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Risk of Brett contamination in mead

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Barrel Char Wood Products
M

Maeloch

NewBee
Registered Member
Sep 6, 2013
152
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UK
I've started brewing Belgian 'funky' beers with Brett*. I'm aware this raises a contamination risk - particularly in other beers - but how much in mead? Specifically:

Does sulphite and/or sorbate work on Brett? - Is a mead that's been already been stabilised is resistant to Brett?
Is a vigarous primary ferment resistant to Brett until racked and sulphited?
Is Brett susceptible to 'killer' strains, i.e. KV1-1116?

If they answers to the above tend to be 'yes' I'm thinking basic good sanitation would be enough. If not, I need to think about how I segregate my equipment, and maybe keep the open vessels out the same areas.


*aka having a play adding Orval dregs to a couple of saisons that have finished too sweet.
 
On the other side of the coin - is a saison yeast + brett cake likely to be any good for a mead? I'm thinking a dark berry melomel.
 
Sulfites will usually keep Brettanomyces suppressed. Some folks have made some interesting meads using it. Meads that are finished, with a higher ABV may be more resistant to Brett, but I wouldn't risk losing a batch by not sulfiting if I was using it for other brews. It probably causes more batches to go bad than we recognize.
 
Medsen Fey said:
Sulfites will usually keep Brettanomyces suppressed. Some folks have made some interesting meads using it. Meads that are finished, with a higher ABV may be more resistant to Brett, but I wouldn't risk losing a batch by not sulfiting if I was using it for other brews. It probably causes more batches to go bad than we recognize.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks again. I may try a gallon batch with Brett. Meanwhile I'll make sure I don't get slack with the sulphites.
 
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