Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Any Mead Drinkers?
#1
I made some mead 2 years ago, it went pretty well and I made some more this year. Back in December I got a taste of some African mead with some kind of pepper in it, tasty stuff. So, thinks I, I have 4 gallons of mead, I have these Cerrano peppers handy...So I dump in a half dozen intending to leave them in for a month than take them out and see what happened. Well, I then went to Texas and just got home 2 weeks ago, peppers been in there for 6 months, Hmmm...
Cracked the seal on this stuff tonoght and all I got to say is OMG am I good or what? This stuff is delicious!
SO, if your interested, here is a link to the basic recipe I used..

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f30/joes-anc...oam-45152/
OK, and full text

1 gallon batch

* 3 12 lbs Clover or your choice honey or blend (will finish sweet)
* 1 Large orange (later cut in eights or smaller rind and all)
* 1 small handful of raisins (25 if you count but more or less ok)
* 1 stick of cinnamon
* 1 whole clove ( or 2 if you like - these are potent critters)
* optional (a pinch of nutmeg and allspice )( very small )
* 1 teaspoon of bread yeast ( now don't get holy on me--- after all this is an ancient mead and that's all we had back then)
* Balance water to one gallon
Process:

Use a clean 1 gallon carboy

Dissolve honey in some warm water and put in carboy

Wash orange well to remove any pesticides and slice in eights --add orange (you can push em through opening big boy -- rinds included -- its ok for this mead -- take my word for it -- ignore the experts)

Put in raisins, clove, cinnamon stick, any optional ingredients and fill to 3 inches from the top with cold water. ( need room for some foam -- you can top off with more water after the first few day frenzy)

Shake the heck out of the jug with top on, of course. This is your sophisticated aeration process.

When at room temperature in your kitchen. Put in 1 teaspoon of bread yeast. ( No you don't have to rehydrate it first-- the ancients didn't even have that word in their vocabulary-- just put it in and give it a gentle swirl or not)( the yeast can fight for their own territory)

Install water airlock. Put in dark place. It will start working immediately or in an hour. (Don't use grandma's bread yeast she bought years before she passed away in the 90's)( Wait 3 hours before you panic or call me) After major foaming stops in a few days add some water and then keep your hands off of it. (Don't shake it! Don't mess with them yeastees! Let them alone except its okay to open your cabinet to smell every once in a while.

Racking --- Don't you dare
additional feeding --- NO NO
More stirring or shaking -- Your not listening, don't touch

After 2 months and maybe a few days it will slow down to a stop and clear all by itself. (How about that) (You are not so important after all) Then you can put a hose in with a small cloth filter on the end into the clear part and siphon off the golden nectar. If you wait long enough even the oranges will sink to the bottom but I never waited that long. If it is clear it is ready. You don't need a cold basement. It does better in a kitchen in the dark. (like in a cabinet) likes a little heat (70-80). If it didn't work out... you screwed up and didn't read my instructions (or used grandma's bread yeast she bought years before she passed away) . If it didn't work out then take up another hobby. Mead is not for you. It is too complicated.

If you were successful, which I am 99% certain you will be, then enjoy your mead. When you get ready to make a different mead you will probably have to unlearn some of these practices I have taught you, but hey--- This recipe and procedure works with these ingredients so don't knock it. It was your first mead. It was my tenth. Sometimes, even the experts can forget all they know and make a good ancient mead.

Enjoy, Joe
Reply
#2
I will try this.

I like the sophisticated aeration process.
Reply
#3
Ooo aahh...i gotta try me some of that!
Reply
#4
Sounds like a drink you will enjoy twice.
Kind of like owning a boat:
The purchase and then getting rid of it.
Reply
#5
(07-01-2012, 08:25 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: Sounds like a drink you will enjoy twice.
Kind of like owning a boat:
The purchase and then getting rid of it.


We almost made the mistake of buying a boat with a luxury cabin. Being a member of the yacht club, going to the bahamas, deep sea fishing with the boys and even taking the dogs along, it was going to be magnificant. Then luckily I came to my senses.
Reply
#6
We have just a center console fishing boat 16 ft... I love going out after the sun goes down and read while he fishes...
Spay and neuter your dogs and cats. Ban gas chambers in your local shelters. User made the call. User made a difference! Love3
Reply
#7
(07-01-2012, 08:25 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: Sounds like a drink you will enjoy twice.
Kind of like owning a boat:
The purchase and then getting rid of it.

Amen to that. There's a mead producer locally, he had his wares out at the farmers market yesterday. I was tempted, and he has three flavors, so I'll probably try a bottle of each next weekend.
Reply
#8
(07-01-2012, 10:04 PM)sally Wrote:
(07-01-2012, 08:25 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote: Sounds like a drink you will enjoy twice.
Kind of like owning a boat:
The purchase and then getting rid of it.


We almost made the mistake of buying a boat with a luxury cabin. Being a member of the yacht club, going to the bahamas, deep sea fishing with the boys and even taking the dogs along, it was going to be magnificant. Then luckily I came to my senses.

I bet you look fabulous in a wetsuit...
Reply