Sparkling Session Hydromel
A light, sparkling mead around 6% ABV. Ready in weeks instead of months, and easy to drink on a summer afternoon.
Sparkling Session Hydromel is a dry hydromel made with clover honey and Lalvin EC-1118 yeast, fermented from an original gravity of 1.045 to 1.000 for about 5.9% ABV. It is drinkable in 6–8 weeks.
- Original gravity
- 1.045
- Final gravity
- 1.000
- ABV
- 5.9%
- Drinkable in
- 6–8 weeks
Ingredients
Amounts are for a 1-gallon batch.
| 1.25 lb | Clover honey |
| to volume | WaterTo 1 gallon total. |
| 2.5 g | Lalvin EC-1118 yeastClean and fast. |
| 1.5 g | Fermaid-OTwo additions are enough at this gravity. |
| 0.25 oz | Priming sugarCorn sugar, for bottle conditioning. |
Method
Mix and pitchDissolve the honey, aim for about 1.045, and pitch at 65 °F.
Feed lightlyAdd nutrients at 24 and 48 hours.
Confirm dryWhen gravity reads 1.000 or below for three days running, rack off the lees.
Prime and bottleDissolve the priming sugar in a little boiled water, stir it in gently, and bottle in pressure-rated bottles. Condition 2–3 weeks at room temperature.
Brewer's note. Use only bottles made for carbonation. Never prime a mead that hasn't been confirmed dry.
Recipe by White Shed Meadery, Chehalis, Washington. ABV is estimated from gravity: (OG − FG) × 131.25. Scale every ingredient in proportion for larger batches.