reject shop) was so low that it doesn't even feel warm to the touch... but I found that, when nicely insulated, it brought my 5L demijohn from 13˚C up to 24˚C over the space a day or two... and then just removing some of the insulation has kept it stable at about 22˚C since.
 
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