This is the perfect low-stakes batch kit to go with our 1 gallon mead making equipment kit.
Ingredient kits include honey, yeast, rehydration nutrient and yeast nutrient as well as detailed instructions and brew log.
What a Semi-Sweet, Traditional Mead based on Orange Blossom Honey is like:
Aroma: Orange blossom right up front, not just sweet honey, but actual orange blossom perfume, jasmine, light citrus zest, orange marmalade. 71B adds a background of apricot / ripe pear / white peach.
Flavor:Front: Bright orange blossom honey, light citrus, a little vanilla from the honey. Fermentation esters: tropical fruit salad, strawberry / banana esters, very soft acidity
Finish: Should land semi-sweet at 1.010 - 1.018. Not cloying. The orange blossom finish is long and slightly floral-bitter like orange peel pith, which balances the sweetness. 71B leaves it round, not hot.
How Long The Process Takes
Days 1-5: Active fermentation - Very active, needs daily degas + feed. Looks messy, smells like bread/beer/orange.
Days 7-14: Slow down - Bubbles drop from every few seconds to 1 per 30 seconds. This is your rack signal.
Days 10-14: RACK to 1-gal jug - Leave lees behind. This is where it starts to clear.
Days 14-35: Clearing in jug - Should go from cloudy orange juice to brilliant gold. 71B is a medium flocculator — it drops clear fairly fast. 3 weeks typical. No need to touch it, just airlock on.
Day 35-45: Ready to bottle - When it's crystal clear and you can read through the jug.
Finished mead with be bottled "STILL" without carbonation bubbles. (Recommended for this kit)
Bottling Options to Consider (no bottles included with this kit)
1. Standard 750ml, 375mL or 187mL wine bottles + corks + hand corker
Or recycled screw-top wine bottles - fine for first batch
Looks premium, perfect for gifting. Corked wine bottles can never be used for future carbonated mead projects. Corks will pop out.
2. Swing-Top / EZ-Cap Bottles (Easiest for beginners)
16oz (1/2 Liter) - no corker needed
Great for first-timers, reusable, good seal. Capable of carbonated meads in the future.
3. Beer Bottles + Caps + Hand Capper tool
12oz brown beer bottles
Works fine, but not as pretty for a mead gift. Cheapest bottles. Capable of carbonated meads in the future.
