homebrewer_99
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I do a lot of reading and wondering if I could make a light and refreshing LEMONADE MEAD...OK, intro crap over...let's get to the recipe...
These were just the ingredients I used, if you want to try something different feel free...
Heat 1 gal water to 170.
Add:
5 lbs Sue Bee Honey
2 lbs Corn Sugar
5 tsp Yeast Nutrient
Dissolve all.
Add 4 cans of All Natural MINUTE MAID Premium Lemonade Frozen Concentrate, 12 oz cans (15% Real Lemon Juice)...so says the label...
Bring water back up to 170F.
As with my beer water I always place 4 gals of PUR filtered tap water in the freezer for top off water. I don't always use all of it, but I want if available if I need more colder water.
Add some cold water to pot to bring down temp and pour into a sanitized carboy. If you use a funnel it'll be OK since this is where it's OK to aerate your wort/must.
Top off with 4 gals of water.
OG was 1.087
Sample tasted honey sweet with a good lemonade flavor
Once cooled, add 1 packet Lalvin D-47 yeast. I did not rehydrate, but just sprinkled it on.
I hoped to make a nice and light lemonade mead. I thought about using some potassium sorbate at about 1.020 to keep it sweet, but now I think it's not the right thing to do. You could split your batch up if you want.
I started this mead on 28 Jun. It's now 14 July and it's done.
Here are my notes (with dates):
28 Jun 09: Temp: 96F (plus 5 for temperature compensation)
OG: 1.082 + 5 = 1.087
2 July 09: Temp: 75F / Gravity: 1.040 + 2 = 1.040. Looks a lot like lemonade...pale yellow and cloudy. It's tasting very nice though. Some yeast flavor, but both sweet and tart. Surprisingly smooth.
10 Jul 09: Temp: 78F / Gravity: 0.998 +2 = 1.000. Only lightly clouded now. Still has a honey odor. Lemon (flavor), tartness and honey flavor all coming through nicely. Racked to secondary.
14 Jul 09: Temp: 76F / Gravity: 0.998 + 2 = 1.000. This mead seems to be done fermenting. Almost completely clear. Nice honey smell. Sample has a good light lemon and honey flavor. Neither flavor is overwhelming. It has a slight dry finish. Smooth and easy to drink.
OG: 1.087
FG: 1.000
Potential alcohol: 9.135% ABW / 11.419% ABV This is really smooth. No alcohol bite (fusel oils) or esters.
I'll let it sit a little while longer (a week or so) before bottling and finish up on the notes here.
These were just the ingredients I used, if you want to try something different feel free...
Heat 1 gal water to 170.
Add:
5 lbs Sue Bee Honey
2 lbs Corn Sugar
5 tsp Yeast Nutrient
Dissolve all.
Add 4 cans of All Natural MINUTE MAID Premium Lemonade Frozen Concentrate, 12 oz cans (15% Real Lemon Juice)...so says the label...
Bring water back up to 170F.
As with my beer water I always place 4 gals of PUR filtered tap water in the freezer for top off water. I don't always use all of it, but I want if available if I need more colder water.
Add some cold water to pot to bring down temp and pour into a sanitized carboy. If you use a funnel it'll be OK since this is where it's OK to aerate your wort/must.
Top off with 4 gals of water.
OG was 1.087
Sample tasted honey sweet with a good lemonade flavor
Once cooled, add 1 packet Lalvin D-47 yeast. I did not rehydrate, but just sprinkled it on.
I hoped to make a nice and light lemonade mead. I thought about using some potassium sorbate at about 1.020 to keep it sweet, but now I think it's not the right thing to do. You could split your batch up if you want.
I started this mead on 28 Jun. It's now 14 July and it's done.
Here are my notes (with dates):
28 Jun 09: Temp: 96F (plus 5 for temperature compensation)
OG: 1.082 + 5 = 1.087
2 July 09: Temp: 75F / Gravity: 1.040 + 2 = 1.040. Looks a lot like lemonade...pale yellow and cloudy. It's tasting very nice though. Some yeast flavor, but both sweet and tart. Surprisingly smooth.
10 Jul 09: Temp: 78F / Gravity: 0.998 +2 = 1.000. Only lightly clouded now. Still has a honey odor. Lemon (flavor), tartness and honey flavor all coming through nicely. Racked to secondary.
14 Jul 09: Temp: 76F / Gravity: 0.998 + 2 = 1.000. This mead seems to be done fermenting. Almost completely clear. Nice honey smell. Sample has a good light lemon and honey flavor. Neither flavor is overwhelming. It has a slight dry finish. Smooth and easy to drink.
OG: 1.087
FG: 1.000
Potential alcohol: 9.135% ABW / 11.419% ABV This is really smooth. No alcohol bite (fusel oils) or esters.
I'll let it sit a little while longer (a week or so) before bottling and finish up on the notes here.