Cyser Bochet

Belgian Candi a stand-in for 6lbs of bocheted honey; the different amount makes up for the greater sugar in the apple juice I used to reach the same OG.

Honey was bocheted on med/low heat over charcoal flame (grill) for ~1.5hrs, until very dark. Pasteurized apple juice (Kirkland brand) was used to dissolve the honey, and the mixture was added to the carboy with enough additional apple juice (5 gal total apple juice) to reach the final volume. Two packets of Nottingham yeast were re-hydrated in one small pack (~12g) GoFerm-PE, and pitched.

Fermaid O/K and DAP were added in staggered additions over the first week according to the schedule given by https://www.meadmakr.com/batch-buildr/: 4.5g Fermaid O @ 24 & 24 hrs, 5g Fermaid K & 2g DAP @ 72 hrs & 1/3 sugar break.

As my temperature controlled chamber was full, fermentation was carried out in a water bath/swamp cooler and further cooled with ice bricks. Over the course of active fermentation the temperature varied more widely than I would have liked, but stayed within 65f-80f.

Fermentation was visibly active during primary for ~2 weeks, and the must was racked to a secondary fermenter (onto 1/4 tsp of K-meta) after ~3.5 weeks. Secondary fermentation lasted a further 3 weeks during which Fermfast-Dualfine and Pectinase were used to further clear the must, though the Pectinase didn't seem to have any effect on a persistent haze and the Dualfine was particularly effective. At the end of secondary fermentation the must was cold crashed before being racked into a keg (onto a further 1/4 tsp of K-meta), carbonated, and bottled in 22oz longnecks.

The finished product is clear, the color of a bock or dark amber ale, and is very drinkable; while the bochet could have aged months longer, it still carries notes of dark stone fruit and toffee.