Don't mess with kits

[Cheesefood]

I think kits are over-priced. If you see a kit you like and can't figure out a substitute, post it here and let's see if we can find it cheaper than advertised.

 

[magno]

A mead kit?

 

[Toilet Rocker]

This is a great idea.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

The first beer I ever made was a Geordi Lager kit that my wife gave me for x-mas years ago along with the starter equipment. I have followed/formulated recipes ever since. It's not that hard to do. Besides, experimentation is what homebrewing is all about anyway, and kit brewing isn't experimenting.

 

[BrewFrick]

Listen, kit beer/mead/wine has its own place in the hobby, or else no one would market it anymore. For new brewers/winemakers they are all inclusive and can build the needed confidence to move on to the next step. They are also a very easy way to put together a recipe that you know will be the same every time you make it. Even following recipes to the letter you can always end up with a different product due to grain steeping, hop boiling, malt caramelization, boil volume, etc. So don't be knockin the kits just cause you don't use them or see a need for them, they have their place.

 

[Kayos]

Listen,

This is one for the fav. word thread! Anytime a sentence starts with "listen", it will be a good show to come....

 

[the_bird]

I'm pretty sure that Cheese is just talking about mead kits here, not beer kits.

 

[Cheesefood]

Just Mead kits. I bought one and way overpaid compared to what I've found the market place to charge. For example:

http://www.glorybeefoods.com/gbf/Sh...SC=5&P=11618&Product_Name=honey, clover blend
versus
http://northernbrewer.com/mead.html

 

[Vermicous]

I have not been happy with any of the on-line honey prices. Check out local farmer's markets, (in season of course) local bee-keepers may be selling honey there, usually for good prices.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Just Mead kits.

Oops. Silly me. As Emily Letrella would say on SNL:

Never mind. Bitch.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

Just Mead kits. I bought one and way overpaid compared to what I've found the market place to charge. For example:

http://www.glorybeefoods.com/gbf/Sh...SC=5&P=11618&Product_Name=honey, clover blend
versus
http://northernbrewer.com/mead.html

How many pounds per gallon? I'm guessing around 15 or so? Honey seems pretty dense to me....

 

[DraconianHand]

How many pounds per gallon? I'm guessing around 15 or so? Honey seems pretty dense to me....

I believe it is more like 20 pounds per gallon. I just did a mead and used 10 pounds of honey. The 2 five pound containers looked to be about a quart each, or a half gallon for the two of them.

 

[DraconianHand]

You can use a 5 gallon carboy for brewing a mead using 1 gallon of honey. The more honey you have, the more sugar there is to ferment. Depending on how sweet you want your mead to be will determine which type of yeast you will use and how long you will let it ferment.

Check out GotMead.com for more detailed information and a primer on mead making.

Edit: In retrospect, I think the 5 pound containers of honey I got were somewhere in between a quart and a 1/2 gallon.

 

[NurseNan]

1 gallon of honey is about 12 lbs

 

[skou]

1 gallon of honey is about 12 lbs

At least it is wherever I've seen it. And, I work in 2 different stores that sell honey.

steve

 

[Torchiest]

I have not been happy with any of the on-line honey prices. Check out local farmer's markets, (in season of course) local bee-keepers may be selling honey there, usually for good prices.

I think that's a pretty good idae. Local honey will help you with any allergies you have as well.

 

[MikeRLynch]

I think that's a pretty good idae. Local honey will help you with any allergies you have as well.

Lol, i've heard of this. Something about the bees taking pollen from the local flowers, which essentially serves as inocculation against those kinds of pollens. It would be a good advertisement for mead, (Drink this, not only will it get you drunk, you'll stop sneezing too!) except maybe for my fiance, who is so bloody allergic she'd probably blow up and die from eating pure local honey

o well, buyer beware

mike

 

[ayrton]

Costco sells 5 lbs. of honey for $5.69. It's been a long time since I made mead (SWMBO isn't a fan, sadly), but that's a good price.

EDIT: Also, the bucket in the first link that Cheese posted shows that 1 gallon is 11 lbs., 9 ounces, which is what NurseNan said.

 

[Cheesefood]

I believe it is more like 20 pounds per gallon. I just did a mead and used 10 pounds of honey. The 2 five pound containers looked to be about a quart each, or a half gallon for the two of them.

20 pounds per gallon?
Yikes!

More like 3-5 pounds per gallon of water. So, one gallon of honey (12 pounds) mixes with 4 gallons of water to give you a dry mead.

 

[DraconianHand]

Yeah, I was off on that. I went back and checked the conainers and they were about a half gallon for 5 lbs (I had washed the labels off).

20 lbs per gallon would probably be incredibly viscous.

 

[Cheesefood]

Yeah, I was off on that. I went back and checked the conainers and they were about a half gallon for 5 lbs (I had washed the labels off).

20 lbs per gallon would probably be incredibly viscous.

Can I get a recipe for that vanilla cinammon mead? That sounds awesome.

