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wine:small_batch_mead_strawberry_wine [2026/05/02 13:10] – created 192.168.1.189wine:small_batch_mead_strawberry_wine [2026/05/02 13:10] (current) – 192.168.1.189
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-🍓🍯 Honor & Oak – Small Batch Mead & Strawberry Wine (1 Gallon System) +====== 🍓🍯 Honor & Oak – Small Batch Mead & Strawberry Wine (1 Gallon System) ====== 
-📌 Purpose+ 
 +===== 📌 Purpose =====
  
 Run repeatable 1-gallon test batches to dial in: Run repeatable 1-gallon test batches to dial in:
  
-Flavor profiles +  * Flavor profiles 
-Fruit ratios +  * Fruit ratios 
-Honey vs sugar balance +  * Honey vs sugar balance 
-Fermentation performance +  * Fermentation performance
-🧪 Batch Overview (A/B/C Test) +
-A — Traditional Mead +
-3 lb honey +
-Water to 1 gallon +
-Target OG: ~1.090–1.100 +
-B — Strawberry Mead +
-3 lb honey +
-~3 lb strawberries +
-Water to ~1 gallon +
-Target OG: ~1.095–1.110 +
-C — Strawberry Wine (Sugar) +
-~3 lb strawberries +
-2–2.5 lb sugar +
-Water to ~1 gallon +
-Target OG: ~1.085–1.095 +
-🍓 Fruit Prep (Critical) +
-Freeze strawberries +
-Thaw completely +
-Lightly crush (do NOT puree)+
  
-Optional:+----
  
-Add pectic enzyme → wait 30 min +===== 🧪 Batch Overview (A/B/C Test) =====
-⚙️ Build Process +
-Step 1 – Mix +
-Dissolve sugar (Batch C) in warm water +
-Add honey (A & B) +
-Add strawberries (B & C) +
-Top with water (leave headspace) +
-Step 2 – Oxygenate +
-Shake vigorously 1–2 minutes +
-Step 3 – Measure +
-Take hydrometer reading +
-Record OG +
-Step 4 – Yeast + Nutrients+
  
-Yeast:+==== A — Traditional Mead ====
  
-EC-1118 +  * 3 lb honey 
-~½ packet per gallon+  * Water to 1 gallon 
 +  * Target OG: ~1.090–1.100
  
-Nutrients (Fermaid O):+----
  
-Total: 1 tsp per gallon +==== B — Strawberry Mead ====
-Day 0: ½ tsp +
-Day 2–3: ½ tsp +
-🌡️ Fermentation Conditions +
-Temp: 65–72°F +
-Out of direct sunlight +
-Fruit batches: allow extra headspace or use blowoff tube +
-⏱️ Fermentation Timeline +
-Day 0 +
-Pitch yeast +
-Add first nutrient +
-Day 1–3 +
-Active fermentation +
-Foam forms +
-Fruit rises+
  
-Action:+  * 3 lb honey 
 +  * ~3 lb strawberries 
 +  * Water to ~1 gallon 
 +  * Target OG: ~1.095–1.110
  
-Punch down fruit cap 1–2x/day +----
-Day 2–3 +
-Add second nutrient dose +
-Day 4–6 (CRITICAL) +
-Rack fruit batches (B & C) off strawberries+
  
-Do NOT exceed ~7 days on fruit+==== C — Strawberry Wine (Sugar) ====
  
-Week 2–3 +  * ~3 lb strawberries 
-Rack all batches off sediment (lees) +  * 2–2.5 lb sugar 
-🍓 Fruit Cap Management +  * Water to ~1 gallon 
-Push down daily +  * Target OG: ~1.085–1.095
-Keep all fruit wet +
-Prevents mold + improves extraction +
-⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes +
-Overfilled fruit batches +
-Risk: overflow +
-Fix: blowoff tube or reduce volume +
-No activity in first 12 hours +
-Normal +
-Expect activity within 24 hours +
-Harsh / hot alcohol +
-Usually nutrient issue +
-Fix: proper Fermaid O schedule +
-Bitter / vegetal taste +
-Fruit left too long +
-Fix: rack earlier (Day 4–5) +
-📊 Batch Tracking Template +
-Batch: A / B / C +
-Date Started: +
-Ingredients: +
-OG: +
-Yeast: +
-Nutrient Schedule: +
-Temp:+
  
-Day 1 Notes: +----
-Day 3 Notes: +
-Day 5 Notes:+
  
-Rack Date: +===== 🍓 Fruit Prep (Critical) =====
-Final Gravity (FG): +
-ABV (est):+
  
