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Newbie JOAM first mead question

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vampkat

NewBee
Registered Member
Apr 24, 2013
2
0
0
Northern Va
Sooo, I have everything I need to make it...but the only yeast I have is 71b. Is that a bad thing? What should I expect differently? This will be my first attempt at ANY mead (the yeast is a gift from a friend who makes mead and prefers it for her sweet meads) and I want to get it right! I also plan on making a variation of the JOAM with Apricots and peaches instead of orange, with a clove thrown in for spice. Both one gallons in gallon water jugs with ballons (Don't have any carboys or anything yet).
 

Grimm312

NewBee
Registered Member
Why not just go get some bread yeast? I'm sure your friend won't be offended if you say you're saving the 71B until you know how to use it properly (I THINK 71B can be a bit temperamental, but I could very easily be wrong).

My two bobs worth is do a JAOM following the recipe as closely as you can first, then while you're waiting on that hang around here and read as much as you can. You'll have about 2 months, which is plenty of time. Then use the 71B properly next time.
 

Kelvin

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 1, 2012
158
1
0
Indiana
The 71B won't be a bad thing as long as you don't wait forever to rack when it is done. Just know you are going to have to put more work into that mead than you will the JAOM. At least if you want to do it properly. It's not a lot of work but it is more than simply sit and forget like JAO.
 

vampkat

NewBee
Registered Member
Apr 24, 2013
2
0
0
Northern Va
Yeah, I saw I'll have to aerate it more often, and rack it when it's about done fermenting, then probably rack it again. But I kinda want to do that anyways because I want to get into making mead, and those are necessary steps in the normal process....right? Plus I'm HORRIBLE at waiting and doing nothing, at least with the few extra steps I'll feel like I'm doing something....Or am I just being a baby? lol
 

Kelvin

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 1, 2012
158
1
0
Indiana
Not at all, go for it. 71B is a fine yeast just don't leave the mead on the lees too long. I normally use 71B myself.
 

Cal

NewBee
Registered Member
Dec 20, 2012
222
2
0
Go get bread yeast. The 71B will make it run dry. Every post I have read about a dry JAO was that it is gross.
 

fatbloke

good egg/snappy dresser.....
GotMead Patron
Go get bread yeast. The 71B will make it run dry. Every post I have read about a dry JAO was that it is gross.
It's making a JAO but using wine yeast that is the issue there. Bread yeast will poop out earlier leaving some residual sugars, that help balance any bitterness picked up from the white orange pith.

Using a wine yeast will take it dry, that then in turn, focuses the flavour on the bitterness from the pith.

More experienced mead makers who bother to take gravity readings from benchmark JAO's will know that you can still use a wine yeast but then you will have to back sweeten the batch to the same area that a benchmark batch gets, so that the bitterness is balanced out.

That way, you will get a much higher alcohol version but with the same sweetness. The down side being that the higher the alcohol, the longer it can take to age and be smooth and drinkable.......

Which is why, as you pointed out, it's often recommended to stick with a bench mark version of JAO and sticking with the recipe as is.......
 

Chevette Girl

All around BAD EXAMPLE
Moderator
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Apr 27, 2010
8,443
53
48
Ottawa, ON
I second saving the 71B until you're doing something that's not a JAO, it is gross when it's dry.
 
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