 

[Pumbaa]

Can I get a recipe for that vanilla cinammon mead? That sounds awesome.

http://winemakermag.com/feature/629.html
Redstone Meadery Vanilla Bean / Cinnamon Stick Mead clone
(5 gallon/19 L, honey and spices)
OG = 1.102 FG = 1.012 ABV = 12%
Every December 21st, I make mead. For many years I would make a 10-gallon (38 L) batch leaving half of it traditional and half with either vanilla beans or vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks. I would age it two years and then serve it at the annual Winter Solstice party from a special bottle.
— David Myers, Redstone Meadery

Ingredients
8 lbs. (3.6 kg) alfalfa honey
4 lbs (1.8 kg) wildflower honey
1 tbsp. yeast nutrient
(or 1 tbsp. extra light malt extract)
3-4 whole vanilla beans
3–4 cinnamon sticks
Red Star Montrachet yeast

Step by Step
Bring 4 gallons (15 L) of water up to 180 °F (82 °C) in your kettle and then add 12 lbs. (5.4 kg) of honey. Cover for 20 to 30 minutes at around 150 to 160 °F (66–71 °C).

Now is a good time to start your yeast. For mead, I like to use dried yeast. Take a few packets of Montrachet yeast. Mix with a tablespoon of extra light malt extract. Stir vigorously so as to introduce oxygen.

Primary fermentation most likely will take three to four months. Try to keep the fermentation temperature between 70 and 78 °F (21–26 °C) if possible. After primary, transfer to a 5-gallon (19 L) carboy that already has the vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks in it. Just toss the cinnamon sticks in whole. Cut the vanilla beans into thirds before adding. The vanilla beans in particular need the alcohol in the mead to help extract the flavor. Let it sit for three months or so. Transfer off the spices. Keep racking until you are pleased with the clarity of the mead. Bottle still (without bottling sugar).

 

[mizzoueng]

I just ordered a mead kit, first time making it so I just went with a kit.

12 pounds of Clover Honey
5 ounces Corn Priming Sugar
Yeast Nutrient
White Labs Sweet Mead 720 Pitchable Yeast

Total of $41.95


Buy Each Alone Equivalnet

Clover Honey, 3 -5 pound bottles - $37.80 (Amazon.com)
Dextrose - $00.51 (bodybuilding.com)
Yeast Nutrient - $02.24 (thehomebrewingstore.com)
White Labs Yeast - $07.95 (whitelabs.com)

Total of $48.50

I guess it depends on what you use. I am sure local honey is cheaper if I buy directly from the source. But if you are a seasoned veteran homebrewer, then you probably already know this and don't buy kits.

 

[DraconianHand]

Cheese,

Here is the recipe I used. I haven't tried it yet, so I can't vouch for it. I think I will try brewing the Redstone recipe at a later date.



Vanilla Cinnamon Mead

Size: 5.0 gal
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 70%

Original Gravity: 1.064 (1.026 - 1.120)
Terminal Gravity: 1.019 (0.995 - 1.035)
Color: 0.2 (1.0 - 50.0)
Alcohol: 5.87% (2.5% - 14.5%)
Bitterness: 0.0 (0.0 - 100.0)

Ingredients:
5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (AKA Fermax) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
4.0 oz Vanilla (extract) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1 ea White Labs WLP720 Sweet Mead/Wine
6.0 ea Cinnamon (stick) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
10 lbs Honey, Wildflower

Notes:
Heat 2 gallons of water to 155 F
Add 10 pounds of honey, stir well
Add 3 gallons cold water
Cool must to 70F
Rack to primary fermenter
Add nutrients and stir
Pitch yeast
Ferment 1 week (or until fermentation slows)
Add cinnamon and vanilla to secondary fermenter
Rack mead to secondary fermenter

 

[Beerrific]

I think kits are over-priced. If you see a kit you like and can't figure out a substitute, post it here and let's see if we can find it cheaper than advertised.

I bought a kit from AHS and didn't make it right of (well a year ago). I am up to making it now, ordering new hops and yeast. I looked at the instructions and added up the cost of everything that it included and if you buy everything separate it comes out to be a bit more expensive.

I think that retailer that are in it for the money will definitely jack up the price.

So I agree that, as yours skills progress, get off the kit crutch.

Anyway, thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it future.

 

[fretman124]

Cheese,

Here is the recipe I used. I haven't tried it yet, so I can't vouch for it. I think I will try brewing the Redstone recipe at a later date.



Vanilla Cinnamon Mead

Size: 5.0 gal
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 70%

Original Gravity: 1.064 (1.026 - 1.120)
Terminal Gravity: 1.019 (0.995 - 1.035)
Color: 0.2 (1.0 - 50.0)
Alcohol: 5.87% (2.5% - 14.5%)
Bitterness: 0.0 (0.0 - 100.0)

Ingredients:
5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (AKA Fermax) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
4.0 oz Vanilla (extract) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1 ea White Labs WLP720 Sweet Mead/Wine
6.0 ea Cinnamon (stick) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
10 lbs Honey, Wildflower

Notes:
Heat 2 gallons of water to 155 F
Add 10 gallons of honey, stir well
Add 3 gallons cold water
Cool must to 70F
Rack to primary fermenter
Add nutrients and stir
Pitch yeast
Ferment 1 week (or until fermentation slows)
Add cinnamon and vanilla to secondary fermenter
Rack mead to secondary fermenter

Thats a lot of Hunney!!!! Like....120 pounds worth!!!!!

 

[DraconianHand]

Yes...well...it takes about 14 years to reach final gravity.

I have corrected my error.

Add 10 pounds of honey, stir well