For user mead recipes that are honey forward. If there is oak or other minor adjuncts, they should support the honey, and not be immediately the dominate flavor.
by /u/stormbeforedawn
Total Volume: 5 gallons
Style: Still Polish Mead with Oak
Carbonation: Still
Target Theoretical Original Gravity: 1.172
Target Final Gravity: 1.012-1.035
Target ABV: 20.5%
Target YAN: 404 effective PPM
Ingredients
| Ingredient |
Amount |
Notes |
| Honey |
24 lbs |
The star of the show, pick something nice. Tupelo, Star Thistle, Orange Blossom, or others. |
| Oak |
2 Spirals |
Med toast American oak. May use cube at preference. |
| GoFerm PE |
18.8 g |
|
| Fermaid O |
17 g |
|
| Fermaid K |
9.5 g |
|
| DAP |
19.0 g |
|
| Bentonite |
40 g |
|
| Lavin 1118 |
15 g |
Rehydrate in the Go Ferm using 300 ml water at 105 F |
Method:
Note: This is a staggered sugar addition mead. It's process is non-standard.
- Rehydrate the yeast using the GoFerm PE.
- Add 1/3rd of primary honey, and bentonite. Stir vigorously to aerate.
- Ferment at 62-65° F.
- After 24 hours, add 4.7g dap, 2.4g FermK, and aerate 2x daily.
- After 48 hours, add 4.7g dap, 2.4g FermK, and aerate 2x daily.
- After 72 hours, add 4.7g dap, 2.4g FermK, and aerate 2x daily.
- After SG hits 1.050 add in 8 lbs more honey, remaining dap and FermK.
- 24 hours after honey addition, add 5.6g FermO and aerate 1x daily.
- 48 hours after honey addition, add 5.6g FermO and aerate 1x daily.
- When SG hits 1.050, and remaining honey and remaining FermO.
- Leave to ferment to FG and let rest a month.
- Rack off lees and add oak spirals, aging on oak as desired.
- Once the mead begins to clear, backsweeten to taste. Ideally you will need a few pounds to get you up to 1.020+, but it's dependant on how effective your staggered sugar and nutrition was at hitting 20%+ ABV and your personal preference.
- Bulk age or bottle and store for 12 months.
Notes: OG is theoretical due to staggered sugar. Target ABV is 20.5%. Drink like a port.