Joe's Ancient Orange Mead

[CreamyGoodness]

Yea that's not happening. So I assume it must be stamoed

No bro, the recipe makes no mention of stamping. Just follow the recipe to the letter and you have almost no chance of screwing up or getting infected mead.

 

[curtisdahl]

So I started my mead 4june and it started about 24 hours later at or bubble every four seconds. As of today ( 13 june ) it's slowed to about one bubble every 12 seconds. It hasn't cleared at all. I'm concerned that it puttering out to early. Can anyone help me understand what could be happened or have any ideas?

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I guarentee you, no matter what the airlock activity is, that it is still fermenting. You will not see any kind of clarity at this point and you still wont for at least another month and a half, usually quite a bit more. Best thing you can do now is step away. Worst thing you can do is futz with it in any way.

 

[curtisdahl]

I guarentee you, no matter what the airlock activity is, that it is still fermenting. You will not see any kind of clarity at this point and you still wont for at least another month and a half, usually quite a bit more. Best thing you can do now is step away. Worst thing you can do is futz with it in any way.

I forgot to mention that I used K1V instead of bread yeast. Does that Shane your statement?

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Ah, in that case I have no idea.

 

[Goofynewfie]

K1v would have gone through most of the sugar in that amount of time. best thing to do is just leave it where it is and forget about it. more than likely it will ferment to dry

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Might I heartily suggest having tums closeby before imbibing?

 

[bsjracing]

Might I heartily suggest having tums closeby before imbibing?

and perhaps some cocktail sauce for the pickled shrimp

 

[jak1010]

The way k1v works in Joes Quick Grape...I'm not surprised. I started a batch on June 1st and its down to 1.000 as of today.

 

[Hasher76]

just bottled this one up last night along with my capsicumel. This cleared up nicely and tastes pretty decent for as young as it is. I did the recipe to the T and worked like a champ. This was my second 1gal sized mead. My wife is really looking forward to this one.

 

[Punity]

Just got this in the fermentor. Excited for it to workout I'm using this as a wedding present for a fellow homebrewer. Used a sweet mead yeast I had on hand just to roll the dice see what happens. Starting OG was a tad over 1.105.

 

[Hasher76]

mine was considerably darker. Should be delicious

 

[Punity]

mines alot darker then that picture respresents haha damn flash was on.

 

[Suzy_cream_cheez]

Well, I guess I'll add my attempt to the longest running thread ever! I followed the exact recipe on page 1. I figured I'd post some reference pictures of the activity I had in the first 24 hours. (~75 degrees)

0 hour:

2 hours:

12 hours:

24 hours:

bubbles video:
http://youtu.be/-3I3-DFBTI0

 

[DwaynieAD]

Well here we are at batch 3 & 4

Batch 3:
2.5lbs clover honey
1lb orange blossom honey
D-47 yeast
1/2 of a navel orange
1 granny smith apple
2 cinnamon sticks
2 vanilla beans
1 clove
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Batch 4:
2.5lbs clover honey
1lb orange blossom honey
D-47 yeast
1/2 of a navel orange
generous handful of dried cranberries
2 vanilla beans
1 cinnamon stick
1 clove
1 heaping cup of blueberries

 

[CooperBrew]

Did you not dissolve the honey in water first? Will that make a difference in the grand scheme of things? Just wonder since I've only ever made 1 gal of mead myself.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I personally never dissolve the honey. For me first step in fermentation is bubbles, second is seeing the yeast eat the honey down to the bottom of the fermenter little by little. And last step is being able to see it clear.

Just avoid okra and the world is your oyster.

 

[CooperBrew]

Cool, thanks for the info...

(and okra is nasty...lol)

 

[DwaynieAD]

Did you not dissolve the honey in water first? Will that make a difference in the grand scheme of things? Just wonder since I've only ever made 1 gal of mead myself.

