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Duckfoot · 11-12-2008, 03:46 AM

Lil Sis #2 is getting hitched next June.... Since most of the immediate family are not beer drinkers (hey more for me!) I was thinking maybe a mead to take with and present to the fam damily...

If I got it running soon, would that be enough time?

If so, what would be a fairly idiot-proof recipe for a first shot?

T.I.A.

flyweed · 11-12-2008, 03:57 AM

so many questions..so little time.

1. are you looking for dry, semi, or sweet?
2. basic or fruit, or spiced or........?
3. something quick and basic, or one that'll take a bit more time and effort?
4. Still or Carbonated?

Once you answer a few more of those questions, I am sure more people will be able to offer you some advice.

Dan

PS- welcome to the forums.

Duckfoot · 11-12-2008, 04:04 AM

Well damn... Didn't know there were so many variables...

Um... Let's see...

I would say sweet, basic / fruit (maybe more towards fruit), I have until June '09, and probably still...

Thanks

**BigKahuna** · 11-12-2008, 04:57 AM

Basic + Sweet.
Strawberry is a tough fruit to get in the winter, but noting says LOVE like Strawberry Mead!

will_cbe · 11-12-2008, 12:31 PM

The sooner you start this, the better. It'll just beginning to be drinkable in 8 months.

CBBaron · 11-12-2008, 12:58 PM

I given the current season and this being your first mead I think an excellent way to go would be a cyser. Get some fresh pressed apple cider from a local orchard. Add honey to bring the gravity up to around 1.1. Follow the staggered nutrient additions as detailed by hightest in the sticky. Rack to a secondary after about 1 month. 4 months later add sorbate and sulfite and back sweeten to the desired sweetness. A few more weeks then bottle. You could also add oak cubes while bulk aging if desired.

It should be quite good in June and get better with time.

I find my cysers ferment with out a problem and there is no extra material to deal with when racking. Plus they are very tasty.

If you want more of a fruit flavor then I like blueberries, raspberries and elderberries, pick your favorite. All of the strawberry recipes I have seen make it seem like strawberries are a little difficult. Not something I would want to try for my first attempt.

Craig

summersolstice · 11-12-2008, 02:43 PM

My vote goes to Joe's Ancient Orange. There have been perhaps thousands of mead makers begin with this almost foolproof recipe. I've made at least a dozen batches and have seen very few people who didn't like it. It takes about 30 minutes to make, and is ready in three months. The original recipe makes one gallon but you can just multiply everything (except the yeast) by five to get five gallons. You can make the original recipe and try it in three months and if you like it you'll still have time to make several more gallons by next June.

flyweed · 11-12-2008, 05:50 PM

I'll agree with you there. It's alot simpler than the Cyser recipe for a first timer. I'd say go with the MAOM or JAOM....or even Joe's Grape Mead. You can't go wrong with any of those and should turn out well for you.

Dan

hightest · 11-12-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBBaron

...If you want more of a fruit flavor then I like blueberries, raspberries and elderberries, pick your favorite...

cranberries also add a nice touch to a cyser (or cider)...

CBBaron · 11-12-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hightest

cranberries also add a nice touch to a cyser (or cider)...

Right you are. Just bottled 5 gal of Cran-Cyser. 3 gal sparkling and 2 gal sweet. Both are really good already. And this was with cheap Costco juice and honey not the good stuff.

Craig