Newbie from Ireland

[Lazerus]

Hi all,
Completely new to this brewing lark and started my first ever batch of blackberry mead yesterday. I was a little surprised to wake today to find it is bubbling over with mead coming through the airlock and a bit messy but calmed down now a little and is just gas bubbling out now. I cleaned out the airlock and fingers crossed things will be well! To be honest I have no clue what I'm doing.
Anyway, hello from Co. Kerry in Ireland.

 

[Jack_0106]

Hup the Kingdom!

Welcome to the forum from Dublin!
I had no idea either when I started out earlier this year but my blackberry meads have been my best recipe to date.

Here are some websites I get my brew stuff off
https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/
http://www.homebrewwest.ie

I started with meads using fancy orange blossom honey from Supervalue but ended up settling on the standard Boyne valley stuff. Its cheaper and produces a good mead.
My recipe for a gallon of blackberry mead is:

• 3.5 to 4lbs of Boyne valley honey
• 200g black berries in primary mashed with a potato masher
• Half pack of yeast (I was using Gervin GV3)
• Water to the gallon mark
• Teaspoon Yeast nutrient on day 1, 3 and 5 of fermentation
• Teaspoon Wine tannins
• Let that run for 2 to 3 weeks and rack to secondary
• Add in another 200g of blackberries and let it finish and clear.

Turns out a 14-15% mead.

Happy brewing!

 

[Lazerus]

Hup the Kingdom!

Welcome to the forum from Dublin!
I had no idea either when I started out earlier this year but my blackberry meads have been my best recipe to date.

Here are some websites I get my brew stuff off
https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/
http://www.homebrewwest.ie

I started with meads using fancy orange blossom honey from Supervalue but ended up settling on the standard Boyne valley stuff. Its cheaper and produces a good mead.
My recipe for a gallon of blackberry mead is:

• 3.5 to 4lbs of Boyne valley honey
• 200g black berries in primary mashed with a potato masher
• Half pack of yeast (I was using Gervin GV3)
• Water to the gallon mark
• Teaspoon Yeast nutrient on day 1, 3 and 5 of fermentation
• Teaspoon Wine tannins
• Let that run for 2 to 3 weeks and rack to secondary
• Add in another 200g of blackberries and let it finish and clear.

Turns out a 14-15% mead.

Happy brewing!

Thanks so much that! Honestly very helpful.
With mine I didn't mash the fruit I'm afraid. I used the regular tesco honey as its my first attempt I didn't want to waste some good honey!
The yeast packet that came with the equipment didn't give me much info, it said yeast/nutrient 7 day, whatever that means.
I'm very worried all the fruit is on top looking a bit ugly. Scared it's going to rot. Fingers crossed it goes well.

 

[Jack_0106]

Thanks so much that! Honestly very helpful.
With mine I didn't mash the fruit I'm afraid. I used the regular tesco honey as its my first attempt I didn't want to waste some good honey!
The yeast packet that came with the equipment didn't give me much info, it said yeast/nutrient 7 day, whatever that means.
I'm very worried all the fruit is on top looking a bit ugly. Scared it's going to rot. Fingers crossed it goes well.

You've got a fruit cap, give to a gentle swirl to get everything back saturated.
Last time I used a plain old supervalue brand honey but it was too refined and didn't ferment that well. Still came out to 13% but took a bit of babying to get going