Looking for some neat ideas/quality of life improvements aka lifehacks I guess

  • CaptPretentious@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Thanks for the tip! I might do that, cause yeah this will be first. What do you mean by nutrients? Is that something I should be looking for? I assumed everything I’d need should be in the kit (except honey) so I’d like to make sure.

    • jivandabeast@lemmy.browntown.dev
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      8 months ago

      So i don’t know what kit you have or what it came with but here’s everything I would use:

      Equipment:

      • Star San (make sure everything is sanitized, also don’t rinse this stuff out – “don’t fear the foam”)
      • Airlock (and bung)
      • Fermenter (I like big mouth bubblers, but your kit should have come with something)
      • A spoon

      Ingredients:

      • Honey (I do 3lbs per gal)
      • Water (I use store bought water, because I’m paranoid lol)
      • If you’re using fresh fruit, pectic enzyme (this helps break down haze in the mead from the fruit)
      • Fermaid-O (this is the nutrients)
      • Wine Tanin (optional, for aging)
      • Yeast (you can get some cheap yeast on Amazon – I used Red Star “Cote Des Blancs” for my strawberry mead, but your kit probably came with this)

      Watch some YouTube videos to get a feel for the process. I enjoy City Stead Brewing, they have tons of recipes and helpful tips. Also, if you’re gonna bottle and stuff you’ll need wine bottles, a siphon and bottling wand, corks, and a corker. You can bottle in swing-top bottles, but I haven’t had good luck with those (apparently they’re not great for long term storage >.>)

      Like i said though, for your first mead it’s probably best to KISS. I appreciate being able to get a feel for the process and then experimenting later on. I’ve only made two meads, but have made wine and a LOT of beer in the past – so if you have more questions just lmk!