Buying Bulk Honey

[Homercidal]

I got a price of $1.55 a lb. at the local bakery. I have no idea what the quality is. I have not used it yet. It comes in the 5 G bucket and says Wildflower Honey on it, which I think just means they have no idea and no control. I think it's worth trying at least.

I might just try 2.5 gallons to start though. I would hate to waste all that honey on a mistake. I've never done any kind of wine before (save for Ed's Apfelwein), so we'll see how it goes.

 

[wayneb]

One other note - "baker's honey" is also often not in the "usual" range of sugar concentration - often it is lower in sugar and higher in water content. This will have two effects on your mead. First, it can skew your recipe amounts a bit. Second, it can more readily "go off" since diluted honey doesn't have the same antimicrobial properties as does full concentration honey.

Baker's honey is a crap shoot, and for me, with as much work as I put into a batch of mead, it isn't worth the risk. Still, if your budget is very tight, making mead out of honey that you can afford is far better than making no mead at all! Just keep in mind that it may not turn out as an award winner -- it may not even turn out consistently from batch to batch.

 

[chef201atc]

I'm new to the forums (and to mead making) and just wanted to echo what was said in some earlier post here - this is a great site with tons of information. I've already learned a lot just reading for a few minutes.

One question about using bulk honey - If I were to buy a 5 gallon bucket of honey, what is the best way to work with it? I mean, how would I accurately measure, say 18 lbs for a recipe (or whatever amount). With a gallon jug, if I want 12 lbs, I dump the whole thing in. Can't very well do that with a 60 lb bucket.

Thanks again for the awesome site!

 

[bubbachunk]

I'm new to the forums (and to mead making) and just wanted to echo what was said in some earlier post here - this is a great site with tons of information. I've already learned a lot just reading for a few minutes.

One question about using bulk honey - If I were to buy a 5 gallon bucket of honey, what is the best way to work with it? I mean, how would I accurately measure, say 18 lbs for a recipe (or whatever amount). With a gallon jug, if I want 12 lbs, I dump the whole thing in. Can't very well do that with a 60 lb bucket.

Thanks again for the awesome site!

Well I have a scale around my kitchen that i throw a bowl or pot on then zero, and put however much in I need. I think I got mine off amazon for like 20-30$ and it has been well worth it as it is helpful not only for wine and beer making (hops spices etc) but also for serving sizes for meals.

 

[Homercidal]

One other note - "baker's honey" is also often not in the "usual" range of sugar concentration - often it is lower in sugar and higher in water content. This will have two effects on your mead. First, it can skew your recipe amounts a bit. Second, it can more readily "go off" since diluted honey doesn't have the same antimicrobial properties as does full concentration honey.

Baker's honey is a crap shoot, and for me, with as much work as I put into a batch of mead, it isn't worth the risk. Still, if your budget is very tight, making mead out of honey that you can afford is far better than making no mead at all! Just keep in mind that it may not turn out as an award winner -- it may not even turn out consistently from batch to batch.

Well, I'm not exactly tight for money, per se, but I would like to give it a go and not spend much trying. I know very little about honey and mead. I have tried a couple and enjoyed them. Not as much as beer, but better than wine.

I don't aspire to make great mead at this time, and very likely wouldn't know the difference anyway.

 

[thekid]

honey is 12 pounds to a gal , 12 ounce to a cup , 1 1/2 cup to a pound ,, 60 pounds to 5 gals ,, for mead most do 15 pounds mixed with water to make 5 gals ,,
for buying honey , google your state beekeeping clubs ,, they will have a member that will have honey ,,

"baker's honey" is also often not in the "usual" range of sugar concentration - often it is lower in sugar and higher in water content.

all honey has about the same sweetness ,, but if honey has a water content higher then 17% it forments ,,and even the bees don't take it .. bakers honey may be from china or some other place , and or mixed with corn syurp .. honey is shipped from one countryto another to get around treifs , this is why some countrys ex port more honey then is produced in that country .. the US is working on a bill , some states have it as law now , called the honey bill ,, if you want to read what it is about google it and you will find it . it says honey that is sold as honey, has to be pure honey ,, and any thing that has honey in its name has to have honey in it ,, as now some products have honey in the name , but no honey in the product ..
I don't want to sound like a smart a## the first time I post , but I'm a beekeeper ,,this is why I am so up on honey ..
I'll get off the soap box now ..

