High Octane Mead

Source: Tony Owens
Recipe added: 02/01/97
Email: Tony Owens
URL: Tony Owens

very good mead. drinkable at an early age.

Specifics

Recipe type: Extract
Batch Size: 5 gallons
Starting Gravity: 1145
Finishing Gravity: 1000
Time in Boil: 0
Primary Fermentation: one month (usually)
Secondary Fermentation: two months
Additional Fermentation: 0

Ingredients:

20# honey
sodium bisulfite
pectic enzyme
yeast nutrient
acid blend
Premiere Cuvee Yeast

Procedure:

This recipe is a non-boil method. Sodium Bisulfite is used to kill any wild yeast before adding any yeast. I think that some of the delicate flavors are lost when honey is boiled. Either way, you'll end up with basically the same thing by pastuerization or treating it. This recipe calls for two additions of honey. I like doing it this way because if your having "yeast" problems, you"ll find out before you have 20# of honey invested in it. Here goes: 7# honey dissolved in water to make 2.5 gallons Add .5 teaspoon Sodium Bisulfite Let this sit for about 3 days. On the third day, prepare the yeast starter: I used "Premiere Cuvee" yeast made by Red Star. I wanted to use "Prise De Mousse", but they don't make it anymore, and I have it from reliable source (Dick Dunn) that "Premiere Cuvee" is actually "Prise De Mousse" in a different package. Who knows, you know how yeast manufacturers are, they don't want to divulge any of their precious information. 1 package "Premiere Cuvee" wine yeast 1 cup DME/1 pint of water When fermentation is noticable, (It'll only be a few hours) step your starter up 2 more cups of DME and 2 more pints. Add to must and areate vigorously. Add 1 Teaspoon Pectic Enzyme 2 Teaspoons yeast nutrient 1 Teaspoon Acid Blend When mead has fermented below 1.010 prepare the second addition of honey. If it has trouble fermenting down to this level, don't add anymore honey. To 13# of honey add 1/4 teaspoon of Sodium Bisulfite and water to make up 2.5 gallons At end of 3 days add honey 2 Teaspoons pectic enzyme 2.5 Teaspoons Yeast Nutrient 2 Teaspoons Acid Blend This amount of honey and water will give you an OG of about 1140. Try to ferment below 60 degrees to avoid fusel alcohols Cold filtering or finings may be needed, as was the case with mine.

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