Started making mead a couple months ago, and I've done a few small batches now (pictured are batches 5, 6, and 7). A couple of beginner questions:

  1. Adding Fermaid O -- for those that use it, do you dissolve it in something before adding it? It clumps like hell if I add it directly. The package just says to add it, doesn't give a method. Today I tried dissolving it in a small pull from each batch, but it felt like a lot of work. I was going to just dissolve it in some (unchlorinated) water when I add it tomorrow. What do y'all do for that?

  2. With my very first batch, the first time I added the nutrients I got with my kit, I earned my carboy-overfloweth badge (a gentle shake resulted in a delightful fountain display). I bought Fermaid O for subsequent batches, and I've gotten no significant reaction when adding it, even after a shake. Should I be getting more of a reaction?

  3. Sanitizing--once something is sanitized, like a spoon for instance, do you think it's okay to rinse it with tap water and set it on a paper towel, then use it again? Or in a more general sense, are a few drops of tap water going to affect a gallon of mead significantly?

Thanks!

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[–] [S] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

Thanks for the input! I do have and use oxygen-based sanitizer, which I use on all of my carboys and fermentation vessels (anything that will stay in contact for a while), and I'll sanitize my other equipment while I'm at it. But there are times when I want to rinse a spoon (that had previously been sanitized) and use it again. Sounding like that's not an issue as long as the tap water is potable.

For the main water in my mead, I use filtered water from my fridge. Takes out the worst of the chlorine and other off flavors, and has worked great so far. I was just nervous because in other things I've read, some people insist on spring or distilled water, which seems over the top when you live in a place with drinkable tap water.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago

    if you're in Canada (as your username suggests) I think you should be able to find Star San. It's a nice no-rinse sanitizer that's easy to use. It's phosphoric acid based so basically breaks down to phosphorus and becomes a nutrient for the yeast.

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