Joe's Ancient Orange Mead

[Hazroth]

I was just playing it safe not knowing what to expect. Should I top off with some honey and water? Of course we wouldn't want to water it down any. lol

Id just watch it for infection or oxidation, your co2 levels might be high enough I don't know w/o looking at it. Id venture to say your fine though if you properly sanitized.

 

[huesmann]

I dunno. If you have to unlock the carboy for whatever reason, you might consider pouring it all into a smaller one with little headspace. But if you leave your airlock on from pitching your yeast until you bottle, I don't see a need to worry, since no air should be getting in.

 

[MacrosNZ]

I'm going to give this a go for the first time today. The guy at the brew store was a bit skeptical about using bread yeast. Ahh well..

Being a kiwi I'm going to try one that uses chinese gooseberries in it instead of oranges

 

[Tnoodle]

I'm going to give this a go for the first time today. The guy at the brew store was a bit skeptical about using bread yeast. Ahh well..

Being a kiwi I'm going to try one that uses chinese gooseberries in it instead of oranges

The guys at my HBS were the same way until they tasted it. Go for it, it's fun and easy.

 

[veritas524]

Took a sample after a month and some change in the fermentor... It appears that my bread yeast crapped out at 1.045. Doing to pick up some D-47 from the store on Friday and see if that will finish it off.

 

[veritas524]

Just for clarification .045 after 5 weeks.with no activity is.way too high right? Would repitching be advisable at this point?

 

[Tnoodle]

Just bottled 5 gallons, I made this one without the orange pith and it was 10x better than with the pith. There is no bitterness.

 

[STLExpat]

At one month, didn't add the extra water though. Was a little clearer when I took it out but one of my hands twitched while setting it down

 

[good11s]

gotta do this about 50 times just to make sure I like it!

 

[asderferjerkel]

Hey guys, I started a batch of this just over 3 months ago, but it still looks kinda cloudy:

(JAOM on the right, batch of apfelwein started at the same time on the left)

What's the recommended course of action here? Leave it in the carboy until it clears (though I need to bottle it within a month since I'm moving out) or just bottle it now? It was fermenting at about 60F so I guess it might have been going pretty slowly. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tnoodle]

Hey guys, I started a batch of this just over 3 months ago, but it still looks kinda cloudy:

(JAOM on the right, batch of apfelwein started at the same time on the left)

What's the recommended course of action here? Leave it in the carboy until it clears (though I need to bottle it within a month since I'm moving out) or just bottle it now? It was fermenting at about 60F so I guess it might have been going pretty slowly. Thanks in advance!

I would let it sit as long as possible, it will clear. If it doesn't just stick it in the fridge for a couple of days and then bottle.

 

[SCOdoubleT]

I just bottled my 1 year old batch and it is tasting great! Possibly a little sweet for my own preference, but that's being picky. I will definitely be making this again very soon!

 

[CreamyGoodness]

You have been able to keep your hands off JAOM for a full year? Better man than I!

 

[veritas524]

Anyone have a ballpark FG for this?

 

[asderferjerkel]

I would let it sit as long as possible, it will clear. If it doesn't just stick it in the fridge for a couple of days and then bottle.

Thanks for the advice! I'll update in a few weeks if all goes well

 

[snevey]

Anyone have a ballpark FG for this?

Well, I don't know if mine's right or wrong, but I let it ferment for a YEAR. I started at 1.134 OG and my FG was 1.042. It's a bit sweet, but it's not bad.

 

[KCBigDog]

I just tried this for the first time. It's almost a year old. I'm pleasantly surprised. A bit sweet, but very good.

I wasn't expecting the amount of good flavors it has. Pretty complex considering it's made with baking yeast.

 

[2brew1cup]

Mine is covered in a thin layer of mold and tests like you will die if you drink it..

 

[Tnoodle]

Mine is covered in a thin layer of mold and tests like you will die if you drink it..

Take a pic

 

[NineMilBill]

I would let it sit as long as possible, it will clear. If it doesn't just stick it in the fridge for a couple of days and then bottle.

