Custom Search

Return to Stormthecastle.com
Home


 




I have a youtube channel with over 20 Mead Making Videos

Articles

How to stop the ferment of mead

How to sweeten mead

Should you make 1 gallon of mead or 5 gallons?

Mead Making and Alcohol Content

Some information about Yeast

The Secret Art of Mead Making Revealed

New: 5 Tips for the beginner mead maker

It's all about the Honey - A dramatic look at how important honey is in mead making

For Beginners: How to make your first and easy 1 gallon batch of Mead honey wine

How to make a sparkling champagne style mead

How much does it cost to make a batch of mead? I have the cost breakdown here

How to make a batch of mead today! The fast, easy, and cheap way to your first batch of honey wine

The difference is the honey! A stop motion animation showing two different honeys side by side and how the fermented brew looks

Thinking about designing or buying your wine and mead bottle labels? Here is some information about labels and bottles that will help you

The Magical Transformation of water into wine with pics

How and why to use a hydrometer

How to use a wine thief to test your wine or mead

Dispelling the Myths about Mead

Thoughts about Mead and Wine Making

Important note about Sanitizing your Mead making and wine making equipment

Learning the art of Patience when making wine or mead

How do you know the ferment is working?

Discovering Mead

Mead by any other name

Checking the PH of your Mead to insure good fermentation (video)

Making Flavored Meads


Hi, Thanks for visiting my website. My name is Will and if you have questions
or would like to
contribute projects or ideas you can

Press/Media Kit here

Chemicals Used in Mead Making

This is a listing and explanation of some of the more common chemicals that are used in the process of making mead. Some of these are for sanitiizing equipment and others are for flavor, acidity or nutrition.

 

 

  • Bentonite - This is a type of clay that is used as a clarifier for wine and mead. You add some to the mead and it binds with particles floating in the mead then forms a layer on the bottom so you can rack off the mead and leave all the particles behind. There are many types of bentonite and you should only use the type specifically for wine making. It is inexpensive and comes with specific instructions.

     

    Potassium Sorbate - This is a chemical that is used to prevent restarting of the ferment in mead. It is added just before bottling. It will not stop the ferment but it will prevent a secondary ferment from occurring. This can be desirable because if your bottled mead, over time, starts a new ferment while in the bottle a pressure can build up and burst the bottle or the cork.

     

    Iodophor - This is a sanitizer liquid. It is very effective at sanitizing your equipment when mead making.

     

    "One Step" No Rinse Cleaner - This is a brand name organic cleaner that uses oxygen to clean. It is very convenient because you don't have to rinse your equipment after cleaning with this. It comes in a powder form that you add water to.

     

    C-Brite Cleanser - This is a brand name cleaner and sanitizer used to clean your mead making equipment and utensils.

     

    Bleach - Plain unscented house bleach is an effective sanitizer for your equipment. - "about one tablespoon (1/2 fluid ounce, 15 ml) of typical chlorine bleach per gallon of water is the maximum that should be used for sanitizing food contact surfaces, according to federal regulation".

    Fermaid - This is a brand name nutrient for mead making. It is added to the batch of mead to lend nutrition to the yeast as it grows. This is often a good idea because honey alone can sometimes be a poor nutrient for the yeast. Particularly something to consider if you are just making a plain mead with no fruits.

     

    Acid Blend - This is a wine makers blend of chemicals that raise the PH of mead. It can be very useful in that the yeast will only ferment correctly within a certain range of PH. You should test your mead to see if the acidity needs adjusting. Adjusting the mead with an acid blend also can improve the flavor. Blends like this often combine citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid. It can be added at any point during the ferment. It is often used when bottling to establish the final acidity taste.

     

    Campden tablets - This has dual use and is very common among wine makers. In smaller doses you can use it to sanitize your must or your fruits. It kills wild yeast and bacteria. In larger doses it is used to sanitize equipment.

     

    Sodium Bisulfite - A granulated powder that is used by adding to fruit juices 24 hours before using in your mead. This sanitizes and kills any wild yeast and bacteria. In stronger doses it can be used to sanitize your equipment. It is also used in small doses at bottling to preserve color and flavor of mead.

     

    Potassium Bisulfite - similar to Sodium Bisulfite - A granulated powder that is used by adding to fruit juices 24 hours before using in your mead. This sanitizes and kills any wild yeast and bacteria. In stronger doses it can be used to sanitize your equipment. It is also used in small doses at bottling to preserve color and flavor of mead.

     

    Pectic Enzyme : a chemical used when you are adding fruit to your mead. Pectin is a protein molecule in fruit that can leave your mead cloudy. This enzyme breaks it down and releases more of the fruit. You end up with a tastier and clearer mead.

     

    Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) - This is a nutrient that is often added to mead before the ferment begins.

 

 

 
 

Copyright©2001-2012 Kalif Publishing - Contact, copyright and Disclaimer | Press/Media Kit here