Stabilize on primary lees?

[jflanigan244]

It didn't occur to me before, but would it be a bad idea to try to stabilize on the primary lees? Would there maybe be too much of a biomass present?

Asking about a BOMM that's gone dry. I planned to stabilize in a few days (1.5 weeks after fermentation had ended)

Should I rack first or am I over thinking it?

 

[Squatchy]

Cold crash, then rack onto stabilizers

 

[jflanigan244]

Thanks, Squatchy.

Cold crashing isn't really an option, since it's a 5 gallon batch. But I haven't had trouble stabilizing a 5 gallon batch after racking before.

 

[bmwr75]

If it is bone dry, 1.000 or less, you may not need to stabilize at all. If you just want to be safe, rack first, and maybe a couple more times before stabilizing. No need to stabilize until a day or two before you want to bottle.

 

[jflanigan244]

If it is bone dry, 1.000 or less, you may not need to stabilize at all. If you just want to be safe, rack first, and maybe a couple more times before stabilizing. No need to stabilize until a day or two before you want to bottle.

Well I plan to back sweeten, is why I'm asking. I've stabilized before with no problems, I just never tried to do it while the mead was sitting on the primary lees. Just wasn't sure if that was a no no, is all.
So I'll just rack first

 

[Maylar]

You want as little yeast present as possible. Get it off the lees first.

 

[mannye]

Having your mead sit on the primary lees is generally a bad idea. There are all sorts of nasty flavors just waiting to get into your tasty new mead and ruin it. I try to get off the primary lees asap. You don't need to cold crash before racking, just rack onto the stabilizers. It's too bad you can't cold crash. Removes an amazing amount of "stuff" and makes the mead that much clearer.

 

[jflanigan244]

Having your mead sit on the primary lees is generally a bad idea. There are all sorts of nasty flavors just waiting to get into your tasty new mead and ruin it. I try to get off the primary lees asap. You don't need to cold crash before racking, just rack onto the stabilizers. It's too bad you can't cold crash. Removes an amazing amount of "stuff" and makes the mead that much clearer.

Hopefully someday... It's hard to buy a dedicated mead fridge on a barista salary lol. I would definitely like to get more yeast out but I've had pretty good luck with 2-3 racks and sparkleoid