u/azsnaz

I am going to attempt to make a sparkling blueberry mead (my first batch without a kit), and am looking for critique and tips for the basic steps I've put together for myself. The steps below are based off of the two previous kits I've done. I don't know what percentage im shooting for, but I have a hydrometer (that I haven't used yet).

DAY ONE

Add 40oz honey

Add ~half gallon spring water

Add 40oz pectic enzyme treated blueberries and Vanilla Bean (or wait 3-4 weeks for secondary?)

Add Fermaid-O (2g)

Add 71B (5g)

Fill rest of bucket/carboy (depending when adding blueberries) up to one gallon with spring water (if not already full)

DAY TWO

Degas

Add Fermaid-O (1g)

DAY FIVE

Degas

Add Fermaid-O (1g)

3-4 WEEKS LATER

Rack to Secondary

Add peptic Enzyme treated blueberries (and vanilla bean)?

2-5 DAYS LATER

Rack to Primary

Add Erythritol to taste

1 WEEK LATER

Prime and bottle

Let bottles sit for 6 weeks before refrigerating

I am looking for instructions/help with making 1 gallon of a sparkling blueberry mead. I have used a kit a couple of times, but the instructions varied and I want to try my making my own.

Ingredients I have are:

40oz frozen blueberries

40oz orange blossom honey

1 gallon spring water

71B yeast

Fermaid-O

Pectic Enzyme

Erythritol

Priming Sugar

Equipment I have:

2 gallon fermenting bucket

1 gallon carboy

Racking equipment

Flip top bottles

Are there any ingredients you'd add, change, or omit?

Would I just put the (thawed) berries directly in the bucket, and then add the honey and water? Do the berries need to be in a cheese/mesh cloth? What would you do?