Mead Lover's Digest #1122 17 August 2004
Forum for Discussion of Mead Making and Consuming
Dick Dunn, Digest Janitor
Contents:
Re: Ice Mead (Marc Shapiro)
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #1121, 12 August 2004 (Michael Faul)
Mead Fest ("Vince Galet")
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Subject: Re: Ice Mead
From: Marc Shapiro <mshapiro_42@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 20:11:43 -0400
I think that I MAY be changing sides on this topic. In the past, I have
come in on the side of those saying that concentration of wine is not
legal according to the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Title 27
(Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms). Having searched it again, I am unable
to find any evidence of this in the current CFR. It is possible that
this was not legal in the past, but that the Code has been changed.
What I WAS able to find was the following, from Sec. 19.11
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Meaning of terms.
Spirits or distilled spirits. That substance known as ethyl
alcohol, ethanol, or spirits of wine in any form (including all
dilutions and mixtures thereof, from whatever source or by
whatever process produced) but not denatured spirits unless
specifically stated. The term does not include mixtures of
distilled spirits and wine, bottled at 48 deg. proof or less,
if the mixture contains more than 50 percent wine on a proof
gallon basis.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
which would suggest that fortification up to 24% (48 deg. proof) is not
considered to be spirits.
I also found the following in Sec. 24.248
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Processes authorized for the treatment of wine,
juice and distilling material.
Any process which changes the character of the wine to the
extent inconsistent with good commercial practice is not
permitted on bonded wine premises. The processes listed in this
section are approved as being consistent with good commercial
practice for use by proprietors in the production, cellar
treatment, or finishing of wine, juice, and distilling material,
within the general limitations of this section: Provided, That
when the specified use or limitation of any process on this
list is determined to be unacceptable for use in foods and
beverages by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Director
may cancel or amend the approval for use of the process in the
production, cellar treatment, or finishing of wine, juice, and
distilling material.
Processes Authorized for the Treatment of Wine, Juice, and
Distilling Material
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Thermal gradient processing...
To separate wine The fractions derived
into low alcohol from such processing
and high alcohol shall retain vinous
wine fractions. character. Such
treatment shall not
increase the alcohol
content of the high
alcohol fraction to
more than 24 percent
by volume. The
addition of water
other than that
originally present
in the wine prior to
processing will
render standard wine
``other than
standard.''
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
which would suggest that "Thermal Gradient Processing" is allowed, so
long as the wine retains its character and the higher faction does not
exceed 24% abv.
Further, I found this in an issue of Food Technology in an artice
titled: Removing Alcohol from Wine, by Neil H Mermelstein
Thermal Gradient Processing. In this method, wine is cooled
to form ice crystals, which float to the top of the tank,
increasing the alcohol concentration in the liquid. About
half of the contents is then drained from the bottom of the
tank. Then the tank is heated to melt the ice crystals,
essentially diluting the liquid in the tank and thereby
producing wine with reduced alcohol concentration.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
This sounds a lot like a form of fractional crystalization to me. Maybe
it IS legal.
NOTE: This is NOT legal advice! I am NOT a lawyer! I don't even play
one on TV! Also, note that all of the above which comes from the CFR is
referring to a bonded winery, or distillery. None of this was referring
to home production. It is certainly possible that what is allowed in a
bonded winery may not be allowed for home production. Also, this only
applies to the U.S.A.
If anyone has more specific information on the use and legality of
Thermal Gradient Processing as a process in home wine production please
let us know.
- --
Marc Shapiro
mshapiro_42@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #1121, 12 August 2004
From: Michael Faul <mfaul@rabbitsfootmeadery.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 19:34:28 -0700
Sorry to tell you but freezing of any solution containing alcohol is
considered distillation by the TTB (BATF) and is illegal(In the USA)
unless you have a license.
The regulations in
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/05dec20031700/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2003/aprqtr/27cfr29.45.htm
state:
Distilling spirits or spirits. That substance known as ethyl
alcohol, ethanol, or spirits of wine in any form (including all
dilutions and mixtures thereof, from whatever source or by whatever
process produced).
and
Any apparatus capable of being used for separating alcoholic
or spirituous vapors, or spiritous solutions, or spirits, from
spirituous solutions or mixtures
includes a bucket or other container in your freezer or left out in the
snow.
Mike
mead-request@talisman.com wrote:
> Subject: Ice Mead
> From: CLSAXER@aol.com
> Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 12:19:19 EDT
>
> Freezing mead to remove water ice is a subject that appears every few years
> here and on the AHA Techtalk forum.
>
> Distillation is a specific term that refers to the process of first heating a
> mixture to separate the more volatile parts from the less volatile parts, and
> then cooling and condensing the resulting vapor so as to produce a more
> nearly pure or refined substance.
>
> Freezing mead to extract water is not distillation. It is concentration, and
> it is not illegal to do so at home by the laws of the U. S. You might want
> to check the laws in the area where you live. States in the U.S. are allowed
> to make laws that are more restrictive that the Federal government, but the
> cannot override the Fed and make laws less restrictive.
>
> Home ice mead is OK to make. It is subject to the laws pertaining to
> homebrewing and home winemaking in the area where you live.
>
> Carl Saxer
> Way Down by Orlando (and Often Hilo)
Subject: Mead Fest
From: "Vince Galet" <vince@scubadiving.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 11:02:07 -0400 (EDT)
I am surprised no one mentioned mead fest yet. I noticed tickets are now
on sale and I was considering making the trip to CO. I couldn't find a
program (the web site only mentions tastings). Any lectures planned?
Technical workshops? Meadery visits? All those would make the event even
more worth the trip (yet I would not ignore the tasting part).
It may be early to ask, but is anyone else going? Anything planned with
the honorable digestees? I didn't go last year but didn't they have a mead
lounge where you can bring your own and meet other mead makers? (We could
make T-shirts with a logo saying "mead lover" so we could recognize a
fellow mead maniac when we bump into eachother). It would be nice to get
together and this is probably the one opportunity we have in a year (at
least for me). Ideas welcome.
Vince Galet
End of Mead Lover's Digest #1122
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