Episode #88 - Mead Making with Michael Fairbrother

[BeerSmith]

Mead Making with Michael Fairbrother - BeerSmith Podcast #88

 http://beersmith.com/blog/2014/09/15/mead-making-with-michael-fairbrother-beersmith-podcast-88/

Cheers,
Brad

[BreStefan]

Great Podcast...

One think was not clear.
Michael said something like "25% Honey and 75% water will make semisweet mead." Is this by volume or weight? First he said one, then the other. One was a slip of the tongue, but which one
Thanks

[KernelCrush]

Depending on the source of information, and more importantly, your taste buds, semisweet is in the OG range of 1.080 to 1.120, and a FG range of 1.010 to 1.025 using (depending on the honey) between 13-16 lb of honey.  1 gal honey is roughly 12 lb.  For a semisweet just add a gallon of honey with enough water to reach your 5 gallons,  mix very very  well (I use a wine paddle in a 1/2" drill) then slowly add cups of honey mixing well each time til you hit target gravity.  You will appreciate the extra volume after racking(s) for topping up.  I usually shoot for 1.120 in 6 gallons with a FG around 1.120 for semisweet.  You should easily get 100 points from 71B.  There is a lot more info here.  http://www.gotmead.com/recipes-a-mead-making-mead-menu-13/mead-newbee-guide-mead-menu-14.html and on their forums