I'm brewing some mead

[Kriegsspiel]

Ok cool.  I'm planning on just leaving the whole mess in the jug for the next several months.  Now, is it still necessary to keep the "airlock" (balloon with a hole in it) on, or could I just put a cap on it and put it in the fridge, now that the yeast have done their job?

[Zaga]

Ok cool.  I'm planning on just leaving the whole mess in the jug for the next several months.  Now, is it still necessary to keep the "airlock" (balloon with a hole in it) on, or could I just put a cap on it and put it in the fridge, now that the yeast have done their job?

I always let the yeast settle at basement temperature, about 60 degrees, with the airlock on.  Just because the yeast is mostly done, doesn't mean it's completely done!  If you refrigerate it, then when you bring it out the remaining yeast could start again and cause corks to fly.  If you let it be at room temp with a rubber stopper without a hole then the stopper could pop.  Best to keep the airlock for a while yet.

[grantmeaname]

Mead is going to take a long time before it tastes good, too. I definitely wouldn't drink it the first month at all, and you'll notice a night and day difference at around 3 months, so you may want to wait that long if you can stand it...

[Zaga]

Mead is going to take a long time before it tastes good, too. I definitely wouldn't drink it the first month at all, and you'll notice a night and day difference at around 3 months, so you may want to wait that long if you can stand it...

And at 2 years it's heavenly!

[Kriegsspiel]

I was going to wait until it's about 6 months old before I tried it, which would be around mid June.  So just leave the balloon on till then?

[Zaga]

I was going to wait until it's about 6 months old before I tried it, which would be around mid June.  So just leave the balloon on till then?

That's what I would do, except maybe around 3-4 months transfer to a new container all but the sediment at the bottom.

[Kriegsspiel]

So I just transferred it from the ballooned jug to some empty glass containers, and I couldn't help but try a bit.

Blech.

Now I have to wash my mouth out with some Franzia.  Here's hoping that it gets better after sitting in the fridge for another few months!

[Kriegsspiel]

I haven't noticed any bubbles in this first batch in a while, so I just put the caps on (I used a glass handle of whiskey, one of the lever open bottles, and a regular canning jar).  Since there was no more bubbling, I'm assuming they aren't going to explode one day, right? 

[Mechanista]

I've been home brewing beer for years. I find I can make great beer for about half what the local microbrew prices are. This is after a substantial and probably unnecessary equipment investment in my pre-enlightened years.

www.homebrewtalk.com can be a good resource if you are just getting started. If I had DIYed more when first starting I could have saved a ton. I just built a stir plate for my yeast starters with about $10 for example.

Haven't tried mead yet, but I just picked up a second hand copy of The Compleat Meadmaker and am about to try.

If I enjoyed wine more I'd probably try that too, but it's just not my thing.

cheers! :)

[beyondhuman]

If there are no bubbles then it probably will not break the bottle but it is possible because the yeast may still be working just on too small/slow a scale for you to see.

It sounds like this particular batch didn't work out too well which is typical for a first batch.

If you try it again I would suggest these changes.
1) get an airlock.  it costs ~$1 (diy for less) and makes a big difference, the balloon has probably left a rubbery taste to your mead as well as letting air in which oxidizes the brew (bad tasting)
2) use a glass jug.  not as important as the air lock but since you're already drinking franzia. go pick up a carlo rossi jug.  it is only a slightly worse value ~$10 for 4L and comes in a perfect 4L glass carboy
3)I'd what recipe you used but for a beginner 'Joe's Ancient Orange Mead' is the best bet but zest & juice the oranges dont just toss them in.

it may improve some with age but first batches are always bad, keep at it this hobby is fun and very mustachian

[Zaga]

We went to a party this weekend with 4 flavors of mead.  All were very well received and disappeared quickly!

[grantmeaname]

We bottled our three month old mead today. Smells nice, still tastes like shit. I bet it will be great at Christmas.