[Hellsgate] Mead making

[Nathan J. Hickson]

I hope that there are a few mead brewers on the list as I have a few questions.

My first batch of mead is fermenting very slowly. I started the batch on 2 August. I used approximately 4 gallons of water, 1 gallon of honey (raw unfiltered), Lalvin D-47 yeast, and about 5 teaspoons of yeast nutrient. The temperature is kept at about 71 degrees.

As of today the fermentation is going very slowly (about one bubble out of the CO2 lock every four seconds). It was fermenting faster last week (about a bubble every second or so).

What could be reasons for the slow fermentation? Could it simply be that it is near the end of the first fermentation cycle?

In Service,

Seamus Conner MacRae
 
Fide et Fortitudine!