Hi all,
Is it normal for two identical batches of mead made at the same time using the same recipe and fermented together in the same place to have their SG change at different rates? I started on 1/29/2023 with two 1.5-gallon batches with the same recipe, water, yeast (Lalvin EC-1118), and TONSA, fermented in identical containers, in the same location, and at the same temperature. The only difference was that one used my own honey that's relatively dark and flavorful and the other used my friend's honey that's very light-colored and very mild-flavored. After racking both batches into 1-gallon glass carboys on 2/25/2023, I combined the equal volumes of leftovers and added a few pounds of thawed, formerly frozen raspberries to make a third batch of just over a gallon, which I put back into one of the primary fermenters. The two originals started at OG=1.127, but the SG of the batch with my honey dropped lots faster than the other - to 1.046 (my honey) vs 1.108 (friend's honey) after 2 weeks and to 1.017 vs 1.060 after 4 weeks. (Not surprisingly, the SG of the mixed 3rd gallon was halfway between that of the two that I combined to make it. It's SG dropped even more quickly, probably because of the sugars from the raspberries.) So now, after 7 weeks, the SGs are 1.008 (my honey), 1.053 (friend's honey), and 1.001 (mixed, with raspberries). Should I do anything to speed up the fermentation of the batch with my friend's-honey? If so, how? Thank in advance for any comments or recommendations.
Is it normal for two identical batches of mead made at the same time using the same recipe and fermented together in the same place to have their SG change at different rates? I started on 1/29/2023 with two 1.5-gallon batches with the same recipe, water, yeast (Lalvin EC-1118), and TONSA, fermented in identical containers, in the same location, and at the same temperature. The only difference was that one used my own honey that's relatively dark and flavorful and the other used my friend's honey that's very light-colored and very mild-flavored. After racking both batches into 1-gallon glass carboys on 2/25/2023, I combined the equal volumes of leftovers and added a few pounds of thawed, formerly frozen raspberries to make a third batch of just over a gallon, which I put back into one of the primary fermenters. The two originals started at OG=1.127, but the SG of the batch with my honey dropped lots faster than the other - to 1.046 (my honey) vs 1.108 (friend's honey) after 2 weeks and to 1.017 vs 1.060 after 4 weeks. (Not surprisingly, the SG of the mixed 3rd gallon was halfway between that of the two that I combined to make it. It's SG dropped even more quickly, probably because of the sugars from the raspberries.) So now, after 7 weeks, the SGs are 1.008 (my honey), 1.053 (friend's honey), and 1.001 (mixed, with raspberries). Should I do anything to speed up the fermentation of the batch with my friend's-honey? If so, how? Thank in advance for any comments or recommendations.
