I'm getting ready to make my first mead and I wanted to get some of your opinions on my plan. I want to make a still, sweet mead with orange blossom honey.
12 lbs. orange blossom honey, raw
WLP 720 Sweet Mead Yeast
Carlson Yeast Nutrient and Yeast Energizer
Make a 1L starter with 1 cup honey, top off with water, and yeast nutrient. Prepare 48 hours before brew day and let sit on stir plate.
No-Boil Recipe:
Using 5 gallon carboy, prepare mead by dissolving honey in water and topping off to 3.25 gallons.
Pitch starter and add half of recommended nutrient and energizer.
Aerate daily for the first week.
Add second half of nutrient and energizer at 1/3 sugar break.
Stop touching mead after 1/3 sugar break and allow to ferment for at least a month.
Rack to secondary 3 gallon carboy and allow to age for a couple months.
Add potassium sorbate to stabilize and allow to rest for 3 days.
Bottle and allow to age for another month.
I've read that potassium metabisulfite (Campden tablets) may also be needed for stabilizing, is this true?
Any other tips or tricks to my process?
Thanks for the help!
12 lbs. orange blossom honey, raw
WLP 720 Sweet Mead Yeast
Carlson Yeast Nutrient and Yeast Energizer
Make a 1L starter with 1 cup honey, top off with water, and yeast nutrient. Prepare 48 hours before brew day and let sit on stir plate.
No-Boil Recipe:
Using 5 gallon carboy, prepare mead by dissolving honey in water and topping off to 3.25 gallons.
Pitch starter and add half of recommended nutrient and energizer.
Aerate daily for the first week.
Add second half of nutrient and energizer at 1/3 sugar break.
Stop touching mead after 1/3 sugar break and allow to ferment for at least a month.
Rack to secondary 3 gallon carboy and allow to age for a couple months.
Add potassium sorbate to stabilize and allow to rest for 3 days.
Bottle and allow to age for another month.
I've read that potassium metabisulfite (Campden tablets) may also be needed for stabilizing, is this true?
Any other tips or tricks to my process?
Thanks for the help!