MEADMAKINGINSTRUCTIONS
To begin make sure all equipment that will have mead in it is sanitized (jug, stopper, airlock - recomended sanitizer is Logic One Step Cleanser
Basic Ingredients: 2.5 gallons of preferred honey (more depending on what your going for) 1 gallon of water 1 package of preferred yeast (wine/bread)
pour 1 gallon of fresh water into a gallon jug and put half of your preferred honey. Make sure to mix the solution, this will become your must optional step: add spices or fruit
Attach the airlock and fill to mark with a mix of water and sanitizer place in a cool (62 - 74 degree F) dark place for 2 -3 weeks (or longer) or until airlock stops bubbling (this indicates fermentation has stopped
Use a siphon or racking cane with hose to move your mead from the jug to another sanitized vessell (this is called racking to remove built up sediment (dead yeast) leave the yeast sediment and other particulates at the bottom being mindful not to stir them during racking.
you should be able to fill the jug with approximately .75 - 1 gallon of mead due to sediment loss
Attach the sanitized rubber stopper to the top of the jug and omve the airlock from the bucket lid to the stopper - Once racking is complete keep in a cool/dark place for another 4-12 weeks (1 month - 1 year+)
Bottling Once your satisfied with the aging process take the mead from your gallon jug and fill sanitized bottles until finished, make sure to cork finished bottles for your mead (it will continue to age) Sanitize the bottles, siphon, racking cane, hosing, bottle filler and anything else that you use to touch mead. attach your hosing to the end of your siphon/racking cane and attach the bottle filler to the other end (Fermtech Mini Siphon) Fill your bottles
Aging Avoid temptation to drink it for 3 - 6 months (or longer). At this point the mead is still very young and will have a strong alcohol taste put the bottles in a refrigerator until they are chilled Carbonated Mead will contain some sediment on the bottom due to carbination process. You will want to pour it gently so as to not disturb the setiment and keep your mead clear.