Mid-process on my first batch!

[ChipSmith]

Yesterday was the 11th day after racking to a clean jug. Fermentation seems to have stopped my last SG was 1.05 And my ABV seems to be only 2%. I have lost approximately a pint of my batch from racking and sampling. Can I add honey, water, yeast and nutrient to try to restart fermentation?

 

[Maylar]

So, your initial gravity was only 1.065? Is that how you figured you have 2%?

 

[ChipSmith]

Actually I estimated the scale on the hygrometer.

 

[ChipSmith]

Sorry the photo was bad so I tried another. As you can see, I was directed to dump all the tannins and acids in up front. My last SG was 1.05 (ABV 2%?) Im wondering if I can add water, honey, nutrient and yeast to start it up again?

 

[Maylar]

Actually I estimated the scale on the hygrometer.

Exactly why do you think you only have 2%?

 

[ChipSmith]

That’s what it says on the alcohol scale on the hygrometer.

 

[ChipSmith]

I’m going to try sweetening this to taste and bottling it. Then I’m going to start a one-gallon batch using the Bray’s One-Month Mead recipe. Will let you know how that progresses. Thanx again.

 

[Dan O]

I found this tutorial for how to use & read your hydrometer properly . Hope this helps.
Happy meading

How to Use/Read a Hydrometer for Wine and Beer(The Easy Way)

Today I am going to show EXACTLY how easy it is to use a hydrometer. In fact this is the same process which has allowed me to brew excellent beer, wine and cider during the last few years. And I will let you into a secret - it is not rocket science In fact if you are not scientific like me you will

www.brewmart.co.uk

 

[EricHartman]

try not to rack on a schedule. stir the primary fermentation every so often but don't rack until the primary is completed. When you rack the mead you can lose quite a bit of your active yeast and make the remainder work hard to get things to finish.

PS: the alcohol level on your hydrometer is not a thing to look at. You need your starting gravity, and then your final gravity. then you search google for "ABV by SG" method and there are tons of calculators that will do the math for you.

 

[ChipSmith]

My second batch is coming along nicely. Yesterday the SG was down to 1.030 from the OG of 1.083. I was planning on racking to a secondary when it reaches around 1.020. Then l think I’d like to cold crash it; but my question is when cold crashing, must the jug have an airlock or can it be capped? Thanx for your inputs!