First, I need to thank Vicky for her help with this forum thing I was having trouble with. I found this site extremely useful and hated to leave it when I was having issues.
Now, I have jumped head first into the deep dark caverns of mead making (and cider), and have started two. One is the Joe's, strictly following his recipe, using his option for allspice and nutmeg (I have learned to HATE cinnamon), all in a 1 gallon jug slowly churning away. It seems to be in the slow lane, but I do see activity, and enjoy sitting and watching the bubbler bubble.
Now, I got brave and put together a 5 gallon batch that my wife is somewhat sceptical about I told her not to worry, it was for the government), and it consists of the following,
15 pounds of pure orange blossom honey
5 oranges zested and juiced
8 oz of bee pollen
1 1/2 tsp Superfood nutrient (called for 3 tsp, but I did add the bee pollen)
D47 ry-hydro'd with 4 tsp re-hydro nutrient for 20 min
spring water to just over 5 gallons (anticipated sediment)
SG at about 1.111
ABV at about 14% (I'm looking for a high alcohol content)
Everything went together at room temp (about 78º)
No activity on the airlock yet, but I do have a 7 gallon fermenter its sitting in, so there's a lot of airspace above the mead to fill with gas I'm sure. Not too worried, but the question would be, at what point in time should I be worried not seeing anything on the bubble? Or is my recipe a real science project?!
All this at 3:30 this afternoon.
Now, I have jumped head first into the deep dark caverns of mead making (and cider), and have started two. One is the Joe's, strictly following his recipe, using his option for allspice and nutmeg (I have learned to HATE cinnamon), all in a 1 gallon jug slowly churning away. It seems to be in the slow lane, but I do see activity, and enjoy sitting and watching the bubbler bubble.
Now, I got brave and put together a 5 gallon batch that my wife is somewhat sceptical about I told her not to worry, it was for the government), and it consists of the following,
15 pounds of pure orange blossom honey
5 oranges zested and juiced
8 oz of bee pollen
1 1/2 tsp Superfood nutrient (called for 3 tsp, but I did add the bee pollen)
D47 ry-hydro'd with 4 tsp re-hydro nutrient for 20 min
spring water to just over 5 gallons (anticipated sediment)
SG at about 1.111
ABV at about 14% (I'm looking for a high alcohol content)
Everything went together at room temp (about 78º)
No activity on the airlock yet, but I do have a 7 gallon fermenter its sitting in, so there's a lot of airspace above the mead to fill with gas I'm sure. Not too worried, but the question would be, at what point in time should I be worried not seeing anything on the bubble? Or is my recipe a real science project?!
All this at 3:30 this afternoon.