Christmas Mead

**jezter6** · 12-23-2008, 12:17 AM

I want to make a Xmas mead on Xmas eve or Xmas day. I have 17# Orange blossom honey, nutrient, and cotes de black and Lalvin 0116.

I'd like some light xmas spices, maybe vanilla ...

help, i need some ideas!?!? this would be my second mead (first one is just 9# honey, nutrient, 3g water and US-05 beer yeast which is sitll in secondary).

Anyone got something good that fits a little xmas theme but isn't overpowering? (and is easy for this n00b)

Matrix4b · 12-23-2008, 01:53 AM

Hmm, cranberry always come to mind. Does anyone know if mistletoe is poisonous? That might be very festive, mistletoe and cranberry. I have become fond of nutmeg but don't think a nutmeg cranberry would be good. Many festive brews are more cyser than mead. So perhapse a Cranberry Cyser with cinimon and nutmeg? Those are some of my ideas. I personally have a pear nutmeg going and it is starting to taste divine.

**Nurmey** · 12-23-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrix4b

Does anyone know if mistletoe is poisonous?

YES! Mistletoe is poisonous and can be fatal so please don't use it.

**Mirilis** · 12-23-2008, 02:21 AM

Id try Nutmeg.. a little cinnamon, or maybe some ginger. If you wanted to go with fruit I would try Plums, or cranberries. hell maybe you could try a very very small ammount of spruce essence

Tusch · 12-23-2008, 03:01 AM

If you want christmas tree, think gin. Juniper berries have been used in meads and I think Redstone even sells one commercially. I come from a gin family and have often considered making a juniper berry mead.

Kauai_Kahuna · 12-23-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tusch

I come from a gin family and have often considered making a juniper berry mead.

Please, you must expand on this thought path.

I think I need to brew a cool X-mas mead for 1,2,3,+ years. Something to remember this year by.

Maybe something like "Credit crunch crash", but sorry BigK, no captain crunch in my meads. (Saw a funny re-mix of captain crunch changed to credit crunch with uncle B. on the cover).

**summersolstice** · 12-23-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kauai_Kahuna

Please, you must expand on this thought path.

I have a spiced pyment that's been in an oak barrel for 5-6 months. I used sliced ginger, blade mace, lemon zest, cinnamon, peppercorns, juniper berries, and a few whole hops (not too many). The foundation is Chenin Blanc concentrate and alfalfa honey. It's ready to take out of the barrel and age some more in a carboy but I can't seem to get motivated to do it.

Tusch · 12-23-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kauai_Kahuna

Please, you must expand on this thought path.

Gin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not that it is the best soucre for information, but it is convenient.

"Gin is a spirit flavoured with juniper berries. Distilled gin is made by redistilling white grain spirit and raw cane sugar which has been flavoured with juniper berries. Compound gin is made by flavouring neutral grain spirit with juniper berries without redistilling and can be considered a flavoured vodka.

The most common style of gin, typically used for mixed drinks, is London dry gin. London dry gin is made by taking a neutral grain spirit (usually produced in a column still) and redistilling after the botanicals are added. In addition to juniper, it is usually made with a small amount of citrus botanicals like lemon and bitter orange peel. Other botanicals that may be used include anise, angelica root and seed, orris root, licorice root, cinnamon, coriander, and cassia bark."

I have thought about combining some similar spices, citris zest, probably a combination of lemon and orange, and then a hefty amount of juniper berries.

Matrix4b · 12-23-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nurmey

YES! Mistletoe is poisonous and can be fatal so please don't use it.

I figured. Ooo, Cranberry Plum. That sounds good.

**jezter6** · 12-23-2008, 02:39 PM

Ginger Nutmeg it is.

Any idea for amounts per 5g batch?