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D-47 question re stirring late

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Commander Toasty

NewBee
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Jun 9, 2005
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Relevant to an older thread by Oskaar. Using D-47 to be specific, did the folks you spoke with indicate that you should STIR again toward the end of fermentation, or get air into it? I'm thinking they meant mix the sediment back into suspension but not get new air. New air would be detrimental while simply mixing the must would get more mouthfeel out of the spent yeast.

Oskaar?
 

Oskaar

Got Mead Partner
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Dec 26, 2004
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That's exactly right Toasty. The idea is to resuspend the yeast and allow those long chain polysaccharides to get into the mead and impart that nice, round flavor.

cheers,

Oskaar
 

byathread

NewBee
Registered Member
Mar 8, 2005
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Boulder County, CO
I have never done any sur lie aging of meads (except for the occasional forgotten carboy sitting on the lees for a couple of months after primary) ;)
I did however just start a batch of sage blossom mead using Lalvin BA11 which was recommended to me for sur lie aging.
I read the 'Sur lie and batonnage' article at the Improved Winemaking site (http://members.tripod.com/~BRotter/) and I have a couple of questions. I'm curious as to how you fellow mazers have gone about it.

1) Are you aging on the lees in the secondary?
2) How do you stir the must (power drill lees stirrer)? Does this present an oxidation problem?
3) How often do you stir?
4) How long do you age on lees?


Your help is much appreciated!
Kirk
 

Oskaar

Got Mead Partner
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Dec 26, 2004
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Here's a link to another question along the same lines.

http://www.gotmead.com/smf/index.php/topic,1215.msg9472.html#msg9472

I have a cyser that I spiked with cherries and blueberries in the primary that has been on the lees for about 7 months now, it's doing great.

It's in secodary and I stir about 1 once a month. I've left lees batches for a year, there are some folks from the B3 store up north that have left them on the lees for as much as three years with great results.

Cheers,

Oskaar
 
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