Batch 16: Orange Blossom Mead
I, on occasion, am an idiot. When figuring water-to-honey ratios for the desired result in a batch of mead, the water is measured by volume and the honey by weight. The brewer idiot must then estimate the volume of the honey. Why? To make sure a carboy of sufficient size is chosen. I've now brewed almost a dozen batches of mead, and this is the first time I forgot to do that.
I was doing a 3-gallon batch, wanted about 3 pounds of honey per gallon for a middle-of-the-road sweetness, so figured I'd go with two 5-pound jars of honey.
Which is almost a gallon.
Which makes four gallons of must.
In a three gallon carboy.
Ooops.
Now I have a batch going with more than 4.5 pounds per gallon.
Ingredient list
Honey is orange blossom from Gunter's Apiary.
Water is bottled stuff from Food Lion, sanitized by a 20-second zap in the microwave.
Yeast is 2 packets of Lalvin D-47.
3 teaspoon yeast nutrient.
2 teaspoons yeast energizer.
Process
10 pounds of honey and a gallon of water added to brew pot.
4:46 = Heat on high.
5:02 = Reached 140 degrees. Added 1/2 oz. Irish moss.
5:11 = Temperature topped out at 155.
5:14 = Off heat.
Poured 1 gallon of not-cold-enough water into carboy and added yeast nutrient and energizer.
Poured must into carboy.
Holy crap that's filling up fast!!!
Added another few inches of cool water to top it off.
Pitched yeast at 5:40. 105 degrees. Aerated.
Vital stats
Specific Gravity = 1.104
Brix/Bolling = 25.5
Alcohol Potential = 14%
I was doing a 3-gallon batch, wanted about 3 pounds of honey per gallon for a middle-of-the-road sweetness, so figured I'd go with two 5-pound jars of honey.
Which is almost a gallon.
Which makes four gallons of must.
In a three gallon carboy.
Ooops.
Now I have a batch going with more than 4.5 pounds per gallon.
Ingredient list
Honey is orange blossom from Gunter's Apiary.
Water is bottled stuff from Food Lion, sanitized by a 20-second zap in the microwave.
Yeast is 2 packets of Lalvin D-47.
3 teaspoon yeast nutrient.
2 teaspoons yeast energizer.
Process
10 pounds of honey and a gallon of water added to brew pot.
4:46 = Heat on high.
5:02 = Reached 140 degrees. Added 1/2 oz. Irish moss.
5:11 = Temperature topped out at 155.
5:14 = Off heat.
Poured 1 gallon of not-cold-enough water into carboy and added yeast nutrient and energizer.
Poured must into carboy.
Holy crap that's filling up fast!!!
Added another few inches of cool water to top it off.
Pitched yeast at 5:40. 105 degrees. Aerated.
Vital stats
Specific Gravity = 1.104
Brix/Bolling = 25.5
Alcohol Potential = 14%