Fruit in mead ... Difference in abv calc. Help

  • PATRONS: Did you know we've a chat function for you now? Look to the bottom of the screen, you can chat, set up rooms, talk to each other individually or in groups! Click 'Chat' at the right side of the chat window to open the chat up.
  • Love Gotmead and want to see it grow? Then consider supporting the site and becoming a Patron! If you're logged in, click on your username to the right of the menu to see how as little as $30/year can get you access to the patron areas and the patron Facebook group and to support Gotmead!
  • We now have a Patron-exclusive Facebook group! Patrons my join at The Gotmead Patron Group. You MUST answer the questions, providing your Patron membership, when you request to join so I can verify your Patron membership. If the questions aren't answered, the request will be turned down.

Vestal_123

NewBee
Registered Member
Oct 14, 2012
4
0
0
Texas
Excactly what the title said... I just really want to find out the difference in abv calculationswhen I use fruit and or spice in my brew
 
Spices won't matter, it's only sugar that affects your potential alcohol and it's only dissolved stuff that will affect your hydrometer readings, any suspended matter from adding spices will not change your specific gravity.

And theEnvoy is right, the Mead Calculator does have a lot of entries for fruit. But remember, all you will ever get there is an approximation, even with honey there are no guarantees that your honey has the same assumed water content.

What I usually do is add my fruit up front and measure it after my pectinase has had 24 hours to break the fruit down and release the juice, then I assume that's all I'm getting out of the fruit and that's the starting gravity I use, if it's too high I add water, if it's too low I add more honey, then I pitch my yeast and let it do its thing.