Cherry Melomel Questions

[solver]

Cherry Melomel

Making 2 gallons

9 lbs tart frozen cherries pitted
7 lbs honey---- shooting for 1.120 SG
1/2 tsp Pectic Enzyme
2 Campden Tablets
GoFerm Protect 6.25 Grams --Added to yeast
1 pkt 71b yeast
Fermaid K 3/4 teaspoon (add 1/4 at pitch other 2 1/4s later

5 gallon bucket
Add 2 1/4 gallons water and honey and 2 campden tablets to volume- mix well
add frozen cherries in mesh bag to and mush up well
let set 24 hrs with an addition of 1/2 tsp of pectic enzyme at 12 hr break

normal yeast protocol with go ferm protect and then temper yeast to must

add 1/4 teaspoon fermaid K and agitate must while holding bag out of must
pitch yeast and cover with towel
ferment with regular punching down of fruit bag daily basis for 5-7 days
adding another 1/4 teaspoon fermaid k somewhere in there

pull fruit bag and rack off into 1 gallon carboys add 1/8 teaspoon fermaid k to each carboy
then I am not sure how to procede from there

do I just rack off again when ferment is complete and let clear 4-6 weeks
any advice on changes or procedure and final steps and timing would be great
Thanks

 

[Squatchy]

I never add food until I see proof that the yeast have moved out of the lag phase. This way I'm not feeding other organisms in the must.

 

[darigoni]

The goferm should be all the nutrients you'll need for the first 24 hours.

DAP can be toxic to yeast in the early stage. Fermaid K has DAP. The thinking is now that you want wait 24 hours, after yeast pitch, before making your first nutrient addition.