apple-honey-butter-mead/process.md

Process Guide — Apple Honey Butter Mead

Phase 0 — Before brew day

• Confirm a 5 gallon carboy or other low-headspace secondary plan is available before primary completes. If only the 3 gallon carboy is available, rack the best 3 gallons to secondary and use the remainder separately.
• Confirm apple cider/juice has no sorbate/benzoate.
• Confirm yeast, nutrient, pectic enzyme, sanitizer, and hydrometer are ready.
• Decide whether to start with 7.5 or 8 lb honey.
  • Safer first target: start with 7.5 lb, measure gravity, adjust only if needed.

Phase 1 — Brew day

1. Clean first, sanitize second.
2. Add cider/juice + honey to bucket.
3. Mix thoroughly.
4. Top to 4 gallons.
5. Measure OG and temperature.
6. Add pectic enzyme per label.
7. Rehydrate/pitch yeast.
8. Attach lid/airlock.
9. Record everything.

Phase 2 — Early fermentation

• T+24h: degas, add Fermaid O if active/appropriate.
• T+48h: degas, add Fermaid O.
• T+72h: degas, add Fermaid O.
• Day 5 or 1/3 sugar break: check gravity/activity; possible final nutrient addition.

Phase 3 — Primary completion

• Wait for gravity to drop and stabilize.
• Do not rely on bubbles alone.
• Do not rack while gravity is still falling quickly unless troubleshooting.

Phase 4 — Secondary

• Rack to clean/sanitized carboy after gravity is stable or near stable and primary is substantially complete.
• Minimize oxygen/splashing.
• Let clear/age.

Phase 5 — Stabilize

Only when gravity is stable and fermentation is done:

1. Add potassium metabisulfite/Campden per label for the actual stabilized volume.
2. Add potassium sorbate per label for the actual stabilized volume.
3. Wait at least 24 hours.

Phase 6 — Flavoring

Use bench trials before full-batch additions.

Likely order:

1. Honey backsweetening.
2. Vanilla.
3. Cinnamon/warm spice.
4. Tiny butter/butterscotch extract if wanted.
5. Salt/acid/tannin if needed.
6. Rest and retaste.

Phase 7 — Aging and bottling

• Let flavor integrate.
• Confirm no renewed fermentation.
• Bottle only when stable and tasting good.