I understand what Specific Gravity is and how to take my readings and found calculators to work out my ABV. I mixed my Juice, Water and Honey together and in the case of my Apple Mead the result was an initial SG of 1166 (A little high I know) and after the fermentation seemed to have run its course (EC118 yeast) I took a second reading at 1062 both adjusted for temperature according to the chart that came with my hydrometer. So far so good but when I put my results into an online calculator (Im using Brewers Friend but have similar issues elsewhere) I had a disappointing 13.65% Alcohol but I noticed a setting marked "Alternate equation" which when clicked gives a more reasonable 17.38%. My question is which is correct? After watching a few you tube videos and reading abit there seems to be a lot of confusion about exactly how to calculate this with alot of debate on the topic. This makes me more confused because surely all debate could be settled immediately by using Gas Chromatography to check the result proving which calculations are actually accurate and I feel like someone somewhere must have done this. How can I know the ABV if there are multiple ways to calculate that have such dramatically different results?
I intend to pasteurise my mead before sealing it with a stopper for aging, I was just wondering if a cork stopper in a Demijohn will be safe for 1year aging as I'm not sure cork is 100% airtight.
I intend to pasteurise my mead before sealing it with a stopper for aging, I was just wondering if a cork stopper in a Demijohn will be safe for 1year aging as I'm not sure cork is 100% airtight.