Sampled again today. I also took a hydrometer reading for the first batch. According to my calculations I have an OG of 1.141 or 1.140, and my FG (well at least to this point) is 1.040. I'm pretty sure that the first batch is nearly complete (all of the fruit has dropped minus a few raisins). What is the best equation to use? I found some different eqs. and my ABV ranged from approximately 10 to 14%. My high estimate was actually 15%, and I know that roughly this mead and yeast produce about 14% or so at most, so I figure ballpark estimate, things look about right.
I gotta say, I do enjoy the brew. I still think it's too clovey (oh and I bought the powdered clove on accident [even after having the whole ones in my hand!]), and I pushed my stopper in the first batch and had all kinds of hell and possible contamination issues from fishing it out, but it tastes really darn well, especially with not even having racked it yet. I will probably drink half of it, bottle and store the rest, and then start sampling the second batch. I may let it sit longer as I mentioned that I'm going to be out of town for two weeks. The second batch hasn't dropped all of its oranges yet, but about 35-50% of them have dropped. That'll put it at about 10 weeks when I finally get around to first time racking the second batch, and 9 weeks for the third batch.
...I think I'm going to sneak some more right now
