Recipe 1: Cyser with rosehip (continued 2) - Racking 2nd time

Ingredients:
Kieselsol 15 ml
Chitosan 50 ml

It has now been 3 weeks and 5 days since I prepared the batch. For the past week there has not been any bubbling from the airlock, so I am assuming that the fermentation has stopped. I had hoped that the mead would sort of clear but it is not even close.

When I opened the fermenter a very pleasant smell filled the kitchen - so far so good. But the solution was very murky and was about as clear as orange juice. I am wondering if I will have any change of fully clearing it.

Anyway, to start with I measured the relative density to 1.066 - still higher that I was aiming for so perhaps the port yeast from Kitzinger is not able to push more about 10-12% ABV under the given conditions (Depending on which calculation method is used). Also pH was measured again and as before pH was somewhere between 3 and 4. I am somewhat disappointed, that the fermentation has stopped so soon.

After the measurements, the mead was transferred again to a third container which had again been cleaned well and disinfected with iodine. Care was taken not to transfer the yeast sediment on the bottom. The sediment was very easily stirred into the solution, so it was not possible to avoid that some sediment was transferred too.

I used this clearing agent which is a standard package consisting of two solutions which have to be added in separate steps - first the Kieselsol then the Chitosan. The order of addition is apparently important.

So, first the 15 ml of kieselsol was added. It is basically a slurry of silicon dioxide particles. The particles are negatively charged and should precipitate yeast and proteins efficiently. I have not been able to find out the mass per volume of particles but apparently this is a standard mixture. After the addition the solution was stirred rapidly to ensure a good mixing.

Then the 50 ml of Chitosan was added. Chitosan is linear polysaccharides which is derived from the exoskeleton of crustaceans. These particles are positivly charged in acidic solution and causes particles to flocculate, i.e. stick together to form larger particles which will in the end drop out of solution. Again the solution was stirred well before the lid was sealed. The airlock was attached and filled with water, and now it is just time to wait (and hope) that the mead clears.