First batch, does this sound normal?

[MJ7]

You might try a couple teaspoons of DAP and a couple of nutrient.....i think your guys may be hungry

Sent from Arthur Dent's towel smothering a volume of Vogon poetry, some of which just leaked out.

I would have to agree, one and a half tsp of anything isn't close to enough for a 5 gal batch, even as one addition of a SNA

Just added a few more teaspoons and it has woken it up, it has started to bubble slowly on it's own, SPOT ON GENTS. Thanks
The bottle says to add only 1/4 teaspoon per gallon, which is I did not add in all that much. Should I add more, thus far it's at 3 and 1/2 teaspoons. I do not have DAP, but I could pick some up?

 

[MJ7]

Steady as she goes...

Hydrometer readings thus far:

1.073 hydrometer 2/6/14 @ 6PM

1.069 hydrometer 2/7/14 @ 7:35PM

1.054 hydrometer 2/9/14 @ 8:42AM

I have no idea what the starting must was, because my first hydrometer reading was a solid 5 days after I started it.

In a day and a half it has dropped .015 not that bad. There is still no airlock activity, but I do see bubbles coming to the surface of the must and it is taking on an alcoholic taste.

 

[kudapucat]

This is good news. Keep watching it. It's low enough now that if balanced would be an ok desert mead. So you're doing ok. Most folks' first mead goes dry, so I expect this will, but have no real evidence other than statistics.

 

[MJ7]

This is good news. Keep watching it. It's low enough now that if balanced would be an ok desert mead. So you're doing ok. Most folks' first mead goes dry, so I expect this will, but have no real evidence other than statistics.

I will do daily hydrometer readings. I plan to have it stop fermenting around 1.20, so I will rack it around 1.25 then add K sorbate. I'm not going for a dry on this one.

Edit: I will cold crash it 1-3 times, remove the yeast, then add the sorbate and let it sit until clear before I bottle.

 

[MJ7]

I will do daily hydrometer readings. I plan to have it stop fermenting around 1.020, so I will rack it around 1.025 then add K sorbate. I'm not going for a dry on this one.

Edit: I will cold crash it 1-3 times, remove the yeast, then add the sorbate and let it sit until clear before I bottle.

 

[MJ7]

Day 10

Hydrometer = 1.046 2/10/14

Tastes fantastic

 

[MJ7]

Day 11

Hydrometer = 1.040

Taste is still good, it has a slightly higher alcohol back end.

 

[MJ7]

Day 12

Hydrometer = 1.035

Taste has a nice orange fruity front, a nice cinnamon bite, and an ever so pleasant honey finish...not dry either, it is pretty wet and sweet.

Two more days and this one is being cold crashed.

 

[mannye]

Awesome! Sounds like it's a success!

 

[MJ7]

Awesome! Sounds like it's a success!

Definitely. I feel as though this one will take 1-2 months of aging before it reaches it's peak time, and I will be aging 10 bottles past that...I want this one to be ready for the season premier of Season 4 Game of Thrones.

Day 13

Right on schedule

Hydrometer = 1.030

Tomorrow night I will be attempting to cold crash this bad boy into my refrigerator, hopefully it fits.

Taste has dulled slightly, still very drinkable, but I think a bit of aging will be required (not much though).

 

[MJ7]

Day 14

Hydrometer = 1.026

Taste has a distinct alcohol taste on the finish, it has a warming after bite, which right now I do not mind. This one is being cold crashed as we speak, straight into the refrigerator for awhile. I will probably pick up some Super Kleer and some sorbate tomorrow, last step is having it clear and then stabilizing.

 

[MJ7]

Day 16

Two nights of cold, 1/2 inch lees layer, racked. Hydrometer reading is stable at 1.026, this is a very nice smooth mead for certain, CO2 is still there, and once removed will be very nice.

This is headed back into the frig for more clarifying.

The aroma and complexity is starting to shine. I would classify this a medium-sweet mead. It is flavorful up from, cinnamon, slight citrus, and a nice dark honey tone that finishes wet. The alcohol taste has gone down a lot and the yeasty/bready notes are subtle, I expect them not to linger long after a few more cold racks.

 

[MJ7]

Day 18

Hydrometer stable at 1.026

Racked off 1/8 inch of lees, degassed slowly

Taste was pleasant and it is clarifying very nicely, a stronger cinnamon flavor is starting to shine through, while the citrus note is still around. The honey flavor is there and at this point it seems to be a two part taste. First part sweet, second part honey aromas (without the sweetness). It still finishes wet and smooth, this one is definitely getting better with refinement. Cold crashing and more cold racks to continue.

 

[MJ7]

Day 20

No sediment on bottom. Added Super Kleer to clear some of the pectin haze from the OJ. Will let sit for 2 more days in the frig, then I will rack and bring back to room temperature before I feel comfortable to bottle.

T-minus 3 days before potential bottling. Pretty cool.

 

[MJ7]

MJ's Cinnabomb is complete.

Day 22

Super Kleer has done it's job, very clear mead. Taste has a strong cinnamon presence, so much so I have named this mead MJ's Cinnabomb.

Racked and allowing to come back to room temperature, I will be taking hydrometer readings frequently over the next week to see if there is any yeast re-fermentation.

This mead has an upfront cinnamon taste, with a slight citrus presence on the nose. It tastes sweet of honey, but the sweetness is mellowed by the cinnamon. It finishes warm due to the cinnamon. It is a nice taste and I will be enjoying this starting today. I will likely bottle the rest and age around 10 bottles.

 

[MJ7]

Day 33

Bottled. The taste initially had a citrus finish with an astringent problem, too harsh. I narrowed it down to being either the cinnamon or the alcohol from the OJ. It has been aging now for 1 week and I'm proud to say that harsh finish is diminishing rapidly, it is all but gone now. It is a sweet mead, a little sweater than I would prefer, but it is oh so good and oh so nice to get a buzz off of.