Racking first mead

[Vance G]

I carefully read the book but it wasn't supposed to be this way! I carefully sanitized everything and started trying to syphon mead out of primary fermenter. I don't know how I lost syphon several times but in the process of getting it back, I am sure I got a whole lot of oxygen into the mead and a whole lot of lubricant into me! Holy Honeybee but that stuff is stought! By my addled calculations of specific gravity then and now, about 18 1/2 percent torpedo fuel. Is there a better way than that racking cane or a better tool? Now I will let it age for a half a year or so before bottling it. How bad is all that O2 going to mess things up? I just hope it turns up drinkable, well it is drinkable now if you have a sixteen year old boys decerning pallette and desire to catch a buzz!

[angryhippie]

Generally speaking, you just have to make sure to the source container is higher than the destination container and the racking cane works fine.

Also, the higher the alchol percentage, the longer that you'll need to let it sit to mellow out. With 18% I would recommend somewhere around 2 years.

[nursebee]

Are you 16?

Let it age. If it is done fermenting you can bottle any time, and sample any time. I've had some nasty ones get good at 2-3 years (ie sams club honey)

I suspect the O2 issue is not an issue

[Vance G]

I most definately would not want to be sixteen again. I would steal gallons of my parents home made chokecherry wine and put them outside to freeze down to alcohol and mix that in coke! That is what I mean! but that was many many moons ago. This mead is really cloudy too. The flavor is not nasty, it is just pretty raw. I used good honey but a delicately flavored one. Hopefully I will last a couple more years to see if it matures.

[kwest]

sounds like my first experience. im sure it will be fine. i only have one bottle left. its about 2 years old. mine tasted ok and is kind of sparkling wine. it is good and strong also.

[the kid]

to keep the alcohol low I stated using a 12/13% yeast .. this way I don't get rocket fuel .. My mead has turned out good ,, the first 3 batches of wine were rocket fuel , and I didn't care for it ( to strong ) so now I use the 12/13% and have some good stuff now ..