I brewed my first mead about two weeks back. After pitching the yeast I waited and nothing seemed to be happening so I got some help from my local HB store. I went home and opened the closet door to warm up the area (closet at about 64-65f). So for the last week It has been around 67-68f and bubbling away, however not very aggressively. I took a sample today and it was not where I thought it should be so I need to figure out what I need to do to fix it. This is my recipe: 5gal. Apple cider (preservative free), 12 pounds clover honey, 1oz Cinnamon, 10 whole cloves, 2 tsp sweet orange peel, 5.5 tsp yeast nutrient (fermax), WLP775. My original gravity 1.144, my gravity today: 1.069 which is only about 9% ABV. The recipe shows it should be around 1.014, 14.25% ABV. However original recipe only called for 11 lbs honey and I did 12 (it came in 6 lb containers) so I'm hoping for a little more. But 9%??? According to recipe schedule I should be racking to 2ndry today. It taste great but very sweet so I know are there are more sugars for the yeast to eat up? What do I do? I've moved it to my kitchen counter and put a T-shirt over the carboy in the hopes that a warmer place (72-73) will get it going again. Do I need to pitch another vial of yeast? Any help would be appreciated. |
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New Yeast
http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/craft_strains_wine.html
Your yeast has a "medium-high" alcohol tolerance; 8-12%. You may need a white wine or champagne yeast to finish it off. I'd consider pitching it with some yeast nutrient to make sure the new strain gets a strong start.
Any update?
I curious to know how things have turned out.
I've never made a cyser, but
I've never made a cyser, but if there is any airlock activity at all, I'd be inclined to just wait it out. If is stops all-together, I might be tempted to pitch more yeast. Maybe champagne yeast?
Just my thoughts
Ryan