Hollis’s Brew Log

Making many meads in Meridian, and writing it down

Batch #004: Ravenna Blvd. Mead

Batch Size
5 gal
Starting Gravity
1.098

A very Seattle flavor profile, but also hopefully accessible. Berry meads are crowd-pleasers, and I’m just going to add a little backing note of rosemary. I love berries and herbs, and both of these can be found growing wild across Seattle. I strongly associate both with walking through Ravenna along its namesake boulevard.

Most Recent Update

Added pectinase, pitched yeast

  • 2½ tsp pectinase
  • 10g Lalvin 71B wine yeast
  • 2½ tsp LD Carlson Yeast Energizer (DAP)
  • 5 tsp LD Carlson Yeast Nutrient

Measured the initial gravity at 1.098 (potential ABV of ~13%).

Stirred in the pectinase and waited an hour while rehydrating the yeast. Once the yeast had awakened and the pectinase had been in for an hour, I stirred in the yeast, nutrient, and energizer.

Full Log

Mixed must

  • 10 lbs honey
  • 10 lbs blackberries, frozen for 72 hours
  • 2.88 gallons bottled spring water
  • 5 campden tablets

I froze the blackberries for a few days to ensure I didn’t lose any due to spoilage, but also to break cell walls. Today I mixed all the must ingredients and sterilized it with some campden tablets.

IfWhen I do this again, I’ll allow a bit more defrosting time. The berries still being mostly frozen chilled the must, which made it harder to get the honey mixed in.

Added pectinase, pitched yeast

  • 2½ tsp pectinase
  • 10g Lalvin 71B wine yeast
  • 2½ tsp LD Carlson Yeast Energizer (DAP)
  • 5 tsp LD Carlson Yeast Nutrient

Measured the initial gravity at 1.098 (potential ABV of ~13%).

Stirred in the pectinase and waited an hour while rehydrating the yeast. Once the yeast had awakened and the pectinase had been in for an hour, I stirred in the yeast, nutrient, and energizer.