Joe's Ancient Orange Mead

[huesmann]

You just need a vessel with more headspace. If you don't have one, split the batch up into two jugs.

 

[CraigT]

Just bottled mine last week that I made in the first week of April. Did 2.5 gallons and turned out great. And i was really happy that my bread yeast brought it down to a final gravity of 1.014

 

[Vomtaylor]

Joined the club today. Can't wait to try it in a few months

 

[feanarosurion]

I've had my JOAM going for about 6 weeks now. Looks like it's progressing fine. Oranges still haven't dropped but I've got a couple weeks yet before I'll start to get anxious. Unfortunately though, I'm in the middle of a bit of a brutal heat wave. The last 4 days or so have been quite warm, and as a result the area my mead is being stored in is at least 30 degrees C (not sure what that is fahrenheit, at least 80-85 I would think) and I'm wondering if I should try to find somewhere cooler for it. Nowhere else in my house is much better, but I might be able to find some place for it. Either way, should I be worried? Thanks.

 

[punkrkgrl]

Just started my first gallon this evening, I used slightly more oranges and a little less peel it was bubbling away in mins!

 

[newbrew77]

What temp should this be left at?

 

[punkrkgrl]

What temp should this be left at?

I think the recipe says 79-80 degrees

 

[punkrkgrl]

I think the recipe says 79-80 degrees

Oops 70- 80 lol

 

[Gribley]

Second batch going, first turned out amazing.

 

[Bigbeavk]

Sometimes the fruit will not drop so when it clears just bottle it up.

 

[rs4life]

Is it possible the change this easily to a apple cinnamon cyser or just a blueberry mead? I am not the biggest fan of oranges.

 

[Tnoodle]

Is it possible the change this easily to a apple cinnamon cyser or just a blueberry mead? I am not the biggest fan of oranges.

I have read about a few people doing this. I think that the oranges provide some acid to help offset the sweetness. But blueberry would probably be pretty good.

 

[DeadNutsBrewing]

Add about a lb of blueberries and a tsp of vanilla extract per gallon. I did this and it turned out great!

 

[Theshorey]

I started a batch on 2/18 and bottled it this weekend, so far out of 8 testers I've got 3 +1's and 5 "ok's"... since one of the +1's was from a guy that runs a winery with several award winning products and 30 years of wine making experiance I'd say it turned out pretty good...

 

[aryoung1980]

JAOM will be my first adventure into the world of mead. Started a 1 gal batch today. Now it's time to read this entire thread.

 

[Itsott]

Made my first one gallon batch today. Only problem I've had is now that's it's been going a few hours some of the honey seems to have settled at the bottom

 

[Tnoodle]

Made my first one gallon batch today. Only problem I've had is now that's it's been going a few hours some of the honey seems to have settled at the bottom

Just leave it, the yeast will still eat it.

 

[luda007]

Has anyone heard of the "True" orange?
They are little packets of 100% crystallized orange. Their more popular ones are lemon or line.
I was wondering if you guys think I could substitute the packet for the oranges. Each packet = an orange wedge.

 

[nmacholl]

I am curious if this recipe will work with a dry white wine yeast?
I have a packet of DYW84. The last mead I used it with came out very astringent. Does anybody have any experience with dryer yeasts in JAO?

 

[Vox]

I just made a 2.5 gallon batch of this (in an old Mr. Beer). I kept everything the same, just upped the honey to 5 lbs. Has anyone been able to carb it, or is the bread yeast a little too weak at the end of fermentation?

how did this turn out using Mr. Beer since there's no airlock, but vents? I have one sitting around unused.

 

[BigKahuna]

My batches all carbed fine.

 

[Vox]

EVER!
If your mead is 5 years old, and it still sucks like a $1,000 hooker.... The you can dump part of it! Until then.... Dude! RDWHAHB!

Nearly pissed myself reading this at work. Lots of entertaining people on these forums. My coworkers are concerned about my sudden outbursts of laughter.

 

[Vox]

Can someone clarify the honey dissolving process? Are you placing the container of honey in a warm bath to loosen or actually pouring honey into warm water? Newbie here. Also, do you rack this to a secondary or bottle from the primary after two months? Any take on using two Clementines instead of one orange for different sweetness and less off tastes from the white pith? Small slices would be easier to get out of the one gallon jug too if I can't use Mr. Beer due to lack of airlock. Thanks.

 

[BigKahuna]

I add hot water to honey jug and shake, pour into fermenter, add more hot water and SHAKE!
JOAM, no secondary needed! MAOM, may be worth the time.

 

[Vox]

I add hot water to honey jug and shake, pour into fermenter, add more hot water and SHAKE!
JOAM, no secondary needed! MAOM, may be worth the time.

MAOM posts said it was less orangy and more dry. The sweet, orange nature is what appealed to me and no boiling. Was thinking of trying two clementines instead of one orange too. They're a little sweeter. Though a brewing yeast in lieu of bakers was tempting. My first mead so I may try it exactly as is or just use Clementines at most. Is this closer to cider or white wine?

 

[BigKahuna]

Nope. It's JOAM. It's a beast of its own. Try it, change what u don't like! It's cheap, easy and fast!

 

[Vox]

Nope. It's JOAM. It's a beast of its own. Try it, change what u don't like! It's cheap, easy and fast!

Is it more like cider or wine ?

 

[BigKahuna]

Is it more like cider or wine ?

Wine, if you twist my arm. But It's like cheap orange mead than anything!

 

[Vox]

Hmm. Maybe this isn't up my alley then.

 

[BigKahuna]

Hmm. Maybe this isn't up my alley then.

Maybe not! But for what it costs, the potential that you'll like it, and the opportunity to learn something.... How do you pass it up?