I started my first batch of mead on 10-21-09. Everything seems to have gone well but I don't know how soon i should rack. Its aproximately a 5 gallon batch with 15 pounds of honey and Lavlin 71B yeast. The fermentation has slowed down pretty significantly already. I was under the impression that the mead should sit for a few weeks before racking, but I just read something about this particular yeast being ready a little quicker. Any advice for a first timer?
Not sure when to rack...
- Thread starter Alker
- Start date
-
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.
Hi Alker and welcome to Gotmead!! Glade you found the site. We kind of need to know some stuff about your batch.....Would you/could you post your exact recipe, ingredients, quantities and process please. What was your orig SG and what's it now? Do you have a way of messuring the PH? All this is helpfull when trying to give advise.
Here's my recipe:
* 15 lbs of Miller's Wild Honey
* 4 gallons of spring water
* 2 tablespoons of yeast nutrient
* 2 tablespoons of yeast energizer
* 2 packets of Lalvin 71b-1122 yeast
After sanitizing everything I added about half of the water, then the honey. I mixed the yeast in water around 105 degrees F I believe and let it sit for like 15 minutes. I mixed up the energizer and nutrient separately, then added them both, along with the rest of the water, and stirred it up for a good 10 minutes. The airlock was bubbling when I checked on it maybe 12 hours later.
* 15 lbs of Miller's Wild Honey
* 4 gallons of spring water
* 2 tablespoons of yeast nutrient
* 2 tablespoons of yeast energizer
* 2 packets of Lalvin 71b-1122 yeast
After sanitizing everything I added about half of the water, then the honey. I mixed the yeast in water around 105 degrees F I believe and let it sit for like 15 minutes. I mixed up the energizer and nutrient separately, then added them both, along with the rest of the water, and stirred it up for a good 10 minutes. The airlock was bubbling when I checked on it maybe 12 hours later.
Sounds like it's going pretty good, Alker. What's the 10 degrees warmer mean? The 71B will ferment to around an ABV of 14% with a temp range of about 60-80 degrees F. Depending on where the OG was, you should be getting close to finishing primary fermentation. Normally I'd let it ferment to about 1.010 before racking to secondary. Sounds like you've got a good batch going, man! How’s it taste?
Instructions for the hydrometer say its most accurate when the liquid is at 60 degrees...followed by a number of correction points depending on how much warmer/colder it is. I was expecting it to take much longer than this. Guess I'll rack it sometime this week. Thanks again!
