Author Topic: First Mead Questions  (Read 968 times)

Offline theDarkSide

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1570
  • Derry, NH
    • View Profile
First Mead Questions
« on: August 02, 2012, 10:10:56 AM »
Started my first mead on Sunday.  15 lbs of wildflower honey, water, and 1/4 of the nutrients.  I rehydrated the yeast (71B-1122) according to package and I'm fermenting at 65 F.  I open and stir it twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.  I also add a 1/4 of the nutrients when I stir at night.  I currently have 1/4 left and from an interview with Curt Stock that I saw, he said the last 1/4 should be added when 2/3 fermentation was done. 

My question now is how many more days should I be stirring the mead to off gas the CO2?  Is there some unwritten rule or it is based on percentage of fermentation completed?  Should I be stirring it everyday still but maybe not as vigorously as I have been?

I have some madagascar vanilla beans soaking in vodka right now to dose the mead at bottling time.

Thanks!
Sergeant - BNArmy Member
AHA Member
Seacoast Homebrew Club Member
https://www.facebook.com/SeacoastHomebrewClub
Stephen M.
------------------------------------------------

Offline beerrat

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 174
    • View Profile
Re: First Mead Questions
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2012, 02:17:08 PM »
Not sure what my source is for this (NHC, podcast, mead induced dream?), but I of late degassing every day until about 50% fermentable consumed.  At that point you begin to worry about O2 doing harm.

Offline saintsbrew

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 376
  • Augusta, ME
    • View Profile
Re: First Mead Questions
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2012, 04:48:06 PM »
I basically follow the steps in the link nateo posted in another topic. Here is the link...
http://www.ahaconference.org/wp-content/uploads/presentations/2008/KrisEngland_NHC.pdf
Mike Saint Pierre
Maine Ale & Libation Tasters (MALT)
BJCP Beer Judge
[719.4, 74.1] AR
----------
On Tap: EIPA
Fermenting: New England Amber, Flanders Red
Conditioning: Burbon Barrel-Aged Old Ale (MALT Collaboration), Raspberry Melomel, Barrel-Aged Barleywine (MALT Collaboration), Oktoberfest
Bottles: '11 & '12 Trad. Meads, Blueberry Melomel