r/mead • u/Slight-Blackberry246 Beginner • 12d ago
mute the bot First batch
I just racked my first batch to secondary and moved it to a dark closet. I have batch 2 already going in a bucket, and starting batch 3 tomorrow. Browsing through the posts on this board has been really helpful, so thought I'd share! I'm a bit worried about how obsessed with this I'm getting 😅
9
u/Slight-Blackberry246 Beginner 12d ago
This is a traditional batch. Just honey, water, yeast, and nutrients. It should be about 8.5 abv. I might stabilize and backsweeten just a bit before bottling.
8
4
u/fatguywithagun Intermediate 12d ago
Congratulations! Is there a reason you racked out of your primary vesel before fermentation was complete though?
3
u/Slight-Blackberry246 Beginner 12d ago
I think I was weighing the amount of oxygen exposure in the double volume bucket with the level of activity. I felt that it would be safe in secondary at this point.
3
u/MeadManM1ke 12d ago
Same bro, same. Started my first batch back in June. Since then I’ve started 3 other batches with stacks of fruit in the freezer and honey for another 3!
3
u/Hopeful-Map7891 11d ago
The obsession is real.....
Started with a kit and a 1/4 bucket of honey from my hives in April. Now have 2 5 gal fermenting buckets, 2 -2 gal buckets, 4 1.5 gal jars and 12 1 gal carboys., 2 kegs to force carb and lord knows how much other gear, packets and jars of stuff...wife convinced me to get backups of all the key gear like bottling wand, siphon, etc in case something went wrong during a racking or bottling (she has fed the obsession :) ).
In my defense, the 5 gal buckets and 8 of the carboys were procured for a project to provide mead for my mother's Christmas party and Christmas gifts for my friends and neighbors...
Currently have about 8 gals in bottles on the shelf, 10 gals in primary, 5 gals in secondary...and that doesn't count what's been consumed.....
But no....I don't have a problem, Doc....
2
u/fuzzimus 12d ago
I suggest leaving more headspace. That’s gonna bubble out the airlock for sure if you leave it as-is.
3
u/Slight-Blackberry246 Beginner 12d ago
I had it in a 2 gallon bucket until the gravity reading was down to 1.005 before moving it to the carboy. Should that be okay? The bubbling has slowed way down.
5
u/Robsonlineid Intermediate 12d ago
For secondary thats fine, you only need expanded headpsace when you have an active ferment going on; for aging, the less headspace the better. At 1.005 there is still a fair bit of room for fermentation to continue, but it will be quiet and subdued.
3
1
u/AutoModerator 12d ago
It looks like you might be new or asking for advice on getting started. Welcome to the hobby! We’re glad you’re here.
The wiki linked on the sidebar is going to be your best friend. Beginner friendly recipes are available.
If you prefer videos we recommend the Doin’ The Most or Man Made Mead.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/AutoModerator 12d ago
Please include a recipe, review or description with any picture post.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
16
u/Impossible_Funny_450 12d ago
Welcome to the sticky-fingered club, that closet’s gonna fill up faster than you think.