I started my cherry hydromel today (Mead No. 2017-4), but it was quickly clear it was going to be a melomel anyway. I used two 32 oz containers of tart cherry juice from Stop & Shop and two 12 oz containers of honey figuring 1-1/2 lbs in a 1 gallon carboy would make for half the alcohol.
Of course, I didn't account for the sugar in the cherry juice, so the starting gravity was 1.092, or an expected ABV of 12%. Hardly hydromel territory. I just didn't realize the juice plus the honey would take up all that space; I was only able to use 5 cups of water. I wonder If I split it between two carboys and add water to make up the difference would that work?
I may try that, but first I want to see if my yeast reactivates. I pitched Lalvin 7B-1122 yeast and it seemed to do nothing. When I rehydrated it, the yeast sank right to the bottom of the bowl and didn't seem to mix at all. I stirred it a few times, but no activation seemed to occur. I'll give it a day or two and if nothing happens I'll split the must and pitch additional yeast and see if that can get a ferment started.
UPDATE: At around 8:00 pm I checked on the fermentation, and though it wasn't a rolling boil, it was fermenting, so now I just hope I don't wake to an MEA tomorrow.
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