When should I rack for the first time?

[GrillMonkey]

I started a mead 8 days ago.

The air lock is going every 9/10 seconds so all is good but there is about half a centimetre of sediment on the bottom of the demijohn.

Is that ok or should I rack it off the sediment?

Thanks,
Steve

[lockwood1956]

I normally rack into a glass DJ when the Specific Gravity reaches 1.010 if I'm fermenting in a bucket, but if Im fermenting in a DJ I let it finish where it is and rack once it's done, the sediment wont hurt it if its only a few days
regards
Bob

[Duffbeer]

Also to add to the above, it can depend on what your fermenting, if it's juice etc and you have fine lees then it's OK, but if your fermenting a fruit pulp then it needs to be racked at 1.030/1.010. Gross lees ie: pulp fermented fruit is more likely to give off flavours if not racked at the right time, fine lees (juice only) is generaly OK for a longer periods but not long term.

[GrillMonkey]

Thanks, it's not fruit and I've just taken a reading. It's at 1.054 so I'll leave it a few more days before racking.

[fatbloke]

Mead can be funny old stuff.

I've had some batches that clear easily, and others that have taken for ever.

I'd say that Bob's and Karls suggestions for racking at the 1010 are excellent - either that, or search for "Joe Mattioli's Ancient Orange" because that's got to be the easiest recipe to follow.

You just make it, don't meddle with it. When it's clear, you can rack it off the sediment/lees (whether you'd wait for the fruit to drop is up to you), but if the recipe is followed it's quite hard to make a bad batch.

Oh, and if you haven't made mead before, be aware, that sometimes, when it's first made, it will taste like mouthwash (Ken Schramm likens it to Listerine in his book).

If it turns out like that, don't bin it. Just rack/clear it in whatever way is usual for you and then leave it, stoppered, in a DJ too age (or you can bottle it and age it that way). The medicinal/mouthwash taste will disappear.

Plus, most meads benefit, big time, from at least 6 months (a year would be better) ageing.

regards

JtFB

p.s. Oh and if you're a "mead fan", then try making it with different honey's - you'll be amazed at the difference that can make.

[GrillMonkey]

Just rack/clear it in whatever way is usual for you and then leave it, stoppered, in a DJ too age

Nothing is usual to me, I've just got into this hobby Started my first brew off a couple of weeks ago.

I've got a mead (following your recipe), a wine #1 from the beginners forum and a strawberry wine from tinned strawberries all on the go and I've got some "turbo" cider hopefully ready to drink in a week.

So I've got all that on the go, not tasted one yet and had to stop myself from going to buy another demijohn or two and get some other wines going lol

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll be back soon with more questions, I'm sure

[fatbloke]

Nothing is usual to me, I've just got into this hobby Started my first brew off a couple of weeks ago.

I've got a mead (following your recipe), a wine #1 from the beginners forum and a strawberry wine from tinned strawberries all on the go and I've got some "turbo" cider hopefully ready to drink in a week.

So I've got all that on the go, not tasted one yet and had to stop myself from going to buy another demijohn or two and get some other wines going lol

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll be back soon with more questions, I'm sure

Ha ha! outstanding.

And yes I fully understand what it's like when it gets infectious

It depends on which part of Hampshire you're in (I'm next door in W. Sussex), but I've got plenty of half gallon DJ's available, which I use for storage when I need a gallon one for a recipe. They just need a clean up and a cork/stopper (check out any of the 1/2 gallon DJ threads in the equipment section) - end of sales plug

It can be handy to register on the local freecycle as there's often plenty of freebies to be had there and periodically there's also cheap glassware to be had on ebay as well - though you often have to collect yourself due to the cost of shipping glass.

Here's the link for the Ancient Orange mead recipe. It's the easiest one I've found. I currently have 5 gallons of it on the go, but some are made with bread yeast, some with wine yeast, some with orange, some with lemon or lime or both.

regards

JtFB