Hi, I'm a novice mead maker. I've made mead using wild fermentation probably a dozen times, but always drink it young. I've always made small batches, so it is quite simple. It's just one of my many ferments I do in my apartment.
But now I'm making a large 5 gallon batch with foraged linden flowers, it's to honor my son's birth — we named him Linden. I've got a primary fermentation going on in a wide bucket and it is very lively and smells lovely (photo 1), which is great! But my linden flowers keep floating above the bubbles, as you can see in photo two. Is this a problem? https://imgur.com/M2nXNoW
Second — When would you take out the linden flowers? At the same time the bubbles subside? Or before? The same day as it goes into a carboy or earlier — is basically what I'm wondering.
Third — If you strain and put into carboy the same day, would you strain into another five gallon bucket to remove the linden flowers? Someone else suggested putting muslin in front of the auto-siphon so I don't have to strain into another bucket? What's the best way?
Thank you!
- David (Day 5 or so of my wild linden mead ferment)