Anyways to Boost Body ?

Greetings,

Recently started a mead on June 22.

This was my first mead, and Ive learned alot. But Ive made a good few mistakes with it. Im hoping I dont have to pitch this one.

Here was my recipe

6 Gallons of water
8 lbs Blueberry Honey
2 pounds Buckwheat honey
100 oz of Blackcurrant Juice (unfiltered organic etc.)
Stick of cinnamon
Lavlin 1118C
No Nutrient or Campden.

Flash Pasteurized Must.

I actually wanted this to be a 5 gallon recipe, but had a bit of a disaster, I didnt factor in the volume of honey and ended up with alot more volume than I had wanted.

Now I just racked this mead into the third carboy, and tasted it. It has zero body. It takes just like water. And Im a little worried it may have dropped in alcohol content, as it tastes really weak. Its colour of also really weak in a glass, its nice in the carboy though.

I thought it might be flowers of wine, but the film on the wine was so light, not furry, and never grew into the surface I dismissed that.

Nonetheless this mead tastes really really watery.

Is there anyway I can give it some more body at all ? Ive heard black tea would help.

And is there anyway to tell if the Alcohol is actually dropping ?


btw, my last a largest mistake was not taking an Initial SG., I learned to make ale from my grandfather who never used it, and have made great ale a long time with no Hydrometre, never had a problem. Mead has been a big adjustment.

Any Help Appreciated.
Christoph

Film Yeast



Film Yeast A common cause of infection in a wine. The infection starts as small islands of white on the surface of the wine which gradually increase in size until the surface of the wine is covered with a whitish skin or pellicle. The effect of a film yeast is to convert the alcohol to carbon dioxide and water, and, therefore, once diagnosed, cure is urgently needed. By stirring, the pellicle is broken up, and sulphiting will kill the organisms. The wine is then racked after a few days. Prevention is by hygiene and anaerobic conditions. If, however, a sherry type wine is being made, do not break the flor.

I also just found this.

this sounds alot like what I had.

I also stupidly did not rack out of a large carboy and had about 3 L of headspace. for a good few weeks.

Hello,

The final volume ended up being about 6 mabye 6.5 gallons tops. No way it hit 8 gallons.

I filled my carboy to the top in the initial filling (19 L one) and had a gallon and a half wine jug which almost filled with the remainder.

Thanks for the help
Chris.

Hmm I suppose you are right, it would have been closer to 7 gallons than 6. Ill add a bit of honey. Now, should I just throw it in from the jar, or should I pastuerize it first ?


On a higher note, my new mead topped out at exactly 5 gallons, looks great and tastes great so far.

Chris.