Caramel Apple Mead

[digdan]

SummerSolstice (which was yesterday right?)

Would using Carmel coffee flavoring syrup after secondary/aging work? I know that it has fermentalble sugars, but it also has preservatives.

 

[summersolstice]

SummerSolstice (which was yesterday right?)

Would using Carmel coffee flavoring syrup after secondary/aging work? I know that it has fermentalble sugars, but it also has preservatives.

Yes, it was.

It might work but I'm philosophically opposed to putting any flavorings or extracts in most mead. This mead has such a caramelly flavor that I don't feel its necessary.

 

[toastermm]

Wow this is great. I just brewed this today- I tasted it before the yeasties did and it was delicious. It tasted just like a melted down caramel-apple pop. I can't wait for the yeasties to tone down the sugars and make some alcohol out of it.

Thanks summersolstice!!!

 

[summersolstice]

Wow this is great. I just brewed this today- I tasted it before the yeasties did and it was delicious. It tasted just like a melted down caramel-apple pop. I can't wait for the yeasties to tone down the sugars and make some alcohol out of it.

Thanks summersolstice!!!

Sláinte Mhath!

 

[jaeg1]

Did you warm the Buckwheat honey before racking on it? Seems the BW honey would be too thick to mix without helping it somehow.

Thanks

 

[summersolstice]

Did you warm the Buckwheat honey before racking on it? Seems the BW honey would be too thick to mix without helping it somehow.

Thanks

I believe I mixed a little mead or perhaps some water with it. I really don't remember.

 

[bubbachunk]

Ok so I tested this yesterday about 5 and a half months in and all I can say is amazing. Now the caramel flavor comes through great and it is exactly like a caramel apple with absolutely no alcohol bite. This is a dangerous drink for sure.

 

[InYerMouth]

I just found my first mead!!! OUTSTANDING!!

 

[flyweed]

Summersolstice, you are gonna put me in the poorhouse! I just ordered all the stuff to make this carmel apple mead, and then I just saw your cherry mead recipe,and NOW I gotta make that. Sounds really good!!!

Dan

 

[summersolstice]

lol! Welcome to the club! Fortunately I have a very understanding missus. It helps that she usually doesn't know when or how much I spend! Good luck - I'm sure you'll enjoy both. I just received my 2nd place ribbon from the NE State Fair for the year-old cherry mead.

 

[flyweed]

I never tell my wife what I spend on my brewing supplies....man she would kill me. ha ha ha.

Anyway...where do you get your Blackberry honey from? I am looking for a supplier online and have found a couple, but it's horribly expensive. Bout $8.00 a pound!!!!! I'll pay it if I have to, but if there's someplace cheaper, I'd love to know.

 

[summersolstice]

Anyway...where do you get your Blackberry honey from? I am looking for a supplier online and have found a couple, but it's horribly expensive. Bout $8.00 a pound!!!!!

I have a friend in Colorado who did a bulk order and I was able to get 60 lbs for $140. This isn't something he gets on a regular basis and whenever I see what I think is a good deal, I jump on it.

 

[flyweed]

Nice. After much research yesterday I did find an apiary that has bulk blackberry honey (not blackberry flavored) like some places try to sell. It is pure, raw and unfiltered, just screened for large chunks. I can get 18 pounds for $55 shipped. I think that's a pretty good deal. Plus they have others like Meadowfoam, orange blossom, buckwheat, raspberry blossom, tupelo and others. So I think I have a good source now.

Dan

 

[InYerMouth]

Hey Dan,

Where exactly is this source?? I would like to get some honey ordered and that seems like a fair price??

 

[InYerMouth]

Any ideas on the honey offered here?? Seems as tho I can get all the honey to make this mead for less than $40?? Seems like a good price??

http://www.millershoney.com/product/orange-blossom-1-gallon/

 

[InYerMouth]

I have a question about this. I assume I'm just adding 1 lb of Buckwheat honey to the carboy when I rack the mead. However, the recipe calls for a total of 2 lbs buckwheat honey. So, is this 1 lb, I quoted above, in addition to the 2 lbs listed?

Im confused??? In an earlier post it was not a third pound of buckwheat, however in this post it seems it is? Can I get some clarification please? Do I need a total of three lbs of buckwheat?

 

[flyweed]

Inyermouth...I am going to be ordering honey from Wayne and Kathy that own theflyingbeeranch...they only advertise on Ebay...no website. I talked to Wayne last night, and read nothing but positive comments on their products. I think 18 pounds of blackberry honey is going to cost me under $55..I think he said something like $52.50...so I am ordering from them. Hope that helps.
Dan

 

[summersolstice]

Im confused??? In an earlier post it was not a third pound of buckwheat, however in this post it seems it is? Can I get some clarification please? Do I need a total of three lbs of buckwheat?

What I probably did was add 2/3 of a qt, or about 2 lbs, to the initial recipe, reserving 1/3 qt, or about 1 lb. or so to add at the end. It's been so long I don't remember and I'm at work and I can't look at the original recipe.

 

[barrog]

hey all. I'm almost to the point of adding the vanilla beans and I have a question. Do I need to sanitize them in anyway or does the alcohol at this point make it safe to just toss them in?

 

[summersolstice]

Just drop them in. Some people slice them lengthwise first.

 

[flyweed]

I like to slice mine open...I think it helps really get out the flavor from the bean.

 

[LightningInABottle]

Mine fermented nicely down to the 1.010-1.012 range from OG 1.136. I varried the recipe slightly by adding 15 pounds of honey and then the next day adding 1 gallon of water. The cider I used was much sweeter than the spreadsheet calculator has it at so my original OG reading was 1.162! I wasn't sure if that was fermentable so I adjusted the spreadsheet calculator and it looked like 1 gallon of water would work nicely. Heck 1 more gallon of this stuff works out great for me!

So I obtained to vanilla beans and split them down the middle and opened them up. The only problem is now there is little black "seeds" flooating on the top.


Its cool to see different layers forming.


Do the black dots eventually sink? Should I wait for them to sink before racking into long term aging carboy?

I'm very excited about this one. My sample was already drinkable. Give this a year and it should be excellent Thank you SummerSolstice!

 

[summersolstice]

De nada. If you're worried about the seeds at racking, put some cheesecloth or panty hose over the tip of the racking cane. Personally, I wouldn't worry about them.

 

[flyweed]

Oops....sorry I wasn't clear....when I split my vanilla beans, I also scrape the inside of the beans to remove the seads. Then I put the split beans in....I don't add the seeds at all.

Dan

 

[LightningInABottle]

I thought they would add more flavor if I left them in since they were all resinous. I've never had a mead clear before and the vanilla beans seem to have started a clearing process at the top, and extends down in layers. 2 more disticnt layers have formed since I added the beans or could that be the work of the campden tablets?

Anyways I should have a nice mead to share over next years holidays :rockin:

 

[BaronIV]

do by chance remember where you got the 60L crystal malt and the dme from?

 

[LightningInABottle]

I got mine from a LHBS by the name of the Wine Barrel Plus in Livonia MI. winebarrel.com is the url.

 

[s3n8]

I just bottled my attempt at this, first mead I have ever made. It is 6 months old, and very flavorful at this point. Still a good bit of warm alcohol though. When does this stuff peak? How long does it keep?

 

[summersolstice]

I'm still drinking mine at - what - three-four years? If you take care of it it'll likely last for decades.

 

[s3n8]

I think I will put these in the basement and try one in 3 - 4 months. I hope it cools down a little.