Examining a JAO Spinoff

[kudapucat]

Not improve so much. Just differ. I like variety.

Anyhow. FB took me a bit off track. I was just reporting based on the request for taste of aniseed in mead.

I'm certainly going to try an aniseed metheglin now.

 

[Medsen Fey]

3/27/2011 - JAO-style mead
6.5 Gallons total.
1.5 packets of Lalvin D-47
1 lbs Orange Blossom Honey, 15 lbs Clover Honey
5 "pinches" of Nutmeg
5 Small Cinnamon Sticks
5 Large Oranges
1 small box of Raisins
1 Clove

On the 1st of May, which is about a month and a week into this mead going, I finally got my new hydrometer and took a reading, and then did it again two weeks later.

5/1/2011
Temp: about 70F
SG - 1.120
ABV - 16%
Sugar - 30%​

5/18/2011
Temp: about 80F
SG - 1.110
ABV - 15%
Sugar - 27%​

Welcome Orion!

I'm sorry your mead has stuck (It is moving so slow you might as well call it stuck). There are several reasons why this may have occurred:

1) inadequate nutrients - D47 doesn't run well on a few raisins
2) pH issues - I wouldn't be surprised if your pH was too low.
3) lack of aeration - If you haven't been opening and stirring it, the yeast won't grow as much. Again, D-47 and bread yeast are different.
4) lack of proper yeast rehydration.

I don't think your starting gravity was the issue. D47 can usually handle gravity that's pretty high. However, I have to question your gravity readings. Using 16 pounds of honey in a 6.5 gallon batch shouldn't give you a gravity above about 1.090, so you shouldn't be getting a reading of 1.110. Are you sure it isn't 1.010. It is possible to have a hydrometer read higher because of CO2 bubbles sticking to the side and buoying it up a little, but it usually won't cause it to read 20-30 gravity points too high. If your current reading is 1.110, then something was not right with your weight of honey or volume of liquid.

If your gravity is still 1.110, then you can try adding some nutrient. You want some that looks like tannish powder - Fermaid K would be fine, Fermax is good, Wyeast nutrient blend will work. Add about 1 tsp per gallon and aerate the snot out of it and that might get things going. If that doesn't work, perhaps you can get some pH strips with a range from about 3-4.5 to see where it is at. If the pH is above 3.1, then your next step would be to pick a different yeast, and acclimate a starter before pitching.

Don't fret too much over it. Some of my best meads have come from fermentations that stuck. The exercise of unsticking it is priceless education. And by the way, if you haven't taken a look at the NewBee Guide, it is well worth it.

Endeavor to persevere!

Medsen

 

[AToE]

+1 ... Try something good, then try to improve it... it's just what engineers and other inquisitive people do...

The one change to JAO that seems to me to be more likely to work but that I don't see people attempting very often is swapping out the spices. I've never made the recipe, but I know that I don't like clove, so maybe cardamom would work well, it certainly plays nice with both cinamon and orange.

 

[Chevette Girl]

I always put the spices in when I make it with orange but rarely do I include them with other fruits. I do often add nutmeg and allspice to the original recipe though. Tried vanilla too, took a bit of aging before I was happy with it.

 

[kudapucat]

The one change to JAO that seems to me to be more likely to work but that I don't see people attempting very often is swapping out the spices. I've never made the recipe, but I know that I don't like clove, so maybe cardamom would work well, it certainly plays nice with both cinamon and orange.

Yep and it's the only change other than honey qtys that Joe approves of ;-)
Best spice change so far as I mentioned above has been aniseed.

 

[pokerfacepablo]

Is the JALC a cyser? Curious to see if anyone has done it.

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