Search results

I have my first basic mead that I made in early January. I just racked it for the 2nd time and tasted. Lots of alcohol but not a whole lot of flavor. Should I let it go longer to see how the flavor adjust? I was thinking of throwing in some cinnamon/vanilla or something for the long aging...

There is my first mistake as I sit here drinking a Guinness Draught. Draught is what I am looking for, sorry.

Does anyone have an award winning stout recipe similar to a Guinness there are willing to share? This will be my frist attempt at a brew. All meads, melomels, ciders so far.

Yesterday I made 6 gals of Ken Schramm's Ginger Melomel. This thing was completed by 11AM and was looking great right up until 11:30 PM when I went to bed. I woke up and went to add some nutrient and while heading down the stairs I could smell the a wonderful ginger scent and was thinking...

OG reading on 1/20/10 - 1.110 Reading on 2/18/10 - 1.014 Another .014 +/- and I'll be racking to secondary. I may split up using a little to top of other melomels, some left as is and some with a little vanilla bean added for 2 months aging before bottling. Any thoughts?

While all my carboys are being filled with some tasty nectors that will take a good while to finish I am looking for a tasty mead that will finish is a shorter time (if it exists). Any recipies worth trying?

What creative ideas are you all using to fill the head space in your carboys? What is the most water you would ever add to a gallon or 5 gal batch?

Will Go-Firm and Fermaid K do their job if added directly to the must without any prep (heating) prior to pitching the yeast? If this is a problem how should I correct it (5 gals)?

I started a sweet cherry melomel (6 gals) and added 2 cans of Oregon Sweet Cherry Puree which has all settled to the bottom. The yeast is going loco on it which is great. My question is should I mix it up/aerate it and if so how often and for how long (months/weeks)?

I am planning to build a wine cellar/tasting room/humidor next to my game room in the basement. The room will be about 20' x 15'. I am looking for wine rack plans that will combine a number of storage mediums to showcase both bottles and cases as well as store/age any wines I make myself. I am...

Searched both already. Times seem to have shut down all the reclaimers in this area. Plenty of metal scrappers though. I live across the street from a large library and have already taken out every book on wine and woodworking I can find. Wine books have nothing with plans and woodworking...

I have been searching far and wide for designs to build my own wine racks for my cellar. I am looking for the type you see in custom cellars but can only find the typical garbage on the internet. Has anyone built their own and have plans/designs you are willing to share. I am contracting...

I would certainly be interested in a mead group. I f we could find a central location to meet maybe Ken and others would have an interest. Any thoughts?

I just started this glorious hobby and am not part of any club yet. I have been trying to find one that wasn't an hour drive from where I am at and have not found one yet. I am at Commerce Rd. and Union Lake Rd. If you know of any options I am game.

Ken, I had already pitched a 5 gm pkg of 1118 before I read your posting. Looks like rocket fuel it is. What should the reading be when I rack off the yeast now, below 1.00? I guess I should have just let it ferment for about a 30-45 days before doing anything. The storage temp is about 64 now...

Just picked up some test strips. The ph 3.7 +/- so it appears to be fine. The brewing stor told me to pitch 5 gm packet of Lalvin EC-118 and let her go. Any thoughts?

I used Ken Schramm's recipe from The Complete Meadmaker which he titles it a Medium Show Mead. I do not have the ability to check PH at this time. I do have energizer, fermaid K and Go-ferm but no yeast hulls.

Yes, mine is a common hydrometer begining with .990. My reading is just below the .40 mark. The OG reading read at the 10 mark below the 1.100 in the middle of the hydrometer.

I'm sorry it is 1.039. Hydrometer reading.

15.5 Cups Windmill Farms Wildflower 4.5 Gal Spring Water 10 oz. Lalvin D-47 Yeast 2 tsp. Yeast Energizer 2 tsp. Yeast Nutrient OG 1.1 Piched on 1/20/10 (19 days) Temp 64-66 It is a beautiful creamy, golden color. The reading now is 0.39 not 1.039. I may be wrong but I tought it should...