Brad's Tart Cherry Mead 
(1 ratings)
Mead Recipe
Submitted By: BeerSmith (Shared)
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| Brewer: Brad Smith | |
| Batch Size: 5.50 gal | Style: Stone Fruit Mead (M2D) |
| Boil Size: 5.50 gal | Style Guide: BJCP 2015 |
| Color: Red5 | Equipment: Brad's Mead/Cider Carboy |
| Bitterness: 0.0 IBUs | Boil Time: 1 min |
| Est OG: 1.146 (33.4° P) | Mash Profile: Single Infusion, Light Body, No Mash Out |
| Est FG: 1.037 SG (9.3° P) | Fermentation: Mead Profile |
| ABV: 15.0% | Taste Rating: 30.0 |
Ingredients
| Amount |
Name |
Type |
# |
| 18 lbs 2.00 oz |
Honey - Orange Blossom [Primary] (2.0 SRM) |
Honey |
1 |
| 2.23 gal |
Knudsen - Just Tart Cherry Juice [Primary] (20.0 SRM) |
Juice |
2 |
| 4.00 g |
GoFerm (Primary 0 min) |
Misc |
3 |
| 2.00 tsp |
Pectic Enzyme (Primary 0 min) |
Misc |
4 |
| 3.0 pkgs |
Lalvin 71B-1122 (Lallemand - Lalvin #71B-1122) |
Yeast |
5 |
| 4.00 g |
Fermaid-O (Primary 1 days) |
Misc |
6 |
| 4.00 g |
Fermaid-O (Primary 2 days) |
Misc |
7 |
| 4.00 g |
Fermaid-O (Primary 3 days) |
Misc |
8 |
| 4.00 g |
Fermaid-O (Primary 7 days) |
Misc |
9 |
| 1.10 tsp |
Potasium Bicarbonate (Primary 10 days) |
Misc |
10 |
| 68.25 ml |
Super-Kleer Finings (Secondary 0 min) |
Misc |
11 |
| 0.40 tsp |
Potassium Metabisulfite (Secondary 0 min) |
Misc |
12 |
Taste Notes
2/3 sugar break is 1.071Notes
- Started late on 3/12/17 (morning of 3/13/17) - original gravity was target 1.146 and pH was 3.36
-- Added 1 tsp of K-Bicarb to raise pH - will check again in the morning
- At 12 hours aerated again, pH was a healthy 3.65 and gravity still at 1.146, but foaming
- At 24 hours, it was at 1.143, and pH was 3.57 - added Fermaid-O additive
- Mid day on 3/14 - it was at 1.135 and pH = 3.5. Need to monitor pH as it appears to be dropping.
- Late 3/14 - added second Fermaid-O, pH was at 3.46 (need to monitor) and sg = 1.124
- Mid 3/15 - pH holding at 3.55
- Late on 3/15 - added third Fermaid-O addition
- Day 3.5 - at 1.085 and pH good at 3.67
- Day 4.5 - already hit 1/3 sugar break - can add Fermaid-O but I may want to throttle this one back just a bit (perhaps 1-2 grams)
- Day 5.5 - at 1.059 - decided to add the full 4g Fermaid-O addition as it seems to be slowing a bit.
- Day 14 - transferred to glass for clearing - will add the Superkleer in a day or two after it settles down. Current gravity is 1.036
- Day 15 - fermentation barely visible so I added clarity aid as it is also very close to FG
- Day 16 - Added rest of the SuperKleer
- Day 38 - Racked for aging and also added K-Meta to stabilize
-- Flavor was very promising - complex and a bit tart - though still a bit hot
- Day 77 - Kegged but it still needs just a hair more time as the flavor is pretty subtle. I think it will be good though!
BeerSmith™ Recipes and Web Editor
Beautiful After it Ages
by BeerSmithThis mead was a little understated and sweet at first, but after I let it age about 8 months the flavor changed and it really came into its own. Not it has a very nice cherry-alcohol-sweetness balance. Easy to drink.