Filtering mead

[GrillMonkey]

I'm making my first mead at the moment and I was thinking foreward to the clearing stage. I really want the mead to be crystal clear and was thinking of buying the harris filter or something simular.

Does using a filter remove any of the taste from the mead?

Also can anyone answer the same question in terms of wine aswell.

Many thanks,
Steve

[Duffbeer]

Probably the best money you could invest, the Harris filter is a great peice of kit for the money and gives your finished wine that super sparkle.
I do not believe that it removes any taste or colour that would not already drop out with time, it will work perfectly well for both wine and mead, but you must ensure they are clear before filtering or the filter will block. It is a polishing tool not a clearing aid.

[Mamgiowl]

I agree wholeheartedly. It's a great piece of kit, but as Duff says, let the wine/mead clear first.

[Richard S]

One of the few useful things that I have done for the forum was a tutorial on using the Harris filter. Hit the link and at the very least, look at the before and after pics.

http://www.winesathome.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=34748#post34748

[fatbloke]

I'm making my first mead at the moment and I was thinking foreward to the clearing stage. I really want the mead to be crystal clear and was thinking of buying the harris filter or something simular.

Does using a filter remove any of the taste from the mead?

Also can anyone answer the same question in terms of wine aswell.

Many thanks,
Steve

Steve, you could just rack it off the lees and then just leave it to clear naturally,

Or,

You can add some finings and clear it that way.

Whichever you prefer (I let my meads clear naturally), you may find that when it's first finished fermenting, that it tastes absolutely horrible, almost like mouthwash or some medicinal.

This isn't a problem because that flavour will disappear with age - meads often require 6 months plus to age.

So let it age, irrespective of any taste/flavour problems which you'll notice the improvements in flavour.

Only filter it prior to bottling as it give it a "final polish" in it's appearance.

Oh and you'll also see references to "minijet" in some posts - it's a powered "plate" filter. Very good, by all accounts, but it still won't filter wines still heavy with sediment - it just blocks the filter.

Hence you have to let it clear (unless you like the taste I'd imagine ).

regards

JtFB

[lockwood1956]

Does using a filter remove any of the taste from the mead?

Also can anyone answer the same question in terms of wine aswell.

Many thanks,
Steve

Filtering will not affect the wine, as it is only taking out what would have dropped out anyway...and only filter clear wines and meads.

Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise...the taste will be affected for a short while but wiill return to normal...just the same as when you bottle...the wine gets "shocked" and needs a little lie down to recover

regards bob

[GrillMonkey]

Thanks for the replys.

I have a further question. I'm currently have a mead brewing in my demijohn. It's been going for a couple of days. Do I need to stir/swirl it occasionally or should I just let it sit?

Thanks once again.
Steve

[lockwood1956]

Once its underway, and its fermenting well, I would just let it run...the yeasties know what to

regards
Bob

[fatbloke]

Thanks for the replys.

I have a further question. I'm currently have a mead brewing in my demijohn. It's been going for a couple of days. Do I need to stir/swirl it occasionally or should I just let it sit?

Thanks once again.
Steve

I do, basically as Bob suggests.

Though it's fair to point out, that if you go and read stuff at gotmead, then you'll see other methods where they aerate at certain periods, or add additional nutrients, etc etc. I feel that these other methods are probably worthy of trying, but I suspect that they are peculiar to meads as honey is famously short of nutrients etc and you can easily "stall" a ferment that runs out while the yeasties are still doing their thing. It can take just the addition of extra nutrients to get it going again, just do it in small quantities, you wouldn't want to add too much incase it causes "off flavours".

regards

JtFB