Cap Management in Melomel (Fruit Meads):
By P. Bakulić
What is a “Cap?”
The Cap is the layer of fruit that floats up and his held at the top of the
fermentation vessel by CO2 during fermentation of a melomel with fruit
in the primary. This term comes from the conical shape of the heaped
up pomace (in grape winemaking) emerging from the open tanks,
which is collected together after having been piagé, that is to say
trampled with the feet. (Peynaud 1981)
Cap management:
Managing the fruit cap during early fermentation is especially
important as there are key factors discussed below that contribute to
the "loss" or "burn off" of fruit flavor, yeast stress, stuck fermentation,
off flavors/characters, and failure to maximize the fruit character
during primary when using fruit (whether fresh, frozen, dried, etc.) if
the cap is not broken up regularly throughout the course of the
primary fermentation.
Heat, Sugar and Yeast:
For every 1 degree of brix reduction by fermentation of your must
there is a 2.3o F increase in temperature. The temperature can build
up very quickly and kill off the yeast living in the "heat zone" below
the cap when the temperature rises above 104-106o F. You'll literally
cook off a lot of the floral, fruity characters from the berries/fruit
you're using. You'll also lose a good percentage of your yeast and have
a stuck fermentation to boot.
Along with that you'll have off flavors from the yeast being stressed
out before they kick off. Finally by mixing the berries back down into
the must you facilitate extraction of color, tannin, aroma, flavor and
fruity character hence the final mead will present with more of the
flavor of the fruit.
It is also necessary to punch down frequently to redistribute the yeast
(the highest concentration of yeast are found in and directly below the
cap) throughout the fermentation vessel in order to promote a more
uniform fermentation.
This is especially important when one realizes that as the yeast
population differs in various portions of the tank, the reduction of
sugar through fermentation will be uneven if the cap is not punched
down and mixed back into the must. Thus it is critical that the cap be
managed effectively in order to homogenize the yeast, sugar and
temperature distribution within the fermentation vessel.
CO2:
If the cap is not broken up or "punched down" the CO2 buildup under
the cap will deprive your yeast of oxygen. Oxygen is required by the
yeast for optimal ethanol tolerance. This is why we aerate during the
first third of fermentation in order to get O2 into the must for the
yeast which enables the synthesis of sterols in order to strengthen the
cell walls. One may think of O2 as a rudimentary yeast nutrient during
early fermentation for the benefit of the cell walls. Healthy cell walls
are needed to:
• Provide resistance to the rapidly rising level of alcohol
• Regulate osmotic pressure across the cell wall
• Effectively transport nitrogen into the cell
• Help regulate pH within the cytoplasm
• Ensure that the yeast cells are able to reproduce efficiently and
proceed unstressed throughout the fermentation
Again, if the yeast is not performing to it's spec based on improper cap
management or nutrient poor must, the fermentation be become
stuck, or just drag on forever.
Drying:
If the cap isn't pressed down into the must frequently (this depends on
how much fruit you use, along with the type of fruit, i.e. purees will
take less punching down than crushed fresh, frozen or rehydrated
dried fruit) to keep it moist the top will dry and spoilage organisms can
set in which then compete with your yeast producing off flavors, or
worse completely spoiling your mead. Again, if the yeast is
compromised into a position of fighting for dominance in the must,
they will not be doing their primary job of a fast, clean ferment.
Early exposure to oxygen for both the yeast and the fruit during
primary is very important in the formation of the overall fruit flavor
and character. Sinking the fruit in a grain bag is also practiced widely
and yields very good results. Bear in mind that for very large fruit
additions (3-4 lbs of fruit/gallon of must) using a grain bag may be
impractical and the use of a plastic bucket provides easier
management and access to the fermenting must and fruit.
