Joe's Ancient Orange Mead

[jak1010]

Thank you everyone for your reponses! Put my mind at ease

As long as your sanitization practices are good, it's really hard to mess up a batch of this stuff. Doesn't require as much "need" as any of your typical meads. It's almost self working and, depending on your tastes in mead or wine, it'll be fine about 99.9% of the time.

Whatever your plans are, take a few bottles, label them and stash them away for at least a year or more. When you find them in the future, you'll drink it and kick yourself for not making another 5 gallons right away.

 

[scrub0bk]

So after a month it's starting to clear for me, gonna put a new batch on soon as well.

I do have one question, my raspberry one has some sort of white stuff along the sides if the carboy, almost looks like condensation or fog. Anyone have any idea what it is and if it's okay?

 

[RegarRenill]

Any way you could post a pic of it? It could just be yeast falling out of suspension against the sides of the carboy...

 

[2drunk2]

That would be my guess as well.

 

[madwilliamflint]

Brought a gallon to a wedding this weekend and it was a massive hit. Definitely going to do a 3 gallon batch next. I'd love to see how this matures over time. At this rate I'll never get the chance.

 

[jak1010]

Brought a gallon to a wedding this weekend and it was a massive hit. Definitely going to do a 3 gallon batch next. I'd love to see how this matures over time. At this rate I'll never get the chance.

It changes so much (in a good way) that, every time I have a mature batch, I want to start another.

 

[scrub0bk]

Sorry for the late reply but here's what it looks like. Just yeast sticking to the side?

Sorry for the ****ty pic, light there is terrible

 

[brewski09]

I see nothin wrong with that (except maybe a tad dark for JAOM). You have some yeast on the sides in the mead and Krausen on the neck/top area.


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[scrub0bk]

I see nothin wrong with that (except maybe a tad dark for JAOM). You have some yeast on the sides in the mead and Krausen on the neck/top area.


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Yeah i figure it's just yeast sticking to the side. It's a raspberry version so that's why it's so dark.

 

[madwilliamflint]

Yeah i figure it's just yeast sticking to the side. It's a raspberry version so that's why it's so dark.

Neat! Love to hear how this turns out.

 

[brewski09]

I'm curious how the raspberry JAOM turns out. How many raspberries did you use?


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[BGBC]

Yeah i figure it's just yeast sticking to the side. It's a raspberry version so that's why it's so dark.

So that's what those things are...

 

[scrub0bk]

I'm curious how the raspberry JAOM turns out. How many raspberries did you use?


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I used 1 12oz frozen bag. I read through and a couple people said 1lb per gallon, or 1 pint glass full per so i ended up in between. The fruit amount seemed pretty close to the amount of fruit in the original JOAM. The color came out nice, will hopefully bottle in the next couple weeks as i think its almost done clearing.

And yes, the raspberries look like complete **** now that everything has been extracted from it.

 

[kerant]

Can I used unpasteurized honey? Sorry no time to read 200 pages.

 

[rlmiller10]

Can I used unpasteurized honey? Sorry no time to read 200 pages.

Yes


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[TrustyOlJohnson]

Honey has natural antiseptic properties. Left in a stable environment, it literally will last for a thousand years. There would be no need for pastuerization.

 

[Hanso]

Nature is amazing. Wish I could have made mead out of the ancient Egyptian honey.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-science-behind-honeys-eternal-shelf-life-1218690/

 

[madwilliamflint]

I used 1 12oz frozen bag. I read through and a couple people said 1lb per gallon, or 1 pint glass full per so i ended up in between. The fruit amount seemed pretty close to the amount of fruit in the original JOAM. The color came out nice, will hopefully bottle in the next couple weeks as i think its almost done clearing.

And yes, the raspberries look like complete **** now that everything has been extracted from it.

Heh. Not a lot quite as distasteful looking as spent raspberries that were used in fermenting. The result is sure worth it though.

 

[Irish_Renegade]

Pardon the question but does anyone know of a recipe for sunflower flavored mead? It is my girlfriend and my 4 year anniversary this year and sunflower is her favorite flavor/plant. I would like to surprise her with her favorite flavor as mead.

 

[brewski09]

I would go with a braggot. Toast off unsalted sunflower seeds, crush them up, use a 2 row base malt and mash all together. I don't know if this works, but it's how I would do it. There may be some recipes out there too. I would use a fragrant wildflower honey for this to go with the nutty sunflower seeds.


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[Irish_Renegade]

I would go with a braggot. Toast off unsalted sunflower seeds, crush them up, use a 2 row base malt and mash all together. I don't know if this works, but it's how I would do it. There may be some recipes out there too. I would use a fragrant wildflower honey for this to go with the nutty sunflower seeds.


Thank you!

 

[JINKS]

1 month in, starting to clear up nicely.

 

[2drunk2]

2 1/2 months in, and mine is not nearly that clear

 

[Rehlgood]

I need help. This is my first ever mead. It was recommended to be because it was supposed to the "fool proof ". I am on day 3 and there is no activity that I can see from the yeasties? I Added another 1/2 tsp of yeast and some nutrients yesterday. I followed the recipe exact except for using 4 pounds of honey and US-05 for the yeast. Any words of wisdom?


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[ayrlander]

I need help. This is my first ever mead. It was recommended to be because it was supposed to the "fool proof ". I am on day 3 and there is no activity that I can see from the yeasties? I Added another 1/2 tsp of yeast and some nutrients yesterday. I followed the recipe exact except for using 4 pounds of honey and US-05 for the yeast. Any words of wisdom?

Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew? The only real way to know if it's going is to take gravity readings. I never see any airlock activity with meads, including the three I have in gallon jugs now, and I'm also using a beer yeast with them. Just let it sit, it may take a while but the yeast should do their job.

 

[Rehlgood]

Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew? The only real way to know if it's going is to take gravity readings. I never see any airlock activity with meads, including the three I have in gallon jugs now, and I'm also using a beer yeast with them. Just let it sit, it may take a while but the yeast should do their job.

I was expecting to see a flurry of activity and a krausen. I have a few small bubbles on the surface. Nothing that looks like fermentation in progress though.


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[brewski09]

I was expecting to see a flurry of activity and a krausen. I have a few small bubbles on the surface. Nothing that looks like fermentation in progress though.


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That is your fermentation activity. Not all yeasts kick off huge krausens. Also, check the water level in your airlock, fit of the airlock/stopper, and your bucket lid if using a bucket. 3 areas for co2 to release that are frequently missed.




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[CreamyGoodness]

Think of bread yeast like great danes, and Nottingham (for example) like a Jack Russell. Bread yeasties are slow and lumbering, and appear to take a few naps along the way. Nottingham or Montreact or whatever else attacks the sugar like a small child at the county fair attacks cotton candy.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Edit: You used US-05? I dont have any advice in that case other than just wait it out. When you switch out the yeast you are essentially changing the recipe completely. Its almost as dramatic as switching out chicken for beef in a cooking recipe.

 

[Rehlgood]

Edit: You used US-05? I dont have any advice in that case other than just wait it out. When you switch out the yeast you are essentially changing the recipe completely. Its almost as dramatic as switching out chicken for beef in a cooking recipe.

US-05 usually takes off fairly quickly in beer. I haven't had any yeast take 3 days to start. Stopped and airlock are gorilla tight. "Water" in airlock is up to the line. I guess I will just keep waiting.


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