...And The Gods Smile On Me!

2/10/2011

Well, first fermentation has completed on my mead. I have racked it and tasted it for the first time. The aroma was disgusting. It smelled like honey beer. I can't tell you how bad that smell is. I know it is just the yeast that is still working but it was nasty. The flavor however is amazing! I was so surprised. The smell had me expecting that it was going to have a nasty skunk beer flavor. I was happy to taste a every sweet honey flavor with a nice alcohol kick. I think the whole experience will be almost spiritual once I wait for the last of the yeast to die from alcohol poisoning and clear the liquid to a clear nice amber color. I will also be adding some blackberry flavoring to this right before I bottle. Probably leave it in the bottle for a few months before serving this to anyone outside the family.

This is what really gets me going on things. When I just guess and it pans out. The whole mead experiment was guessing. I added more honey than everyone else was telling me to. I didn't use a hydrometer. I did not add any sugar, nuts, grapes, or anything. Just some water and a lot of honey. THIS IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT! Trial and error. This is what our scientists have been doing for centuries and still do now. They have a good idea what they need to do and they just jump in with a very educated trial. Sometimes this does not work. Sometimes they end up with something that amazes even them. :)

Keep it bubbling!
Chuck



As an after thought.

I watched the fermentation on the mead and I was getting less than on bubble ever min. So, I added the Potassium Sorbate and degasses the liquid. I will add something to clear up the liquid in two days, if I don't show any more fermentation. So, at this point I am four to five days from bottling the mead. I have to say that I am excited to get to the final point of this experiment. I can't wait to have an actual bottle of mead in my hand with a label on it. The finished product. An experiment seen to the end.

What would I do differently? I think I would add a fruit to the must for extra flavoring and I may have added some yeast energizer along with some yeast nutrient. Other than that? I may have only used four pounds of honey not the full five pounds. It is a bit sweet. :)