 

[TheBrewingMedic]

honey is 12 pounds to a gal , 12 ounce to a cup , 1 1/2 cup to a pound ,, 60 pounds to 5 gals ,, for mead most do 15 pounds mixed with water to make 5 gals

Numbers to live by

"baker's honey" is also often not in the "usual" range of sugar concentration - often it is lower in sugar and higher in water content.

And also commonly filtered into submission all to increase solubility and ease of use.

the US is working on a bill , some states have it as law now , called the honey bill.

Many states have no definition of what honey is, so anyone can put anything in a jar and call it honey, It looks like honey, but in fact it’s high fructose corn syrup. Under the new bill, only pure honey could be labeled as such. Honey imported from China and elsewhere is often cut with corn syrup, undercutting the price of pure honey and increased pesticide use on farms has beekeepers losing large percentages of their colonies. Unfortunately bill
HB 159, cross filed with SB 193, which will help with all of this, was heard in the House of Delegates last year, but went back to the drawing board for technical errors.

I don't want to sound like a smart a## the first time I post , but I'm a beekeeper ,,this is why I am so up on honey ..
I'll get off the soap box now ..

It's easy to share information and on this forum very much welcomed without sounding like a smart%$$, welcome to HBT, look forward to hearing more about your bees.

 

[Mozonbik]

I Beekeeper from Ukraine seeking markets for their honey.
My e-mail [email protected]

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Who has everyone dealt with?
I was looking to purchase from here as it was the best price I could find. Anyone with any experience with them?

My local guy only sells some sort of wildflower blend he wont specify and I can only buy 1 gallon at a time for 2.5$ a lb. He also said he wont be selling even in the gallon bulk til the spring when he has a new harvest so I will be s.o.l.

$148.00 / 60lbs = $2.46 / lb. You'll save anywhere from 60 cents to $2.00, depending on local prices & availability. They don't mention shipping prices, but I doubt they have free shipping, you'll have to include that in your total cost. Odds are that the shipping will eat up any savings you get on the actual price of the honey & then some.

If you can find the variety of honey you want locally for under $3 / lb, I'd go with that. Otherwise you're sort of forced to either drive to get it or have it shipped to you. At least having it shipped (most likely) gives you a much better selection of varietals to choose from. Face it, unless you have your own bee hive, honey ain't cheap.

I can get local wildflower honey in bulk (33lbs or more), for about $1.79 / lb, but I only use that for melomels as it has a rather generic honey flavour. So for me, it's cheap & generic vs more expensive & varietal. Both have their pros & cons. But no matter what, one way or another, you have to pay to play.
Regards, GF.

 

[sweetcell]

i've put together a spreadsheet with info on various online honey sellers: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f30/price-honey-search-best-deal-spreadsheet-442301/

 

[IJesusChrist]

Is anyone sure dutch gold is high quality (i.e. not adulterated)? I find it hard to believe with their prices. I've used their stuff, and I enjoy it, but I just wonder...

 

[ostensibly]

I thought it was heat-pasteurized, but now I can't find anything about on their site.

 

[sweetcell]

Is anyone sure dutch gold is high quality (i.e. not adulterated)? I find it hard to believe with their prices. I've used their stuff, and I enjoy it, but I just wonder...

from the company (added emphasis is mine):

FROM: Monika Edwards <[email protected]>
TO: sweetcell
RE: Ask the Expert Inquiry
DATE: 10/28/13

Thank you for taking the time to write us with your question.

For over 65 years Dutch Gold is a still family owned and operated company. Dutch Gold purchases honey from beekeepers throughout the US, Canada and other countries.

Dutch Gold does not sell raw honey but filters all raw honey to remove pieces of bee parts, beeswax and other materials that would be visible to the human eye, such as dust and pollen, from the honey prior to packaging. The absence of pollen does not indicate the product is no longer honey. Dutch Gold Honey is 100% pure; all-natural Grade A Honey.

Our processing steps do include a flash heating step (to 185 degrees F) for five minutes; force pressed through paper filters then the honey is quickly cooled and packaged. This step does significantly reduce microbiological activity and ******* the rate of honey&#8217;s natural tendency to crystallize.

Quality and purity are very instrumental to Dutch Gold. Nothing is added to our honey; it is 100% pure. The raw honey we purchase is tested for purity and residues and must pass all our stringent quality requirements before it is accepted for use. We will not compromise our reputation or our quality. Please enjoy Dutch Gold Honey with confidence.

