Looking to try mead and would love some guidance

[brewshki]

I have been brewing beer for a little over a year and a half now and am interested in fermenting some different beverages. I have found mead hard to come by commercially so I don't really know what I am aiming for but I am interested in giving it a shot. If anyone has any suggestions of where to start and how to do that, I would be very appreciative.

I am a little afraid of the price of ingredients for a drink I do not know if I like so I was thinking of making a lower gravity 2.5 gallon batch. I have also watched some videos of meads with fruit in them and they look delicious. Unless you think this is a bad path, I would really appreciate some help with a recipe for a session able mead with fruit added.

I would also love any advice on where to start and head to next!

Thanks,

Brewshki

 

[AkTom]

Try Jacks Apricot in the mead recipe section. If done it with dried mangoes, and my favorite is, craisins. I used 2 cups, added a couple of cinnamon Sticks and 2 games tablespoons vanilla.
Brew on.
Some may take 6 months or more to be good.

 

[Double_D]

Try jaom. Sweet meads are drinkable sooner than dry in my experience.

 

[brewshki]

I'm having a hard time finding this recipe

 

[Double_D]

@brewshki

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/gtsear...php?searchid=35330845&ss=1869j1332703j5&sa=Go

 

[Burquebrewer]

I made my first batch of mead three months ago. I did exactly what you are talking about. I made a lower gravity one-gallon batch. I used 1.75 lbs of affordable honey and fermented it dry. It was an inexpensive way to delve into something that could otherwise be an expensive venture. I also added fruit. Here's the recipe below. It came out great and as ready in about a month. My fiancé, who doesn't like beer and doesn't drink too often, finished it it no time.

1 Gallon Strawberry Banana Mead

1.75 lbs Honey
0.5 lbs of frozen and thawed strawberries
2 over-ripe frozen and thawed bananas
Lavalin yeast
yeast nutrients
pectic enymes

I did not boil the honey. I heated the water to 150 F, added the honey and fruit, let it steep for 15 minutes, put it in a sanitized fermentor, cooled to 75, and added the rehydrated yeast/nutrients/and enzymes. I saw active fermentation within 3 hours. I let it ferment at 65, adding nutrients every three or four days. I racked it off of the fruit after about ten days. I continued to rack it every seven to ten days until ready ( about a month). It came out great. didn't carbonate it.

We are now doing a four gallon batch of semi-sweet still mead without fruit.

 

[brewshki]

@brewshki

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/gtsear...php?searchid=35330845&ss=1869j1332703j5&sa=Go

thanks!

 

[Sagatho]

Hi

try something easy and basic, like a BOMM or the JAOM, avoid the complex recipes for the momment.

i start with the BOOM using Lalvin K1V and i was drinking a good mead in about 5-6 weeks.

once you make nice show mead then jump to the spices and fruits.

thats my two cents.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I have been brewing beer for a little over a year and a half now and am interested in fermenting some different beverages. I have found mead hard to come by commercially so I don't really know what I am aiming for but I am interested in giving it a shot. If anyone has any suggestions of where to start and how to do that, I would be very appreciative.

I am a little afraid of the price of ingredients for a drink I do not know if I like so I was thinking of making a lower gravity 2.5 gallon batch. I have also watched some videos of meads with fruit in them and they look delicious. Unless you think this is a bad path, I would really appreciate some help with a recipe for a session able mead with fruit added.

I would also love any advice on where to start and head to next!

Thanks,

Brewshki

I know some people prefer local honey, that's great and it is more expensive unless you strike a good deal. I find "affordable" honey at Costco and trader Joe's... The source should be on the lable. Some Trader Joe imports could be questionable ( I've heard Turkish honey may acctually contain Chinese)

 

[brewshki]

I was reading this last issue of Zymurgy and they had an ad for 1 gallon wine kits that come with a little big mouth bubbler and a 1 gallon jug and I think I am going to go the small batch route when it comes to mead and wine. I really don't know if I like mead but I know I want to try making it and have fun with it. 1 gallon batches seem cheap and an easy way to learn.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I was reading this last issue of Zymurgy and they had an ad for 1 gallon wine kits that come with a little big mouth bubbler and a 1 gallon jug and I think I am going to go the small batch route when it comes to mead and wine. I really don't know if I like mead but I know I want to try making it and have fun with it. 1 gallon batches seem cheap and an easy way to learn.

One gallon is a good way to try something new I think. Mead can ferment very dry with some yeasts, I like dry wine and the occasional semi dry so I'm okay with that, but, I found for gift giving mead, people pretty much expect it to have some sweetness.