-Taste Notes: +  - Freeze strawberries 
-Changes for Next Batch: +  - Thaw completely 
-🧠 Lessons Learned +  - Lightly crush (do NOT puree) 
-Honey = body, complexity, slower fermentation + 
-Sugar = faster, brighter, fruit-forward +**Optional:** 
-Fruit load impacts: + 
-Color +  * Add pectic enzyme → wait 30 min 
-flavor intensity + 
-fermentation speed +---- 
-🔄 Iteration Strategy+ 
 +===== ⚙️ Build Process ===== 
 + 
 +==== Step 1 – Mix ==== 
 + 
 +  * Dissolve sugar (Batch C) in warm water 
 +  * Add honey (A & B) 
 +  * Add strawberries (B & C) 
 +  * Top with water (leave headspace) 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Step 2 – Oxygenate ==== 
 + 
 +  * Shake vigorously 1–2 minutes 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Step 3 – Measure ==== 
 + 
 +  * Take hydrometer reading 
 +  * Record OG 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Step 4 – Yeast + Nutrients ==== 
 + 
 +**Yeast:** 
 + 
 +  * EC-1118 
 +  * ~½ packet per gallon 
 + 
 +**Nutrients (Fermaid O):** 
 + 
 +  * Total: 1 tsp per gallon 
 +  * Day 0: ½ tsp 
 +  * Day 2–3: ½ tsp 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== 🌡️ Fermentation Conditions ===== 
 + 
 +  * Temp: 65–72°F 
 +  * Out of direct sunlight 
 +  * Fruit batches: allow extra headspace or use blowoff tube 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== ⏱️ Fermentation Timeline ===== 
 + 
 +==== Day 0 ==== 
 + 
 +  * Pitch yeast 
 +  * Add first nutrient 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Day 1–3 ==== 
 + 
 +  * Active fermentation 
 +  * Foam forms 
 +  * Fruit rises 
 + 
 +**Action:** 
 + 
 +  * Punch down fruit cap 1–2x/day 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Day 2–3 ==== 
 + 
 +  * Add second nutrient dose 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Day 4–6 (CRITICAL) ==== 
 + 
 +  * Rack fruit batches (B & C) off strawberries 
 + 
 +**Do NOT exceed ~7 days on fruit** 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Week 2–3 ==== 
 + 
 +  * Rack all batches off sediment (lees) 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== 🍓 Fruit Cap Management ===== 
 + 
 +  * Push down daily 
 +  * Keep all fruit wet 
 +  * Prevents mold + improves extraction 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== ⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes ===== 
 + 
 +==== Overfilled fruit batches ==== 
 + 
 +  * Risk: overflow 
 +  * Fix: blowoff tube or reduce volume 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== No activity in first 12 hours ==== 
 + 
 +  * Normal 
 +  * Expect activity within 24 hours 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Harsh / hot alcohol ==== 
 + 
 +  * Usually nutrient issue 
 +  * Fix: proper Fermaid O schedule 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +==== Bitter / vegetal taste ==== 
 + 
 +  * Fruit left too long 
 +  * Fix: rack earlier (Day 4–5) 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== 📊 Batch Tracking Template ===== 
 + 
 +<code -> 
 +Batch: A / B / CDate Started:Ingredients:OG:Yeast:Nutrient Schedule:Temp:Day 1 Notes:Day 3 Notes:Day 5 Notes:Rack Date:Final Gravity (FG):ABV (est):Taste Notes:Changes for Next Batch: 
 +</code> 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== 🧠 Lessons Learned ===== 
 + 
 +  * Honey = body, complexity, slower fermentation 
 +  * Sugar = faster, brighter, fruit-forward 
 +  * Fruit load impacts: 
 +    * Color 
 +    * flavor intensity 
 +    * fermentation speed 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== 🔄 Iteration Strategy =====
  
 Adjust ONE variable per batch: Adjust ONE variable per batch:
  
-Fruit amount +  * Fruit amount 
-Honey vs sugar +  * Honey vs sugar 
-OG (strength) +  * OG (strength) 
-Yeast strain +  * Yeast strain 
-🎯 Product Direction + 
-Traditional Mead → baseline / aging product +---- 
-Strawberry Mead → balanced signature candidate + 
-Strawberry Wine → fast, approachable product +===== 🎯 Product Direction ===== 
-🚀 Future Improvements + 
-Add acid balance (lemon or acid blend) +  * Traditional Mead → baseline / aging product 
-Secondary fruit additions for cleaner flavor +  * Strawberry Mead → balanced signature candidate 
-Stabilize + backsweeten for consistency +  * Strawberry Wine → fast, approachable product 
-Scale to 3–5 gallon batches once dialed + 
-🏁 Goal+---- 
 + 
 +===== 🚀 Future Improvements ===== 
 + 
 +  * Add acid balance (lemon or acid blend) 
 +  * Secondary fruit additions for cleaner flavor 
 +  * Stabilize + backsweeten for consistency 
 +  * Scale to 3–5 gallon batches once dialed 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 +===== 🏁 Goal =====
  
 Move from: Move from:
  
-“good batch”+>“good batch”
  
 To: To:
  
-repeatable, branded product (Honor & Oak Mead & Wine)+>**repeatable, branded product (Honor & Oak Mead & Wine)** 
 + 
wine/small_batch_mead_strawberry_wine.txt · Last modified: by 192.168.1.189
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