New to mead and have a question

Deacon Aegis · #21 07-15-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Thanks Deacon,
I'll ask you the same as Duracell. There is definitely airlock activity but my SG readings don't seemed to have changed much. Granted it has only been about 12 hours since I did the good pitch. Does this see, aout right? I went from 1.120 to only about 1.110.

A 10 point drop in 12 hours is a pretty reasonable drop for the first day of fermentation. There is absolutely no need to stress this type of hydrometer reading. That is a really good drop and you'll see it progress at this rate for several days before it starts slowing down. (Usually... sometimes things slow due to nutrient requirements or temperature variables, watch those.) Duracell is definitely giving you some great feedback here as well. Thanks for the hydrometer numbers there. Looking pretty good so far.

Kelvin · #22 07-15-2012, 11:15 AM

Yeah Alpha,

Because this is my first real mead I wanted to make it a bit easier on myself and not use real fruit. I'll be using real fruit next time. I didn't use a whole lot of juice in hopes I would just have a hint of it left over in the mead.

You guys have all been very helpful. Thanks a lot.

Chevette Girl · #23 07-15-2012, 11:27 AM

DAP is bad for rehydrating yeast, as you found out

The only thing you ever want to give your yeast in the rehydration water is go-ferm or something similar that's intended for rehydration.

The current thinking is that you don't want to give your yeast too much DAP right at the beginning, or they gorge themselves, then burn out early, but I front-loaded my musts (added all nutrients just before pitching) for years before I found out about it and discovered staggered nutrient additions and most of my batches turned out just fine, the ones that didn't, it probably wasn't that anyway.

I usually add energizer at pitch and then wait until there's activity before adding any DAP.

Just something to keep in mind as a new meadmaker: usually with all these tips and tricks we've come up with here, missing any single thing is not going to affect your batch that much, even a couple of them might not affect your fermentation, but if research shows this is the best chance your yeast have for a good complete fermentation, why wouldn't you give them the best chance you can?

There are a couple (like DAP in the rehydration water, or aging on 71B lees) that CAN ruin a batch, but we're generally pretty good at helping you avoid those.

Kelvin · #24 07-15-2012, 11:35 AM

Yeah I've read quite a bit about the 71B on lees. I'll be taking readings like a mad man to make sure I rack it once it's done. I have the 2 gallon batch in a 3 gallon carboy atm and will be racking to 2 glass gallon jugs.

akueck · #25 07-15-2012, 12:40 PM

The window of opportunity for getting the 71B off the lees is fairly wide. It's not like those little guys start exploding the second the sugar runs out. You've got a few weeks at least after fermentation is done before autolysis kicks in and the flavor starts changing. Realistically it's probably more than a month after reaching FG before you get negative flavor impact. So, yes, get it off the lees. But don't give yourself an aneurysm trying to pick out the exact moment to do so.

Kelvin · #26 07-15-2012, 01:23 PM

Hehe ok, thanks, man.

THawk · #27 07-15-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Thanks Deacon,
I'll ask you the same as Duracell. There is definitely airlock activity but my SG readings don't seemed to have changed much. Granted it has only been about 12 hours since I did the good pitch. Does this see, aout right? I went from 1.120 to only about 1.110.

I actually have the same experience. Went from 1.12 to 1.112 in about 3 hours. Took a reading now and it's more or less the same.

I've made mead for about a year now but this is my first time doing a staggered feeding -- so this is also a learning experience for me...

Do I degas BEFORE taking the sample or does it matter?

THawk · #28 07-15-2012, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akueck

It's not like those little guys start exploding the second the sugar runs out.

THE FOOD'S ALL GONE! Initiate self-destruct sequence!! Goodbye cruel world!!!

(sorry -- too good to miss!)

akueck · #29 07-15-2012, 07:31 PM

You don't have to degas the whole batch before taking a sample, but you should degas the sample before taking a reading. Bubbles tend to form on the hydrometer and lift it up, giving you a false reading. Spinning the hydrometer also helps dislodge bubbles.

Kelvin · #30 07-15-2012, 10:45 PM

Just thought I would give an update. The orange blossom-cranberry juice batch is coming along nicely. At final aeration tonight it's at 1.090 (I figure around 1.077 will be 1/3 break). I realized that I did NOT in fact put all the nutrients suggested on the package but rather I put in the recommended dose per application. The max dose is also listed so I started staggering. I added another half dose at second aeration today, leaving me having used half max dose and another half if needed before 1/3 break. It there is a gallons worth of room left in my 3 gallon carboy and during my last aeration I got very close to geisering but I only lost a little. Note to self, stir slowly for a little while before aerating. Anyway, this one is looking good so far.

And.... I just can't stop! I started a new batch today in my 6 gallon bucket.
3 gallon batch.
10 lbs. Wild flower
4 lbs. frozen strawberries.
71B yeast.
SG of 1.122

I put the strawberries directly into the must and it looks and smells wonderful.

Unfortunately I am running out of room so I have to wait until these are done before starting anything else. Or at least until I rack them.

Thanks for all the help guys.

I'm excited to see how they turn out.