Cranberry New Year Melomel

started 1/1/2002
bottled 3/9/2003

Alcohol 11%
Initial SG 1.086
Final SG 1.004
pH ND TA ND

Tasting Notes

9/20/2003 Color nice clear pink/red color. Cranberry comes through well on the nose and on the tongue. Carries through to a rather long finish. Crisp and sharp with complex notes from the honey. Delightful and refreshing.

4/29/2004 Color is a crystal clear light red. This has a somewhat complex nose with nice bright cranberry overtones. The flavor is fruity but not sweet and not dry. Not too tart with a nice cranberry flavor that fills the mouth. It is clean and refreshing with no off flavors.

7/3/2006 I have one 12 oz. bottle left and opened it today. WOW, this is beter than ever. Clear red color has not faded. Wonderful nose of cranberries and honey. Smells tart. Mouth filling cranberry flavor with nice acidity that is really well balanced. Wonderfully mellow with full body. I should have saved it all until now!

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1/1/2002

21 12 Oz bags of cranberries.  Lost about a bag and a half after picking through them
12.5 pounds wildflower honey
2 tsp pectic enzyme
4 tsp yeast nutrient
Montrachet yeast
5 gallons water

Cranberries chopped in food processor.  Honey added.  5 gallons of near boiling water was poured over the fruit and honey and allowed to cool to room temperature (about 12 hours).  Yeast nutrient (4 tsp) and pectic enzyme (2 tsp) were added.

1/2/2002

After 24 hrs, SG measures 1.068.  2.5 lb honey was stirred in well.  SG 1.080.  An additional 2.5 lb honey added.  SG 1.086.  2 packets of Montrachet yeast were sprinkled on top.

1/4/2002

No sign of activity.  A starter was made from another packet of Montrachet yeast, apple juice and some of the cranberry must.  After about 10 hours, it was fermenting well.  More cranberry must added to the starter.  After a few more hours this was added to the bulk.

1/5/2002

Beginning to see bubbles.

1/6/2002

Cap has risen and is fermenting well.

1/19/2002

Must was strained and the pulp squeezed. SG 1.031. Placed in a 5 gal carboy, 2 one gal bottles and a 2 L plastic soda bottle. Taste is really good - much more cranberry flavor than  last year’s batch.

6/16/2002

SG 1.008 - racked into a 6.5 gal carboy

2/23/2003

SG ~ 1.004 – racked into 6 gal carboy. One bottle was drawn off and corked. 2.4 g sulfite and 6 g sorbate added. Alcohol is about 11%

3/9/2003

SG 1.004 – filter #3 pads. Bottled. 26 750 mL bottles and 8 12 oz bottles.