Joe's Ancient Orange Mead

[CreamyGoodness]

Those new to the thread, just know that bomber and I have been ragging on each other for a while now out of a sense of fun...

because he's a tool.

 

[bottlebomber]

Also to those new, view this YouTube video and ask yourself if Kreemy is qualified to dispense advice on anything, not limited to mead making.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?featur...top_uri=/watch?v=lQyrazpn6dU&feature=youtu.be

 

[CreamyGoodness]

If we keep this up people are going to think we aren't joking.

*coughmooseknuckleahem*

Sorry... a little mucus.

 

[BigKahuna]

I wasn't being a jerk... I love bastardizing recipes! Just pointing out that when you change it.... Results change!
Maybe I am a jerk.... But it's for real.

 

[CityOChampBrew]

I dunno why but everytime I see this thread show up in the newest posts I can't help but think why dear god why.
I always look for the best ingredients to make my beverages out of and this seems to be a thread dedicated to a prison brew version of mead.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I wasn't being a jerk... I love bastardizing recipes! Just pointing out that when you change it.... Results change!
Maybe I am a jerk.... But it's for real.

Not you Kahuna, bomber and I are busting each other's onions.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I dunno why but everytime I see this thread show up in the newest posts I can't help but think why dear god why.
I always look for the best ingredients to make my beverages out of and this seems to be a thread dedicated to a prison brew version of mead.

I think this is a similar argument to why would you have a cheesesteak when a lovely rib-eye is available. It's a different critter, its preferable in some instances for a change, and its definitely cheaper.

This doesnt even take into account that if it werent for JAOM some people would not have gotten into the hobby at all. If you have to plunk down $100+ before you even see if you like the hobby, you might beg off.

 

[BigKahuna]

Not you Kahuna, bomber and I are busting each other's onions.

~Cheers!

 

[sillbeer]

I have a few 1/2 gallon growlers laying around so I'm thinking about making a gallon of this today.

I read the first few pages and the last couple pages looking for info on a primary and secondary. Is this just a primary fermentation and you don't transfer? Just leave it for 6-9 months? I've heard over a year is best?

- Destin

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I have a few 1/2 gallon growlers laying around so I'm thinking about making a gallon of this today.

I read the first few pages and the last couple pages looking for info on a primary and secondary. Is this just a primary fermentation and you don't transfer? Just leave it for 6-9 months? I've heard over a year is best?

- Destin

True. This is by far the easiest brew you will ever make, and has very few steps or reasons to fiddle with it.

 

[rideincircles]

Secondary is good with this due to the low flocculation/gets crap everywhere the moment you move it around bread yeast. Leaving it for months seems to pose no issues. Me and my friend had a few glasses of his around 5 months old and was great for drinking already. I think my batch had a little more bitterness to age out. This recipe is still around since it's near foolproof and the results are good. Just use good honey.

 

[sillbeer]

I went to my LHB store before I started this to pick up some stoppers for my growlers that I have. The guy suggested I use Lalvin K1-V1116 dry yeast so I picked that up. Since I was splitting up the recipe between two half gallon growlers I put one clove in each growler and broke a cinnamon stick in half. I put a pinch of nut meg and a pinch of all spice in each growler. I also mixed a small bowl of yeast up and went a little over 1 gram and split it between to the two bottles. The store I went to had a lot of different honey in a lot of sizes. I selected two larger bottles of regular clove honey that equaled 3 pounds and a smaller quarter pound bottle of orange blossom honey. I put 15 raisins in each bottle and cut up an orange and put half in each. I only topped off each bottle to the bottom of the necks for fear that they would blow up in the utility closet and piss the wife off.

Oh well. We'll see how it comes out and I'll keep an eye on em. Should be good for Thanksgiving.

- Destin

 

[Jeepaholic]

I went to my LHB store before I started this to pick up some stoppers for my growlers that I have. The guy suggested I use Lalvin K1-V1116 dry yeast so I picked that up. Since I was splitting up the recipe between two half gallon growlers I put one clove in each growler and broke a cinnamon stick in half. I put a pinch of nut meg and a pinch of all spice in each growler. I also mixed a small bowl of yeast up and went a little over 1 gram and split it between to the two bottles. The store I went to had a lot of different honey in a lot of sizes. I selected two larger bottles of regular clove honey that equaled 3 pounds and a smaller quarter pound bottle of orange blossom honey. I put 15 raisins in each bottle and cut up an orange and put half in each. I only topped off each bottle to the bottom of the necks for fear that they would blow up in the utility closet and piss the wife off.

Oh well. We'll see how it comes out and I'll keep an eye on em. Should be good for Thanksgiving.

- Destin

That yeast is going to make a very dry mead I bet.

 

[rideincircles]

You deviated and the bitterness will probably show up with a strong spice profile. Clove may be overpowering. Warranty voided. This is based off of reading way too many pages of this thread.

All brewing is an experiment. Hopefully it turns out okay though. Results with bread yeast turn out great for this since it finishes sweet with 3.5 lbs of honey.

Most people who brew think a recipe with bread yeast is dumb, but this one is effective.

