My Mead projects - Page 1

Posted: 4/9/2017 4:56:01 PM EDT

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After reading a couple threads I decided to try making a Mead. 5 gal of Mead and 1 gal of cherry melomel.

Mixed up about 6 gal of water/honey mix to get a projected ABV of about 12%.
Not sure how accurate my hydrometer is but whatever.

Added 1# of frozen sweet cherries (thawed and chopped) to a gallon jug, filled with the mead mixture, added yeast nutrient and us-05 yeast. 24 hrs later bubbling every 5 seconds.

Filled the 5 gallon carboy adding yeast nutrient and cote Des blancs yeast. Looks like boiling water! Bubbling airlock is constantly moving.

I plan on stirring the melomel every couple days.

Looks interesting so far

Posted: 4/9/2017 5:04:15 PM EDT

[#1]

Looking to make some Mead this year as well, first time for me.
Good stuff!

Posted: 4/9/2017 5:23:04 PM EDT

[#2]

Your melomel is self stirring, and unless you are simply agitating, the repeated introduction of a stirring implement increases the chance of infection.

It is however, your melomel. Do as you wish.

Posted: 4/9/2017 5:24:37 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looking to make some Mead this year as well, first time for me.
Good stuff!

View Quote

Me also. Want to try the Pappazian cactus fruit melomel version!

Posted: 4/9/2017 6:25:35 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Your melomel is self stirring, and unless you are simply agitating, the repeated introduction of a stirring implement increases the chance of infection.

It is however, your melomel. Do as you wish.

View Quote

That was my initial thought. I was reading last night and the theory was stirring helped remove co2 and pushing the fruit down/ mixing it up keeps it from drying out and affecting the flavor. We shall see. Won't be the first time I've screwed up

Posted: 4/11/2017 8:36:02 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:

That was my initial thought. I was reading last night and the theory was stirring helped remove co2 and pushing the fruit down/ mixing it up keeps it from drying out and affecting the flavor. We shall see. Won't be the first time I've screwed up

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I de-gas after racking the must out of the fruit. ymmv.

My cherry mead, 3lbs cherries pitted and chopped.

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after racking

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Posted: 4/17/2017 7:43:57 PM EDT

[#6]

After a week the fermentation in the cherry slowed to almost nothing and the sediment was pretty deep so I racked it into a new bottle. Fermentation picked back up and it looks good.

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The 5 gallon carboy is still bubbling away like crazy

Posted: 5/31/2017 6:28:34 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
After a week the fermentation in the cherry slowed to almost nothing and the sediment was pretty deep so I racked it into a new bottle. Fermentation picked back up and it looks good.https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/211099/IMG-20170417-193300-189651.JPG

The 5 gallon carboy is still bubbling away like crazy

View Quote

Looks great! Any new photos? Updates?

Posted: 6/2/2017 7:18:09 AM EDT

[#8]

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It's time to rack them again. Left to right.. white Zinfandel, reiseling, Mead, and cherry melomel. The wines are just about done bubbling. The mead seems to be clearing, but very slowly. I'll taste it Tonite when I rack it and see how it is.

Posted: 6/4/2017 6:47:36 PM EDT

[#9]

The mead had a very light honey flavor and is still a little harsh but is drinkable. I think it will smooth out quite nicely by the time it is 6 months old. The melomel is similar but not alot of cherry flavor. I'm happy for my first try

Posted: 8/6/2017 4:21:39 PM EDT

[#10]

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Clearing nicely. Probably rack once more than bottle.

Posted: 8/7/2017 10:04:59 AM EDT

[#11]

You really make me want to try my hand at this.

Posted: 8/8/2017 7:02:24 AM EDT

[#12]

Do it. So far this year I've bottled 20 gallons of wine, five gallons of hard cider and will bottle this soon. I've given a bunch of the wine away and people love it. Doesn't take much time and is very easy.

Posted: 11/1/2017 10:41:11 AM EDT

[#13]

It's been almost 7 months since you posted this. I am curious about how your meads turned out. Updates?

Posted: 12/10/2017 6:21:20 PM EDT

[#14]

Been busy here. One daughter got married and the other is finishing up college. Plus deer season. Life interrupts all my hobbies.

I bottled today and the Mead has mellowed quite a bit more and the honey flavor is mild but definitely there. Most of the harsh alcohol taste is gone. If it improves with age I'll be a happy man. Ended up with 15 750 ml bottles.

The Cherry melomel needs more aging for sure. Very faint cherry flavor, but more harsh than the original Mead. They started from the same batch.

It's been fun and I'll definitely make another batch.

Right now I've got strawberry wine fermenting and will be making a pink Moscato, plum and pear wine and another batch of cider this week.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My Mead projects

General » Home Brewing

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