How To Make 11% Alcohol (Dragon Fruit & Raspberry Melomel)

Can you make a high-potency Dragon Fruit and Raspberry Melomel (Fruit Mead) using cheap supermarket juice? Today in the Lab, we aimed for a 10% ABV vibrant pink fizz using store-bought juice and a 454g jar of honey. We hit 11%... but there was a catch. While the color is spectacular and the Lalvin D47 yeast did its job perfectly, this brew taught us a crucial lesson about supermarket ingredients: Beware of artificial sweeteners. Stick around to the end of the video for the honest tasting session, where I explain exactly why this specific juice blend gave our mead a chemical off-taste—and why you should check your labels before brewing! 👉 DOWNLOAD THE FULL LAB SHEET & PROVEN RECIPES: https://buymeacoffee.com/rainfordsbre... (Want a brew that actually tastes great? Check the Vault for our successful protocols!) 🔬 THE "LESSON LEARNED" Not all cheap juices are created equal. While the fermentable sugars in the juice and honey processed perfectly to give us 11% alcohol, the artificial sweeteners present in this specific store-bought juice did not ferment out. As the brew finished bone-dry (1.000 FG), those artificial sweeteners were left behind, resulting in a harsh, chemical aftertaste that overpowered the natural honey and fruit notes. Pro-Tip: Always look for "100% Juice" or juices sweetened only with natural sugars when sourcing budget ingredients for your carboy! 🧪 THE "SWEETENER TRAP" LAB SHEET (2L Batch) Series: Saturday Premium | Product #29 (The Honest Fail) Target ABV: 10.0% | Actual ABV: 11.2% Original Gravity (OG): 1.086 | Final Gravity (FG): 1.000 Appearance: Beautiful ruby pink, mostly clear with a carbonated fizz. 📊 JOIN THE LAB If you appreciate honest reviews, budget experiments, and learning what not to do, hit SUBSCRIBE and join the Lab. #Homebrew #MeadMaking #Melomel #BrewingMistakes #DragonFruit #DIYAlcohol #BrewLab #BudgetBrewing The 22p Tea Wine: • How To Make Alcohol For 22p Per Litre (Tea... Hard Lemon Soda (Viral Hack): • How To Make Alcohol For 18p Per Litre (Har... Equipment & Consumables I Use Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. (This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click the links and make a purchase.) Cameras Canon PowerShot V10 Vlogging Starter Kit https://amzn.to/3K3ozMB Gopro Hero 4K https://amzn.to/4nWNLCb Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra https://amzn.to/4pkrIH0 Sanitisation ChemSan Self Foaming No Rinse Sanitiser 1 litre https://amzn.to/48iGh86 Starsan 16 oz https://amzn.to/3JCEMs4 Milton Tablets https://amzn.to/4oKvoll Brewing Equipment AMZCHEF Juicer Machine https://amzn.to/4sn0r8v Glass Demijohn 5L with 2 Piece Airlock and Bung https://amzn.to/3K9D9SJ 2l Fermenter 2 Pack https://amzn.to/4uGOqwg 1.4l Fermenter https://amzn.to/3NlE4kO Home Brew Hydrometer with 100ml Sampling Jar https://amzn.to/4r3NxvV Mixing Spoon https://amzn.to/3JTzqZu Auto Siphon Racking Cane https://amzn.to/3WXdDTH TOPINCN Homebrew CO2 Injector https://amzn.to/4a6fqgL 2 Pack Handy Airlock (Silent) with Bung https://amzn.to/49pltNi 50W Heat Mat with Thermostat https://amzn.to/4oQribm KitchenCraft Baster https://amzn.to/3K2OKmt Consumables Mangrove Jacks Cider Yeast https://amzn.to/3X3cDNP Lalvin EC-1118 10 pack https://amzn.to/49TUCcf Youngs Dried Active Yeast 100g https://amzn.to/3X1lEXC Young's yeast nutrient 100g https://amzn.to/3LMMvUT Youngs Pectolase 400g https://amzn.to/49HH2sH Wine Tannin 50g Youngs x 3 https://amzn.to/3XxkmDQ Bentonite - 250 Gram Tub https://amzn.to/3JTBMaM ⚠️ Health, Safety & Legal Disclaimers Health Warning: This video is for viewers of legal drinking age only (18+ in the UK). Drink Responsibly: Government guidelines recommend not regularly exceeding 14 units of alcohol per week. For support, visit Drinkaware.co.uk. Pregnancy Warning: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause lifelong harm to the baby. Safety & Liability Disclaimer: Sanitation: When using fresh fruit, ensure they are washed and all equipment is thoroughly sanitized to avoid wild yeast spoilage or bacteria. Personal Responsibility: These methods represent my personal process at Rainford's Brew Lab. Follow these steps at your own risk. I am not liable for any outcomes or injuries resulting from home brewing.