This past Saturday I started a traditional mead with some lovely sunflower honey. I checked the temperature yesterday and my basement is cooler than I thought -- the must is sitting at 14.3 C (57.8 F).
9 kilograms (19.85 pounds) monofloral sunflower honey
spring water to 5.5 gallons -- OG 1.125
3 packets Lalvin 71B, rehydrated with Goferm
13.6 grams of Fermaid K* (calculated with TiOSNA) in 4 additions
Pitched Saturday afternoon, fermentation was already visible by Sunday morning. I have made three nutrient additions so far but the 1/3 sugar break is still a long way to go -- last night a gravity reading showed 1.106.
My main question is what I can expect with 71B and this temperature that is slightly under its ideal range. How important is it to move it somewhere warmer?
My ancillary question is to garner some tales about results with sunflower honey in mead, since I could hardly find any even with deep googleship.
*I know this is not considered cutting edge, but I'm still trying to sweet talk my favourite brew shop into bringing in Fermaid O.
9 kilograms (19.85 pounds) monofloral sunflower honey
spring water to 5.5 gallons -- OG 1.125
3 packets Lalvin 71B, rehydrated with Goferm
13.6 grams of Fermaid K* (calculated with TiOSNA) in 4 additions
Pitched Saturday afternoon, fermentation was already visible by Sunday morning. I have made three nutrient additions so far but the 1/3 sugar break is still a long way to go -- last night a gravity reading showed 1.106.
My main question is what I can expect with 71B and this temperature that is slightly under its ideal range. How important is it to move it somewhere warmer?
My ancillary question is to garner some tales about results with sunflower honey in mead, since I could hardly find any even with deep googleship.
*I know this is not considered cutting edge, but I'm still trying to sweet talk my favourite brew shop into bringing in Fermaid O.