Does Mead Age in the Bottle? — Viking Alchemist Meadery (2024)

FAQs

Does Mead Age in the Bottle? — Viking Alchemist Meadery? ›

But, as the mead sits in the bottle, it will undergo a “mellowing” process that allows some notes to come forward, while others retreat. The core composition will never change nor will the basic flavor, but the tones will fluctuate.

How does one age mead? The short answer is cool, dry, and on its side (if it has a cork closure). Ideally, it should be around 50°F and in a sealed bottle or carboy with limited headspace to avoid oxidation.

If you want to really fully ferment a high-alcohol mead and bottle it, those usually benefit from time in the bottle. If you're using less honey to make more of a beer-like mead, those can be fully fermented and drinkable in under a month. Other types can take a few months.

For example, unopened classic mead can last for 5 years, while unopened lighter meads usually last 1-2 years. Once opened, however, mead's shelf-life decreases, especially for lighter meads. It is usually recommended to consume lighter mead within 24 hours of opening.

Some people who make mead like to bottle it in wine bottles if it is to age for long. A corked wine bottle lets in tiny amounts of oxygen. This is called “micro-oxygenation,” and it can be good for the flavor of the mead.

Should Mead be Refrigerated After Opening? Light meads with an alcohol content of <13% should be resealed and stored in a refrigerator. Meads with a high alcohol content can be tightly re-sealed and stored in a cool pantry or wine cellar.

It doesn't matter how long fermentation has been over, always use an airlock. Yes, you do have to check the water level from time to time as evaporation, however, this is a small price to pay.

Temperature should ideally stay between 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with relatively low humidity. Temperature factors into aging, with higher temperatures accelerating the aging process. Somewhere between 50 to 60 degrees is perfect.

(You'll have a mead-volcano if you stir too hard.) Stop when the mead has pretty much finished foaming (usually within 30–90 seconds).

The most accurate way to monitor the fermentation process is to use a brewing hydrometer. Taking specific gravity measurements with a brewing hydrometer not only lets one know when fermentation has finished, it also allows one to determine actual alcohol by volume (ABV) of the fermented product.

Do you refrigerate mead before drinking? ›

Serve it chilled or at room temperature, depending on the style and your personal preference. We recommend drinking meads that are sparkling at 45 degrees and from a wine glass if it's over 8% ABV. If the mead is still and fruity, we recommend drinking at 45 degrees (slightly chilled).

The alcohol in the mead effectively keeps it safe for consumption. The fact that it smells good is a good sign and even with some off-flavours everything should be on the safe side. Pungent smells, mould and no alcohol at all, however, are signs that something is wrong.

The core composition will never change nor will the basic flavor, but the tones will fluctuate. We've seen surprising success with some of our labels, and have tried to encourage (unsuccessfully) our fans to keep a bottle for a year or more and experience the difference.

Aging seems to be very much dependent on what you have. Most mead seems to benefit from 2 - 4 months. Some continue to get better, like a JAOM for instance - that's at its best at 8-10 months. Others start to fade, especially meads with certain spices.

Harsh Rough, unpleasant flavor and finish. A rough, biting or stinging sensation in the mouth, often with excessive bitterness.

We are often asked how to store mead and how long it lasts unopened and also once opened. How long does my Bottle of Mead last unopened? Store the bottles similar to wine, upright in a cool place away from direct sunlight and they should keep for at least a year.

Before bottling or kegging you should stabilize your mead using potassium sulfite. This is a wine additive that is a preservative and also insurance against further fermentation.

I like using the flip top bottles because they are super easy and don't require a separate cap or cork. I have corked bottles before, and that can be a great way to do it if you plan on aging bottles for a long period of time, but it is more work.