Two Week Window

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Good luck, enjoy your two weeks, stay safe when they're over, and when you get back to it again, let us know how it turned out!
 
The LHBS had a really good priced starter kit that was a better deal than most online kits. Because she got me the whole kit, I decided to do the primary in the 6.5 gallon bucket and then rack it to the the 5 gallon carboy the morning before leave. It smells so good.

I might have used a little too much honey, it had an OG of 1.130, this means it will finish pretty sweet right?
 
If you used bread yeast, yeah. Did you end up making JAOM? If you rack just before you return to duty, make sure you fish out all the chunky stuff and include it in the secondary.
 
I did end up making the JAOM. You say to include all of the fishy stuff? Like the fruit and what not?
 
I did end up making the JAOM. You say to include all of the fishy stuff? Like the fruit and what not?

Ideally, yeah. JAO is designed to have all that stuff in it for a month or two (or even longer as some have pointed out).

Personally, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you don't include all the fruit/spices when racking. It's really up to you though. Taste it as you rack it, and if you think it needs more orange/cinnamon/clove flavor, then include all that stuff in the 5 gallon carboy. If not, then don't bother. Just my $0.02.

Thank you for your service! Stay safe over there!
 
If you decide not to include all the chunkies, do at least squeeze all the juice out of the orange pieces.
 
Bottled!

Thank you everyone for your help preparing this batch of mead. It came out amazing! It's all bottled and ready for consumption. I wish I could post a photo of the final product, but from my iPhone it's a task beyond my abilities. Thanks again everyone!

Cheers,
Justin
 
Congrats on your first batch! Just curious if you have a hydrometer and bothered to check FG? But, how it tastes and that you like it is all that really matters.Cheers.
 
My FG was 1.010 and using the Got Mead calculator I think it's just under 15% abv. The mead starts with a faint sweetness and finishes with a subtle dryness. We love it and we're already planning the next batch.

My wife who has complained about headaches from beer and most wines in the past (even one would trigger them) drank a half a bottle of the mead without even a trace of a headache. So, she's hooked.

I think we're going to use local honey and incorporate some island fruits for the next batch, maybe starfruit and passion fruit.
 
My FG was 1.010 and using the Got Mead calculator I think it's just under 15% abv. The mead starts with a faint sweetness and finishes with a subtle dryness. We love it and we're already planning the next batch.

My wife who has complained about headaches from beer and most wines in the past (even one would trigger them) drank a half a bottle of the mead without even a trace of a headache. So, she's hooked.

I think we're going to use local honey and incorporate some island fruits for the next batch, maybe starfruit and passion fruit.

That's right about where I like my meads to finish, 1.010.

And I'm jealous you live on Oahu, I've surfed most of my life but haven't ever made it out there yet.

Good luck with that next batch. Sounds good.