peavis said:
12.bs. honey
4 1/4 gal. water
1-1 1/2 tsp.grape tannin
4 campden tablets
2 tsp. yeast energizer
white labs sweet mead yeast
so if i wanted to make the above recipe into a 3 gallon recipe how much of the grape tannin,campden tablets,yeast energizer should i use? and how much water and honey would i need to make a starter??
I think for 3 gal of a sweet mead you would want to use something like:
9 lbs honey (maybe 10)
2+ gallons of water
1-1.5 t tannin should be fine for 3 gal
follow the instructions on the packet for the energizer and campden
Also, though I've not used the WL Sweet Mead yeast, my friends have reported it to be pretty sluggish and always make starters before using it. Also, if you're using a 3 gallon carboy, leave some headspace (or reserve a quart of the must) and top up once fermentation begins to slow.
As for a starter, I usually just use a 1-2 quart mason jar, fill it 3/4 of the way with 50-60% must, cap it, shake it, loosen the lid so CO2 can escape and let it go. I'll tighten cap, shake it, loosen it as often as I pass by or think about it. Pitch after 24-36 hours.