2026-02b · Solbær melomel — The Garden Orchard

Kind: mead Stage: primary Volume: 7.5 L + 0.5 kg solbær Style: blackcurrant melomel, fruited at primary Vessel: 10 L glass demijohn, cider shed Started: 2026-08-09

Sibling of 2026-02a — one must, split at pitch. The fruit is the only variable between them.

Vitals

OG	1.085 +~2 pts from fruit
Volume	7.5 L
Addition	Solbær 0.5 kg · 67 g/L
Honey	~2.2 kg Moldovan, ~2 yr old
Yeast	Lalvin 71B
Nutrient	Fermaid O, 2.2 g × 4 doses
Tannin	Tannoblanc ~0.63 g
Enzyme	Zymex pectinase 4 g
SO₂	none
pH	?
FG
ABV	~11.4% if dry

As built

Same must as 02a (see its As built). This vessel took 7.5 L, plus 0.5 kg frozen solbær bagged — the holed bag, so some berries escaped; they'll settle into the lees. 4 g pectinase the same evening, before any alcohol — blackcurrant carries its own pectin. Pack expired 03/2023, activity uncertain.

Nutrient schedule

Same as 02a: 2.2 g Fermaid O on Mon 10, Tue 11, Wed 12 Aug, and at the 1/3 break (~1.057) or Sun 16 Aug. Stir daily until the break, nothing after.

Log

2026-08-09 — pitched

Split from the shared must, fruit and pectinase in, under airlock, into the shed.

Watchpoints

Lift the fruit bag once primary is done.
Fruit sugar will finish it slightly stronger than 02a.
If it drops clear early, the expired pectinase still had activity.
Sulfite decision belongs at bottling, not here. Same as 02a: ~50 ppm free SO₂ at a late racking, mandatory if back-sweetened.

Verdict

Score /5 and a sentence, when it's drunk.