Joe's Ancient Orange Mead

[Whut]

Gonna do 3 gallons of this today to be ready for the holidays. Thanks Yoop!

 

[dan09554]

I have 2 one gallon batches 2 weeks in. I know I've got a while yet but, when I rack the golden nector do I do I put it into the bottles or put in another clean carboy for a while?

 

[funkadelicturkey]

into da bottles...Page 1..."Racking --- Don't you dare" If you can't live without racking then 2-3 months when all the yeasties have finish floating and found their way to the bottom

 

[KCBigDog]

I just put one of these together. First Mead. Here is a pic:

http://s1108.photobucket.com/albums/h416/GreatKazou/?action=view&current=IMG00232.jpg

 

[KCBigDog]

Is it safe to bottle this in regular beer bottles with a capper?

What about the plastic screw top beer bottles?

Just did it tonight, so I won't be bottling for quite some time, but I don't have a wine corker.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

You would actually be better off in beer bottles than wine bottles. Hopefully the yeasties will be done doing their thing before you put them in a bottle. But, if some of them get a little happy and ferment a bit more the beer bottles would stand up to the pressure better. Best case scenario involves champagne bottles, corks, and cages but I don't think that is necessary.

FWIW I put a batch of JAO in beer bottles just a few days ago.

 

[collegebrewer13]

I just racked this today and tasted it. I followed the recipe precisely EXCEPT I used champagne yeast. And WOW, VERY HIGH alcohol content. Will it get better if I let it sit?

 

[Brewmiser]

yes, mine has gotten better, but it is still very strong so I'm giving mine even more time. maybe I'll just save it for winter...

 

[collegebrewer13]

are going to just bottle it now and late it sit?

 

[Davincy]

I just racked this today and tasted it. I followed the recipe precisely EXCEPT I used champagne yeast. And WOW, VERY HIGH alcohol content. Will it get better if I let it sit?

Yes it will get better over time as flavours blend together. I bottled mine 8 months ago and it is now awesome. When your mead is clear, bottle and let it sit. I started to drink mine after 4 months.

I need to make a 5 gallon batch of this !

 

[Brewmiser]

are going to just bottle it now and late it sit?

i put mine in 2 half gallon jugs for now. but I would think you could bottle it too...

 

[commonsenseman]

I just racked this today and tasted it. I followed the recipe precisely EXCEPT I used champagne yeast. And WOW, VERY HIGH alcohol content. Will it get better if I let it sit?

It is quite possible that yours will never be very good. This recipe is specifically designed for bread yeast. It needs some sweetness to taste good, otherwise it'll be very bitter & take forever to age.

Here's hoping though!

 

[funkadelicturkey]

First, thanks for the recipe!!!
I made a couple of batches on 3/20/11

One with bread yeast and one with Lalvin EC-1118
The bread yeast batch has cleared up nicely but the Lalvin one is still cloudy, maybe the yeast are still working?

moving these ever so slightly kicks up a lot of sediment, It seems like it'd be very tricky to bottle clear without racking off the sediment 1st even with a mini autosiphon.

 

[Weenis]

Today (6/4) I racked a 4.5 gallon batch started exactly 2 months ago (4/4) with bread yeast except mine looks more like your cloud 1118 batch above rather than your clear bread yeast batch.

Gravity was 1.05 down from 1.14 so ~ 12% abv with no noticeable airlock activity. I tasted a spoon full, it was hot (young) and the spice was nice. It was quite sweet but not nearly as sweet as I was feared at 1.05 so I'm guessing there were some heavyish non-fermentables in the honey.

How low should the gravity go and how sweet is the finished mead supposed to be?

 

[Fpmurphy]

This sounds great!

I ordered a 15gal fermenter, because I can't pass up a deal, but up until now I had no idea what I was going to put in it.

Now, since I'm doing a 15gal batch, should I still only use 1tsp yeast? I know that for people doubling it and stuff, the general consensus is to keep the same amount, but should I put maybe 3tsp in?

 

[louie0202]

Made 5 batches...

Same recipe different types of yeast: Bread yeast, Lalvin 71B-1122 Yeast, Lalvin EC-1118 Yeast, Lalvin K1V-1116 Yeast, Red Star Champaigne Yeast

 

[400d]

how to get rid of the orange junk and the yeast on the bottom? orange junk is the biggest problem. how to filter this before bottling?

 

[jeepinjeepin]

A piece of cheesecloth on your racking wand will go a long way on controlling the orange pulp. The yeast is another story. It's very fine and doesn't form a strong cake. Your best bet is to not move it any and siphon it off working from the top down until you see the yeast starting to lift.

 

[blewis1984]

I made this for the first time a couple days ago. As I was pushing my orange slices into the carboy I thought, "How am I suppose to get these out?".

Well?

 

[jeepinjeepin]

They get pretty soft. Depending on how small you cut them some may shake out. Chopsticks can help. Get creative.

 

[DeadNutsBrewing]

Just bottled a 2 gallon batch of this. It came out around 13%! I had to sneak a taste and wow...

 

[spencerdhg]

I stumbled across this recipe a couple of months back and made a gallon of it. I had forgotten about it till I saw this thread again. I took a look at the bottle last night, and it looks like all the oranges are on the bottom of the jug now. I'll bottle and post some pics this weekend!

Still, has anyone tried carbing a bottle, or is it not worth even trying?

 

[Weenis]

Three months and one week ago I started a five gallon batch Zero change in gravity since the first rack (at the 2 month mark) so I am sitting at 1.05 down from 1.12 so 12% alcohol.

At two months it was hot with a nice pumpkin spice flavor.

Today the color is noticiably darker. Aroma is that of honey and rubbing alcohol with a hit of rotten orange.

Flavor is no longer "hot" and the spice flavor is gone but it tastes better than it smells.

Today the flavor is sweet honey with green herbal overtones and a strong finish of toasted almonds. The sweetness is way lower than you would expect from 1.05 but a lot sweeter than bourbon or rum.

 

[mkirkland]

So i just made this recipe for the first time. Actually my first mead ever as well. I made it without the raisins and with 3# of clover honey.

My only problem is i forgot to take my OG reading before i set it to ferment. Its fermenting its ass off as we speak after only about 1-2 hours. Anyone have a good estimate for this recipe with 3# honey and about 2/3 water to fill it to 1 gallon mark?


EDIT: OK, after some searching i think i figured it out..It should be around 1.115
Does this sound correct?

 

[commonsenseman]

Hmm, I calculate 1.108 but not too different.

 

[theKupiiBrewerii]

This is my first post in the forums... I just started brewing my first brew was a double chocolate oatmeal stout and I saw this thread. This seems WAY easier. I am gonna make my first 1 gallon batch tomorrow night after I bottle my beer. The only variation is I am going to use clementines. Hope all goes well I will let you guys know.

 

[michael88n]

The only variation is I am going to use clementines.

I love clementines. You're going to have to let us know how your meade turns out.

 

[theKupiiBrewerii]

Just over 2 weeks in and it is bubbleing nicely. I have airlock activity every 7 seconds. Unfortunately I can't tell how clear it it because i used a 1 gallon container that was not completely clear. I am keeping it in a cooler to keep it away from temp changes and light in my living room. So far so good.

 

[oldmate]

Just got a 2 gal batch of this going. No raisins though, don't like the taste. Just doing normal staggered nutrient addition though.

 

[KCBigDog]

Mine has been going for 9 weeks, and the oranges haven't dropped yet.