This is my first try at mead-making. Started and followed a 3 gal. recipe to the letter for sweet Metheglin in 5 gal. pail on October 3, 2010. Started my yeast starter the day before (very active). Yeast used is EC-1118. ( Dried raisins, yeast nutrient, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, ginger root, etc.) My S.G. was over my hydrometer scale so not sure what it was: recipe called for 12 lbs. honey. T.A. was 0.45% so added acid blend to bring it up to 0.65%, I had 3 sliced oranges still in there so I figured they would do the rest. Temp.=70F. Was fermenting beautifully. Smells and tastes good. Still sweet with nice acidy orange taste.
Today, October 8, 2010. Transfer day. S.G.=1.062 T.A.=0.75%. Is that too high?. Wasn't sure so I added 2 cups water to the must.
I now have 4 gallons of must. ?? So I transfer into sanitized 3 gal. and 1gal. and some over which I threw away. Added 3 dissolved Campen tablets to the 3 gal. and 1 tablet in the other. Now the problem is the 3 gal. carboy has no activity in the must or the airlock. The 1 gal. is doing fine. ????? What is the problem? Is the T.A. still too high? Did I dilute it too much.?? I know that in the beginning the alcohol is low while the sugar content is high; that this can cause the yeast to get sluggish or die... What did I do wrong and should I restart the fermentation?
Today, October 8, 2010. Transfer day. S.G.=1.062 T.A.=0.75%. Is that too high?. Wasn't sure so I added 2 cups water to the must.
I now have 4 gallons of must. ?? So I transfer into sanitized 3 gal. and 1gal. and some over which I threw away. Added 3 dissolved Campen tablets to the 3 gal. and 1 tablet in the other. Now the problem is the 3 gal. carboy has no activity in the must or the airlock. The 1 gal. is doing fine. ????? What is the problem? Is the T.A. still too high? Did I dilute it too much.?? I know that in the beginning the alcohol is low while the sugar content is high; that this can cause the yeast to get sluggish or die... What did I do wrong and should I restart the fermentation?