 

[sillbeer]

I'm a newb and unsure. I went with my LHBS guys advice, he said it was a champagne yeast. Only time will tell and I'll learn either way. One bottle is bubbling ok and the other one is not bubbling at all but it's only been 24 hours.

- Destin

 

[Blowntri5]

So I made this just before Christmas and it is clear and the fruit has dropped. Just when I should try this guy. Also the air lock has stopped bubbling.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Try it now, if it is clear and the fruit is on the bottom. Then bottle what you havent drank and hide it from yourself for as long as is possible.

 

[sillbeer]

After this has aged, how do you bottle it for storage?

- Destin

 

[thombrew]

Hey, I just started this recipe and I'm wondering if it'll screw up.

My dad has made lots of wine so he decided to give me a hand.

I got 16 pounds of honey from a beekeeper for a 5 gallon brew. 2 sticks of cinnamon, 2 pieces of clover and 2 whole oranges (except for the skin stuff). Reason I changed some of this was because of all the negative comments saying that the recipe is too sweet. The only yeast I recognized at the local wine place was the kv 1116 so I went for that.

While I was getting ready to pour in the water, my dad threw in the yeast. He said it doesn't matter, I thought it was a bad idea, since we had to shake the whole thing.

So anyways, it's been about 4 hours, and still no bubbling. Am i screwed?

 

[AbuMaia]

Lemme try this one again...

I just started a new batch of JAOM. The instructions state to add more water after the foaming stops. How much? How far up the bottle do I fill it? Do I have to keep adding water as it evaporates and the level drops?

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Lemme try this one again...

I just started a new batch of JAOM. The instructions state to add more water after the foaming stops. How much? How far up the bottle do I fill it? Do I have to keep adding water as it evaporates and the level drops?

I personally never add water, but you dont want liquid any farther than just the bottom of the neck or a little bit into the neck at most.

You need not and should not continue to "top off" from that point on.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Hey, I just started this recipe and I'm wondering if it'll screw up.

My dad has made lots of wine so he decided to give me a hand.

I got 16 pounds of honey from a beekeeper for a 5 gallon brew. 2 sticks of cinnamon, 2 pieces of clover and 2 whole oranges (except for the skin stuff). Reason I changed some of this was because of all the negative comments saying that the recipe is too sweet. The only yeast I recognized at the local wine place was the kv 1116 so I went for that.

While I was getting ready to pour in the water, my dad threw in the yeast. He said it doesn't matter, I thought it was a bad idea, since we had to shake the whole thing.

So anyways, it's been about 4 hours, and still no bubbling. Am i screwed?

I think you will be ok. I think this will come out drier than you will care for, however.

Next brew, I heartily and fully suggest you make JAOM exactly as directed, so you can see the difference.

 

[thombrew]

I think you will be ok. I think this will come out drier than you will care for, however.

Next brew, I heartily and fully suggest you make JAOM exactly as directed, so you can see the difference.

Thanks, will do. And also, adding honey right now wouldn't be much of a good idea would it? Been two days and there's still no excessive foaming, but there are bubbles on the cover thingy.

 

[doolsx]

Has any one tried adding a lemon for a little extra citrus flavor?

 

[CsaintG]

Has any one tried adding a lemon for a little extra citrus flavor?

I added a lime to my 3 gallon batch. No worries about it not being citrusy, it tasted like straight orange peel for a month after bottling. It is starting to mellow now.

 

[CGVT]

I made a one gallon batch of this (with craisins because I didn't have raisins) back at the end of August. It was my first mead. Back when I racked it to a clean fermenter, I tasted it and it was nasty rocket fuel. I bottled it today and had a taste. Man, it is so much better. It still has a ways to go, but it is really going to be good!

 

[LoneTreeFarms]

Hey, I just started this recipe and I'm wondering if it'll screw up.

My dad has made lots of wine so he decided to give me a hand.

I got 16 pounds of honey from a beekeeper for a 5 gallon brew. 2 sticks of cinnamon, 2 pieces of clover and 2 whole oranges (except for the skin stuff). Reason I changed some of this was because of all the negative comments saying that the recipe is too sweet. The only yeast I recognized at the local wine place was the kv 1116 so I went for that.

While I was getting ready to pour in the water, my dad threw in the yeast. He said it doesn't matter, I thought it was a bad idea, since we had to shake the whole thing.

So anyways, it's been about 4 hours, and still no bubbling. Am i screwed?

you should be fine, give it a few days before you start to panic

 

[CreamyGoodness]

The JAOM mantra "honey and bread yeast WANT to make mead". There are all manner of ways you can botch up the recipe and still come out with a drinkable jug of hooch, just so long as you dont mess with it too much or dump it out!

 

[bottlebomber]

I kinda want to dump mine out.. It's about 5 months old, and it's not hot or anything but it has this overpowering bad yeast flavor that I can only describe as "autolysis", though I've always thought that to be a myth.

 

[MidTNJasonF]

I did not drink mine until it was a bit more than a year old. I placed it in competition when it was 3 and 4 years old. Won medals with it at that age. Don't throw it out. Stick it in the back of the closet and just let it sit forgotten for another 6 months or so.