Spiced Elder Mead

Note:

Wild elderberries and classic mead spices. This was built from a recipe found online and is very promising.

http://prairielandherbs.com/elderberrymead.htm

Style:

Melomel

Ibu:

Abv:

Size:

1.25 gal

Recipe

1 gal water
2 qt elderberries
2 qt honey
2 cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp clove
1/4 cup lemon peel
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1/4 tsp irish moss

Procedure

Bring to a boil all but the honey
Let cool until at most 170F then add honey
continue to steep and naturally cool until
under 80F
pitch 1/2 pkg champagne yeast
ferment 3 days to 1 week
strain solids, squeeze out berries,
move to secondary
at least 3 months in 2ndary then bottle age
for at least a few more months

Note: Seemed to loose lots of water, maybe
start with 1.5 gal to compensate

Data Points [ + ]
8	date: 08/02/2009 note: spiced elderberry mead, really good taste, 1/2 pgk 18% champ yeast SG: 1.12 @ 60F
9	date: 08/09/2009 note: strained solids, moved to gal and 1/2 gal glass SG: ? @ ?F
10	date: 08/13/2009 note: tastes great SG: 1.004 @ 60F
11	date: 08/18/2009 note: added 2.5cup honey to gal, left 1qt dry SG1.054 and 1.004 respectively. racked both SG: 1.004 @ 60F
12	date: 08/18/2009 note: added 2.5cup honey to gal, left 1qt dry SG1.054 and 1.006 respectively. racked both SG: 1.054 @ 60F
13	date: 09/04/2009 note: recombined dry and sweet. Exceptional clarity (due to steeping the berries I'd guess). Still too sweet but not too far off. Bottled, hope they don't explode. SG: 1.042 @ 60F