I've seen a lot of people in this thread have success without dissolving the honey so I figured I'd give it a shot. I ran hot water over the bottles the honey was in the entire time I cutting and washing the fruit, added the honey first, then water, shook the piss out of it. I'd say it is partially dissolved. we'll see how it works out in a few months. hoping for success because it's much less of a pain than dissolving.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

I've seen a lot of people in this thread have success without dissolving the honey so I figured I'd give it a shot. I ran hot water over the bottles the honey was in the entire time I cutting and washing the fruit, added the honey first, then water, shook the piss out of it. I'd say it is partially dissolved. we'll see how it works out in a few months. hoping for success because it's much less of a pain than dissolving.

My signature says it all. It really is a near-foolproof recipe. Not to say you are a fool or need proofing, but had you been you'd still be ok.

 

[tg123]

My signature says it all. It really is a near-foolproof recipe. Not to say you are a fool or need proofing, but had you been you'd still be ok.

You are more likely to have a threesome with members of the Japanese women's curling team whilst spinning a plate on your head than you are likely to screw up a batch of JAOM.

Just atttempted/bottled my JAOM and kicked up some of the yeast after having some trouble with the siphon. You guys were right about it possibly being messy. Anyway got one bottle and recapped the growler to wait for the yeast to fall out of suspension again. Got a little from the rest of the siphon for a test as well and........ it'll need some time to age. A bit on the spicy side at the moment. Nice honey aroma though.

Sorry, camera phone pic is not the greatest.

 

[DwaynieAD]

My signature says it all. It really is a near-foolproof recipe. Not to say you are a fool or need proofing, but had you been you'd still be ok.

Love it.

 

[McUbermensch]

A month in and mine is looking pretty good. It's a lot clearer than it looks in the picture and the yeast is pretty thick at the bottom.

 

[Kdog22]

2 months and a week after putting everything together, I have my first gallon batch of JAOM bottled! Only things I did different from the recipe are that I used Red Star Premier Cuvee yeast and did not add any cloves or spices except for the cinnomon stick. I think this is quite drinkable and tastey this young! I did note a semi strong orange pitch taste but I can tell that a few more months will have this tasting awesome. Very happy with the results so far. Big thanks to this forum for posting this recipe.

Cell phone pic:

 

[HotRodJosh]

I just tried my JAOM for the first time after sitting in the carboys for 5 months. This stuff is incredible! My wife loves it, so that's a good thing. I will be making a 5 gallon batch soon. Thanks for the recipe!

 

[jak1010]

I just tried my JAOM for the first time after sitting in the carboys for 5 months. This stuff is incredible! My wife loves it, so that's a good thing. I will be making a 5 gallon batch soon. Thanks for the recipe!

Nice! For a real treat, try a glass with a squirt of Hershey's Chocolate syrup. Mix well and enjoy!

 

[woozy]

So... just how smelly is it supposed to get in the first few days?

I kind of want to help a fellow board member out and tell him that his excessively and overwhelmingly *stinking* mead is just fine and normal. But as *i*'ve never made the stuff I don't have any experience as to what is or isn't normal.

So...

Any great stories as to just how badly and how much stinking to high heaven this can get? Anyone ever seen any buzzards staggering around after being knocked off the ****-wagon by the smell? ... Or should my fellow poster start practicing his japanese curling small-talk for his inevetiable threesome coming up?

 

[hunter006]

8)

 

[DwaynieAD]

My signature says it all. It really is a near-foolproof recipe. Not to say you are a fool or need proofing, but had you been you'd still be ok.

5 days after not mixing the honey it was all gone from the bottom of the carboys. just in case anyone else in the thread was wondering.

 

[siegeltim]

Thinking of trying 1 gallon batch Grapefruit Mead here’s what I am thinking Using Joe’s Ancient Orange Mead as a base

3 1/2 lbs or 4Ibs. honey
1 Ruby Red Grapefruit (not sure if I will leave rind on)
1 small handful of raisins
1 stick of cinnamon
1 whole clove
1 pouch of sweet mead yeast or bread yeast not sure yet ( I have the sweet mead yeast and have never used it)

What do you think, is it going to be sweet or dry? Not sure if the honey will take the tartness away from the grapefruit