First Batch of Mead

[jarandhel]

Ok, first batch of mead is in the fermenter, however I think I may have made a boneheaded mistake and added the yeast while it was still too hot, with the likely result of killing the yeast. I thought the cold water already in the fermenter would absorb more heat than it actually did, and I didn't think to check that assumption before dropping the yeast in. Approximately how long should beer yeast take to cause visible fermentation of 8.5 gallons of must? My trial runs took only a day or two to start visible fermentation, but they were significantly smaller amounts of must, and used rapidrise bread yeast which is apparently known for creating larger amounts of carbon dioxide (and lower amounts of alcohol.)

Comments

[hasufin.livejournal.com]

Well, you could throw in a bit more activated yeast now that it's cool. It's very important for the yeast to get a foothold before other organisms invade.

However, you should see some bubbling within the next 1-2 days. Three at the outside.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I used all the beer yeast I had on hand.

[hasufin.livejournal.com]

Well, that might present a bit of a problem.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I might have to get down to the homebrew store and pick up some more, and just toss it in just in case.