Seeing as I'm a newb, I'll post this in the newb forum. Hopefully I don't get flamed for it being in the incorrect forum.
I don't have an exact recipe decided yet but have been searching various Cherry Melomel recipes for my first mead attempt (other than a mangled JOAM I have on the go - thats a different story ). In reading various posts and recipes I've seen most recipes and experts recommend staggering Fermaid-K and DAP at the lag phase, the 1/3 and 1/2 sugar breaks (I really like hightests honey spreadsheet as it breaks everything down nicely for SNA based on your ingredients, OG etc.). Now, my main problem is finding fermaid-k and go-ferm as they are not available at any LHBS, nor anywhere in Canada for that matter(unless someone can show me differently). However I do have Wyeast nutrient blend that I purchased for making beer previously and one of my LHBS has a generic yeast super food available. Would either of these make suitable substitutions for the Fermaid-K? If I do use one of the above mentioned products would it still be necessary to use DAP. I guess my main problem is the majority of the posts, info, write-ups, etc. for staggered nutrient additions seem to specifically use Fermaid-k and DAP exclusively and I'm worried about making a substitution and screwing something up. Finding the DAP isn't an issue as its readily available.
Now I have found many online shops in the states such as morewine.com which sell go-ferm and fermaid-k but for $10 in product I'm going to pay $30 in shipping. I'm wondering if one of the nutrients available to me would be suitable thus saving myself 3-4x the cost of the products? And if so, does anyone have any recommendations on how to stagger the nutrient/energizer when not using Fermaid-k?
Also, using go-ferm during yeast rehydration is often recommended but how necessary is it? If the info helps: once again I'm mostly limited to 1116 and 1118 as yeast types as I can't find anything else at any nearby LHBS.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I don't have an exact recipe decided yet but have been searching various Cherry Melomel recipes for my first mead attempt (other than a mangled JOAM I have on the go - thats a different story ). In reading various posts and recipes I've seen most recipes and experts recommend staggering Fermaid-K and DAP at the lag phase, the 1/3 and 1/2 sugar breaks (I really like hightests honey spreadsheet as it breaks everything down nicely for SNA based on your ingredients, OG etc.). Now, my main problem is finding fermaid-k and go-ferm as they are not available at any LHBS, nor anywhere in Canada for that matter(unless someone can show me differently). However I do have Wyeast nutrient blend that I purchased for making beer previously and one of my LHBS has a generic yeast super food available. Would either of these make suitable substitutions for the Fermaid-K? If I do use one of the above mentioned products would it still be necessary to use DAP. I guess my main problem is the majority of the posts, info, write-ups, etc. for staggered nutrient additions seem to specifically use Fermaid-k and DAP exclusively and I'm worried about making a substitution and screwing something up. Finding the DAP isn't an issue as its readily available.
Now I have found many online shops in the states such as morewine.com which sell go-ferm and fermaid-k but for $10 in product I'm going to pay $30 in shipping. I'm wondering if one of the nutrients available to me would be suitable thus saving myself 3-4x the cost of the products? And if so, does anyone have any recommendations on how to stagger the nutrient/energizer when not using Fermaid-k?
Also, using go-ferm during yeast rehydration is often recommended but how necessary is it? If the info helps: once again I'm mostly limited to 1116 and 1118 as yeast types as I can't find anything else at any nearby LHBS.
Thanks in advance for any advice.