Thanks for the advice! I'll update in a few weeks if all goes well

I agree with letting it sit longer, but I would rack it to a secondary to get it off of the dead yeast.

 

[tulsabrewdaddy]

Gave this a try today..... Original, clementines, and a blueberry

 

[CreamyGoodness]

great job incorporating the honey tulsa. I usually dont bother, and let my yeasties devour their payload from the top down. I just started a batch of pear and a batch of pineapple over the weekend. I also have a batch of raspberry guava clarifying. Who knows how that is going to work out.

During Game of Thrones we were drinking the last batch of pineapple and pulling from the batch of cyser.

 

[salli4102]

Just started my third 5 gallon batch of JOAM and a 5 gallon batch of a blueberry-vanilla variation. My last batch of JOAM I used 15# of honey and it turned out a little sweet for my taste. This time I did 13# of honey (a gallon) to 4 gallons water. For the blueberry - vanilla I went with 14# honey to 4 gallons H2O. Two packets of Fleishman's per batch. I'm excited. It smells heavenly. I used premium Madagascar vanilla beans for the latter batch, the aroma made my mouth water. Can't wait for July. This is a great recipie.

 

[Bigbeavk]

I've been telling a guy at work to get a batch going and he's done 3 beers now so he's feeling frisky. He grabbed a box of Fanta Orange syrup that expired from the cafeteria and he's fermenting that lol. Who knows what it will taste like but what the heck he's experimenting.

 

[salli4102]

I've been telling a guy at work to get a batch going and he's done 3 beers now so he's feeling frisky. He grabbed a box of Fanta Orange syrup that expired from the cafeteria and he's fermenting that lol. Who knows what it will taste like but what the heck he's experimenting.

I think I'd be afraid to drink it.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Eh, I'd try it, but I dont think with all the schlock in that stuff the yeast could take hold... Ive been wrong many times before though.

 

[Big-J2000]

Just bottled my first batch of this tonight! I used a Cara Cara orange which has given this a very nice sweet orange taste. It's absolutely crystal clear! Followed the directions as stated and ha no problems. OG was 1.130 and it finished at 1.030. Enjoying the last bit that didn't make it into the bottles. I can get the alcohol mixed with orange and honey in the nose. He taste is orange up front with a nice lingering honey and raisin finish. The alcohol is hot, but not burning. Will give this a month or so in the bottle and taste it again. It's safe to say that I will be making this again! And since I live in the Sunshine State, oranges and honey are plentiful. Next t I may try his with mangoes!

 

[cincybrewer]

I just made a batch of this. However, as easy as it was I still managed to screw up. Probably tried to make it too quickly and wasn't paying attention. For starters I ended up putting only a little over 3 lbs of honey in it. I bought two two-lb jugs of honey and poured in 1 and 1/2 jugs, thinking that was 3 1/2. Duh!! To make matters worse, I forgot how much the honey and oranges would add to the volume of the beer so I diluted the honey in way too much water and it wouldn't fit in my gallon jug so I had to pour some of the honey/water mixture out.....Damn me. I might try this again because I don't want to wait 6 months to a year to realize it's not any good.

 

[BrewersKaramazov]

I just made a batch of this. However, as easy as it was I still managed to screw up. Probably tried to make it too quickly and wasn't paying attention. For starters I ended up putting only a little over 3 lbs of honey in it. I bought two two-lb jugs of honey and poured in 1 and 1/2 jugs, thinking that was 3 1/2. Duh!! To make matters worse, I forgot how much the honey and oranges would add to the volume of the beer so I diluted the honey in way too much water and it wouldn't fit in my gallon jug so I had to pour some of the honey/water mixture out.....Damn me. I might try this again because I don't want to wait 6 months to a year to realize it's not any good.

You didn't screw it up, you just made your own variant. Get a second jug and start a rotation. Just "screw up" something different next time.

 

[cincybrewer]

Would less honey make a sweeter mead or dryer mead? Maybe that's a dumb question but I was thinking the more honey you add the more it would ferment out (like it would in a beer) and produce a dryer mead.

I have been looking around for another jug lately. I guess I could use a reused plastic jug, or a Carlos Rossi jug sounds like a good option.