Hello all, I am a long time lurker but new poster.
I just made our third batch of mead, and I have some concerns.
First of all, I started this batch similar to my other two.
app. 5 kg (11 lbs) of honey, in two gallons of water heated to a boil, then removed from heat. Another gallon of water added after removing from heat.
Large Orange sliced
6tbsp earl grey tea
5 tbsps of bee pollen
split vanilla bean
1 pkg Lalvin 1118 prepared and then added when must was at an appropriate temp.
the SG before the yeast was at about 16%, but the must was still quite warm. I'm not sure about the temperature exactly, but app. 100F
I aerated very well in the bucket, put a clean t-shirt type material over the top and tied it tightly.
The last two batches of mead started at 18% before the yeast, so first of all, this batch started lower. And now, on day 6, the reading is only at 15% or JUST about at 1.09.
My other two batches quickly went down to the 10-8% within the first 9 days. This one, although bubbling sweetly and just as active looking as the others, is not doing this.
Perhaps my initial reading was wrong? The temperature throwing it off possibly?
The only big differences between this batch and the last ones were-
this time round I added two tiny cloves and had less bee pollen than before, and I did not have the 900 g of mixed fruit that I used last time. But the method was just the same and honey/water ratio. it is just as noisy and seems very active as the others so I'm not sure why this batch has such a slower to fall hydrometer reading.
Any help would be appreciated.
oh, *sidenote, I have dried sweetened cranberries, would these be a good idea to toss in as a additional food for the yeast? The other batches of mead I added WAY more bee pollen.
I just made our third batch of mead, and I have some concerns.
First of all, I started this batch similar to my other two.
app. 5 kg (11 lbs) of honey, in two gallons of water heated to a boil, then removed from heat. Another gallon of water added after removing from heat.
Large Orange sliced
6tbsp earl grey tea
5 tbsps of bee pollen
split vanilla bean
1 pkg Lalvin 1118 prepared and then added when must was at an appropriate temp.
the SG before the yeast was at about 16%, but the must was still quite warm. I'm not sure about the temperature exactly, but app. 100F
I aerated very well in the bucket, put a clean t-shirt type material over the top and tied it tightly.
The last two batches of mead started at 18% before the yeast, so first of all, this batch started lower. And now, on day 6, the reading is only at 15% or JUST about at 1.09.
My other two batches quickly went down to the 10-8% within the first 9 days. This one, although bubbling sweetly and just as active looking as the others, is not doing this.
Perhaps my initial reading was wrong? The temperature throwing it off possibly?
The only big differences between this batch and the last ones were-
this time round I added two tiny cloves and had less bee pollen than before, and I did not have the 900 g of mixed fruit that I used last time. But the method was just the same and honey/water ratio. it is just as noisy and seems very active as the others so I'm not sure why this batch has such a slower to fall hydrometer reading.
Any help would be appreciated.
oh, *sidenote, I have dried sweetened cranberries, would these be a good idea to toss in as a additional food for the yeast? The other batches of mead I added WAY more bee pollen.