I attempted to make my first batch of mead on July 26, 2013. I have no idea what I'm doing and need a little help. I've been making beer for a while but wanted to try making mead. What follows is my recipe and method (or lack thereof)
Ingredients:
6 lbs local wildflower honey
3 lbs organic clover honey
2 packets red star champagne yeast (prepared as per instructions)
1. Boiled honey with 2.5 gallons water for 15 minutes while skimming top.
2. Cooled a bit and added to .5 gallons water in 3 gallon glass carboy. ( I neglected to take into account displacement from the honey so some ended up in a growler into which I also 2 tablespoons of lemon peel) affixed airlocks to the top.
3. Forgot to take an initial gravity reading (too much homebrew while making)
Bubbling in the airlocks ceased about 2-3 weeks after I made them. The 3 gallon carboy is still cloudy while the .5 gallon carboy is clear.
My questions are should I rack these, and if so would it be okay to put the 3 gal. into a 5 gal.? According to the mead calculator the gravity should be around 1.092, If it's not should I be worried about stuck fermentation? If it is should I bottle? Are beer bottles fine?
Thanks for the help and cheers.
Ingredients:
6 lbs local wildflower honey
3 lbs organic clover honey
2 packets red star champagne yeast (prepared as per instructions)
1. Boiled honey with 2.5 gallons water for 15 minutes while skimming top.
2. Cooled a bit and added to .5 gallons water in 3 gallon glass carboy. ( I neglected to take into account displacement from the honey so some ended up in a growler into which I also 2 tablespoons of lemon peel) affixed airlocks to the top.
3. Forgot to take an initial gravity reading (too much homebrew while making)
Bubbling in the airlocks ceased about 2-3 weeks after I made them. The 3 gallon carboy is still cloudy while the .5 gallon carboy is clear.
My questions are should I rack these, and if so would it be okay to put the 3 gal. into a 5 gal.? According to the mead calculator the gravity should be around 1.092, If it's not should I be worried about stuck fermentation? If it is should I bottle? Are beer bottles fine?
Thanks for the help and cheers.