I have attached a brochure we put together which includes a press release about nutrition and heating honey from the National Honey Board that I thought you might enjoy reading.

Best regards,


Monika Edwards
Administrative Assistant/Customer Service
Dutch Gold Honey
2220 Dutch Gold Drive
Lancaster, PA 17601
717-393-1716 x135
717-393-0398

[email protected]
www.dutchgoldhoney.com

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Thanks for posting this Sweetcell, Makes me feel better about doing biz with Dutch Gold.
Regards, GF.

 

[Beek]

I'll sell you a 55gal barrel of honey at 2.10 per pound. Might be too much honey for you though


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[Safa]

Crap, I'll bite on that offer! Just promise me you'll drop the barrel off!

 

[Beek]

Haha!! I don't make it to GA more than a few times a year. Actually we winter our bees in South Georgia. My uncle is down there right now delivering 60 barrels of our honey to a bottler in North Georgia. You'll have to come to Michigan for that offer. Or pay freight. Haha!


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[2drunk2]

Michigan? How far from the Indiana line?

 

[Beek]

Three hours or so.


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[2drunk2]

I could make that trip sometime for that price on honey. I travel to Detroit, Manistee, all over Michigan for work.

 

[2drunk2]

I just reread that. Not sure I could even transport 55 gallons...lol

 

[Beek]

Yeah 55 gallons is a lot. Weighs right around 700 pounds usually. If you are ever in Mid-michigan, Mt Pleasant area, let me know and I can bottle up some 5lb jugs for you for 15 bucks each. That's our retail price on those. Pure Michigan honey. Way better than the crap you can buy at Walmart.


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[JRW1]

now THATS a good deal. way to go Beek. Cheers.

 

[Safa]

Champion! Man I need to find some local bee keepers, I don't even care if they charge the same or a little more than walmart, I'd just love some quality unfiltered stuff!


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[2drunk2]

That sounds good.

 

[Firebeeman]

Just going out and start keeping honey bees. I have 2 hive in my back yard. I only use my honey for making beer and mead. 2 great hobbies to get into. I love my bees.


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[f0xtr0t]

You know heating the honey drives off volatiles that are beneficial. But then running it through the filters to strip put the pollen make it impossible to track where the honey comes from. So that honey very well could be from china.


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[Beek]

I definitely don't like that Dutch Gold filters out pollen. First of all, pollen is good for you. Secondly, if there is no pollen it's impossible to trace. Most likely it is coming from overseas. A bottler here in Michigan got hit with a huge fine for buying honey from overseas, filtering out the pollen, and selling it as US honey. The fine was in the millions. We run our honey through a filter that is similar to cheesecloth. Just gets wax pieces out. We heat it only to 120 so it will run through that filter. I believe that's still legally raw, although we don't market our honey as raw. As some people have said, one of the best ways to get honey for beer and mead is by having a couple beehives of your own. Try to find a local beek that will sell you a couple. The companies selling them are usually WAY overpricing. I've seen beeks selling hives for 150 bucks or less. A couple of them should get you 100 lbs or so of you take good care of them. Just don't ask me about buying hives haha! We don't sell any. But some beeks do.


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[IJesusChrist]

I definitely don't like that Dutch Gold filters out pollen. First of all, pollen is good for you. Secondly, if there is no pollen it's impossible to trace. Most likely it is coming from overseas. A bottler here in Michigan got hit with a huge fine for buying honey from overseas, filtering out the pollen, and selling it as US honey. The fine was in the millions. We run our honey through a filter that is similar to cheesecloth. Just gets wax pieces out. We heat it only to 120 so it will run through that filter. I believe that's still legally raw, although we don't market our honey as raw. As some people have said, one of the best ways to get honey for beer and mead is by having a couple beehives of your own. Try to find a local beek that will sell you a couple. The companies selling them are usually WAY overpricing. I've seen beeks selling hives for 150 bucks or less. A couple of them should get you 100 lbs or so of you take good care of them. Just don't ask me about buying hives haha! We don't sell any. But some beeks do.


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Most states require licensing to keep bees. It's not always as simple as just buying hives and bees. Although I wish it were.

 

[Beek]

Well it's never that simple of course. I guess I didn't think about that. I live way out in the boondocks. We do pretty much what we want.


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