I started a batch of mead (my first) on 7/30, and it's now looking like fermentation may be stuck. I was trying to approximately duplicate Chaucer's in terms of alcohol and residual sugar. Here are the particulars, for a 3 gallon batch:
11 lb wildflower honey (from a local beekeeper)
1 1/2 tsp LD Carlson "yeast energizer" (yeast hulls, DAP, and other stuff)
Balance water to 3 gal.
White Labs WLP720 (Sweet Mead/Wine) yeast.
I prepared a 500 mL starter a couple of days in advance.
SG at the beginning was calculated at 1.127 (I measured 1.140, but I then had to add more water). I oxygenated with pure O2 through a diffusion stone, and then pitched the yeast starter. The next day, the airlock was bubbling about once/2-3 sec.
One week later, on 8/6, the airlock was bubbling once/4-5 sec, and SG was measured at 1.092.
Tuesday, 8/9, the airlock wasn't bubbling at all. Concerned, I decided to add some yeast nutrient, and weighed out 3 grams of Fermaid K. I added that to the must and swirled it to mix in the Fermaid.
Yesterday, 8/10, the airlock still wasn't bubbling. SG was 1.080.
I'm going to test SG again tonight, and if it still reads 1.080, I'd expect it's stuck. I'd like to finish up around 1.040.
A friend of mine has recommended pitching new yeast. I have a couple of packets of K1V-1116, and could certainly rehydrate and pitch one of them. If I do that, should I aerate/oxygenate again? Should I pitch new yeast at all, or is there something else I should try first? Thanks for any suggestions!
11 lb wildflower honey (from a local beekeeper)
1 1/2 tsp LD Carlson "yeast energizer" (yeast hulls, DAP, and other stuff)
Balance water to 3 gal.
White Labs WLP720 (Sweet Mead/Wine) yeast.
I prepared a 500 mL starter a couple of days in advance.
SG at the beginning was calculated at 1.127 (I measured 1.140, but I then had to add more water). I oxygenated with pure O2 through a diffusion stone, and then pitched the yeast starter. The next day, the airlock was bubbling about once/2-3 sec.
One week later, on 8/6, the airlock was bubbling once/4-5 sec, and SG was measured at 1.092.
Tuesday, 8/9, the airlock wasn't bubbling at all. Concerned, I decided to add some yeast nutrient, and weighed out 3 grams of Fermaid K. I added that to the must and swirled it to mix in the Fermaid.
Yesterday, 8/10, the airlock still wasn't bubbling. SG was 1.080.
I'm going to test SG again tonight, and if it still reads 1.080, I'd expect it's stuck. I'd like to finish up around 1.040.
A friend of mine has recommended pitching new yeast. I have a couple of packets of K1V-1116, and could certainly rehydrate and pitch one of them. If I do that, should I aerate/oxygenate again? Should I pitch new yeast at all, or is there something else I should try first? Thanks for any suggestions!