Recent content by meading_of_minds

I am going to have to try that. It never occurred to me to put it sealed into a pressure cooker. Can you do more than one quart at a time if you've got a canning pressure cooker? This would be awesome. Going to check back and see how this turns out.

Up to now, I've been brewing mead so I have supplies from that to start with. I am reading the FAQ thread and the How to Brew site to learn technique and find what else I need to have equiptment-wise. My thought is that some of the more experienced brewers could recommend a good recipe to start...

I followed this recipe, only once and once it will stay. It was just terrible. I've had better results from JOAM, sincerely.

Maybe you should consider doing a Welches wine instead, where you can control the added sulfites a bit more. And, they are super simple.

I just lost a whole 2.5 gallon batch of wine ... it's just soo disappointing!

Last week, my DH purchased enough honey for me to make a 6 gal. batch, which I'll split between two primary buckets to begin. He's promised to buy me enough honey the first of each month to start a new batch each month. I believe I boiled my honey for right around 2 hours. As I have to split...

I've used this place http://www.midwestsupplies.com/ several times. They were easy to use and ship timely, even send you an email letting you know your package is in the mail. I'm fortunately, my LBH has several folks who brew mead, so they know what I'm talking about.

Wow! What a gorgeous picture! I wish my first ones looked half as beautiful as that. And, I hope my future ones do too!

I have a collection of screw-top wine bottles which I use for bottling. I have had no troubles with them. I am sure to sterilize them well. When I fill them, I don't leave a lot of space at the top and I make sure the screw tops are firmly screwed down. I haven't had anything that hung around...

You could check with local bakeries, restaurants or Subway for buckets. I purchased 3-5 gal buckets (formerly housing frostings or fillings) for $2 each with lid. Subway ones were usually 5 gal ones w/out lids, but I think we gave $1 each for those. Use those for your primary buckets and then...

That does sound interesting. I made some strawberry, but I'm waiting for the wild blackberries to come round. I've also got a very small patch of red raspberries. I think you've inspired me!

I've not been using Orange Blossom honey with my batches. I've been using just basic clover honey available from Sam's. My first batch was so good, it's completely gone. My second (larger) batch is still aging in my brew area in my kitchen. I'm going to move it downstairs to my basement if it...

I have been using Sam's Club too. My LBS gave me a flier for guy offering honey for sale and he brews mead, too. So I figured it would be neat to get enough honey to do the whole batch in a bucket. Plus, my kids keep snagging the honey in the Sams bottles! I'm not sure how I'm going to boil that...

I've been using D47 and 71B for mine. I like stuff to the sweeter side. And, I've been making it in 2 gal. batches. It goes fast. Last batch, I added 1 lb. of chopped dates and left it for a week. If it had hung around, it would have been more towards port-like. There are so many ways you can go...

I started a new one of these 4-27-10. I used the zest of one very large orange and about a 1/2 cup of orange juice. I only put a little clove and allspice. It's bubbling away quite happily in my kitchen. I'm going to do a couple of these with some christmasy spice to give to friends as gifts...