Can mead go bad?
In this short article, we will provide an answer to the question “can mead go bad?” and the shelf life of mead.
Can mead go bad?
Np, mead does not go bad. While professionally made mead does not decay, the flavor of the beverage diminishes with time to the point that it becomes unpleasant to drink. Even if it has been opened, it will retain its best flavor for many months if kept unopened for several years. If you make mead at home and it gets infected, it may begin to spoil.
What is mead, and how does it differ from other beverages?
Mead is a honey-based, wine-like fermented beverage that is made from honey.
The mixture of water and honey is fermented with the help of yeast. Various components, ranging from fruits to spices, may be used to flavor mead, which can be very complex.
Traditional meads, which are expected to account for the lion’s share of the market, typically contain between 15 and 18 percent alcohol by volume, depending on the producer. For milder meads, the alcohol content varies between 6 and 12 percent. This is a significant distinction.
Wine bottles should be kept in the same manner as mead bottles, which is the same as the way wine bottles are preserved. Away from direct sunlight, this is located in a dry, cold environment.
What is the shelf life of mead?
- Furthermore, when it comes to shelf life, it is essential to differentiate between traditional meads and lighter meads, which are more delicate.
- Bottles that have not been opened may survive for years, if not decades. Traditional mead will remain in excellent condition for many months after it has been opened.
- Please bear in mind that the quality of mead declines with time and that consuming mead that has been opened and kept in a closet for more than a year may not taste as nice as it used to.
- The majority of producers recommend that after a bottle of light mead has been opened, it should be consumed immediately. This implies that the beverage is at its best for just a short time before it deteriorates. The length of time required varies significantly depending on the kind. It may last as short as 24 hours or as long as a week depending on the circumstances. If at all possible, get advice from the person who created the mead you’re drinking.
What You’ll Need To Keep Mead?
Proper mead storage necessitates a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, as well as safe storage that can resist falls or bottle shock.
When it comes to temperatures, they should be maintained between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and the relative humidity should be kept low. Heat has an impact on how fast we age, with higher temperatures speeding up the aging process. Ideally, the temperature should be between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it comes to humidity, just keeping the mead indoors is generally enough to keep it safe. If the item is to be stored outdoors or in a garage, it is best to store it in a tightly sealed container such as a wine cabinet or refrigerator. While upright storage is perfectly fine, racks offer the additional advantage of increasing available storage space.
It’s also important to make sure that the mead isn’t exposed to direct sunshine, or that it is only exposed sparingly. Sunshine oxidizes the liquid, much as it does with wine or beer, causing the bottle to stink. Beer and wine are packed in dark glass as a result of this phenomenon.
When Is It Possible To Store Mead For An Extensive Time?
When it comes to meads, they have an optimum drinking age, much like wines, after which they cease to be as pleasant to consume. The peak age, on the other hand, varies considerably from mead to mead.
Meads that are lighter in color and have a sweeter flavor should be consumed as soon as possible. Because these meads do not develop correctly, aging them for more than a year – or even two – will be harmful to their quality. Even meads with a lower alcohol level are susceptible to this phenomenon.
Darker meads and those with a higher percentage of alcohol will preserve for a longer time. Mead may survive for a decade or more, depending on the variety. It is recommended that you buy a large number of bottles of a certain mead and begin aging them. If you take a sample of the mead once a year or once every six months, you will see that it has reached its peak age.
Conclusion
In this short article, we provided an answer to the question “can mead go bad?” and the shelf life of mead.
