Melomel Mead

Codename : Westfort Saskatoon Meadu (2025)

We needed to clear out the freezer to make room, so the bag of Saskatoons got turned into a batch of mead. This one will get pasteurised and sweetened at bottling time.

Ingredients 

• 2 Lbs Honey
• 1 Lb 8 oz Frozen Saskatoon berries
• 3.2 L of filtered, spring or distilled water (chlorine in home water is truly bad for mead)
• 7 ml Mangrove Jack M05 mead yeast.
• Yeast energiser (follow fermentation directions below)
• 10 ml acid blend at secondary

Vital Stats

• BJCP Style : Melomel
• Anticipated ABV : 13.5%
• Original SG : 1.085
• Target SG : 0.981
• Brewhouse (in)efficiency : 99%

Brew Day

• Sanitise everything required for fermentation.
• Add the raspberries to the fermenter.
• Prepare 3.2L strike water at about 80F, this is to simply aid the honey to dissolve more effectively.
• Add the berries and honey to the fermenter, allow it to dissolve and incorporate. Shake, stir, whatever is needed to mix it together and introduce oxygen.
• Calibrate the refractometer, aka the sonic screwdriver.
• Allow it to cool to room temp.
• Prepare the yeast mixture.
• Pitch the yeast to the fermenter.
• Put the airlock on the fermenter.
• Store in a cool dark place for primary fermentation for 14-28 days.

Fermenting

• On day 2 of fermentation, add 1/4 tsp of yeast nutrient (or energiser).
• On day 4 of fermentation, add 1/4 tsp of yeast nutrient (or energiser).
• On day 6 of fermentation add 1/4 tsp of yeast nutrient (or energiser)
• Occasionally monitor the mead for meagre fermentation/bubbling late in the fermentation process, along with sediment build up on the bottom of the carboy.
• Between days 21-28, transfer the mead to a clean/sterile carboy. The day count is a guideline, rack it once everything is settled and clear.
• After an additional 28 days, you can bottle your mead.

Bottling Day

• Detailed instructions.
• This batch will be pasteurised and sweetened, the amount of honey will be determined later.
• Bottle condition at least 4 weeks, longer is better!

Brew Notes

• Normally I had a cup of steeped tea, but I forgot this time. Oops. Not the worst thing. Go ahead, add it for yourself if you are going to try this recipe.

Brew day : 30-Mar-2025