Mead - the homebrew thread

[Beerontwowheels]

Any idea who the source in OR is? I'd love to try to hunt some down.

I can give them a call and ask. I imagine they will give up the source if I tell them why I'm asking.

 

[RunninMixz]

Advice needed.

Racked once, added K Meta and K Sorbate, waited over a week. Bottled a couple bottles and sampled.

Tastes Great!

5 Hrs later.... Well lets say it didn't agree with me. I have no issues with Schramms and Crafted, but I wonder if I needed to wait longer to bottle, add the clearing stuff to knock some of the haze out? Thoughts?

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Alright, think I'm making my first batch of mead (traditional) tonight. Should I run some 02 into the must before I pitch, or will the stirring to mix it up and subsequently to degas get enough oxygen into solution?

Too late now, but I don't think you really need to add pure o2. Whipping it up and degassing should be adequate. We sat through the same seminars though. That's what I heard...

What honey varietal and yeast strain? Water/honey ratio? How big of a batch?

 

[axeman91821]

Too late now, but I don't think you really need to add pure o2. Whipping it up and degassing should be adequate. We sat through the same seminars though. That's what I heard...

What honey varietal and yeast strain? Water/honey ratio? How big of a batch?

Didn't add any O2, just went with a good stirring.

Orange Blossom Honey and D72. 11lbs of honey in a 3 gallon batch size, OG was 1.132.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Sampling my cranberry mead from the keg... It's carbed now and that makes it so much more drinkable. It's actually really nice.

 

[mjohnson171]

Knudsen? If so how much juice to 5Gal?

This guy is tight lipped. The guy at Whole Foods told me he thought RW Knudsens Black Currant juice was being discontinued. Wonder if that's true..

Wasn't Knudsens. I used CurrantC. They specialize in just currants and Aronia Berry, in every format (dried, juice, concentrate, etc).

I used 32oz of concentrate per gallon.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Wasn't Knudsens. I used CurrantC. They specialize in just currants and Aronia Berry, in every format (dried, juice, concentrate, etc).

I used 32oz of concentrate per gallon.

Word. That's what I planned on. I basically bought the fifth quart of juice just to get the free shipping. Now I see it was also my fate. Did you need to adjust pH at all?

A local pick-your-own farm has red currants available. Would love to get enough to make a red Agnes clone, but I need to layoff buying more mead/beer related ****. Already have all the ingredients for two five gallon batches...

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Wasn't Knudsens. I used CurrantC. They specialize in just currants and Aronia Berry, in every format (dried, juice, concentrate, etc).

I used 32oz of concentrate per gallon.

Holy **** @ those prices!!

Might buy a quart.

 

[mjohnson171]

Word. That's what I planned on. I basically bought the fifth quart of juice just to get the free shipping. Now I see it was also my fate. Did you need to adjust pH at all?

A local pick-your-own farm has red currants available. Would love to get enough to make a red Agnes clone, but I need to layoff buying more mead/beer related ****. Already have all the ingredients for two five gallon batches...

No pH adjustments. Just currants, water, star thistle honey and nutrients.

I keep my meads very simple and natural, no sulfite or sorbate. I just make sure everything has fermented out. I don't Backsweeten either.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

No pH adjustments. Just currants, water, star thistle honey and nutrients.

Gracias, señor. I ended up getting two quarts from CurrantC. I'll just have to drink two quarts of RW Knudsen's now. Not the worst thing in the world.

 

[Snarf1]

^This is why I haven't bought a quart or two of honey and some fruit at the farmers market to make a 1 gallon batch. Next thing I know I'll be spending $200+ on 5 gallon batches.

 

[mjohnson171]

^This is why I haven't bought a quart or two of honey and some fruit at the farmers market to make a 1 gallon batch. Next thing I know I'll be spending $200+ on 5 gallon batches.

Most people's jaw drops to the floor when I tell them how much a really well done batch of fruited mead costs me to make. I always end the conversation with "Now do you understand why meaderies are selling 375ml bottles for $20plus ?!?!".

 

[moc5131]

Most people's jaw drops to the floor when I tell them how much a really well done batch of fruited mead costs me to make. I always end the conversation with "Now do you understand why meaderies are selling 375ml bottles for $20plus ?!?!".

Making a Strawberry mead this week...well aware of this. And everything is local so "discounted"

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Most people's jaw drops to the floor when I tell them how much a really well done batch of fruited mead costs me to make. I always end the conversation with "Now do you understand why meaderies are selling 375ml bottles for $20plus ?!?!".

Dumping a batch of beer sucks because of the 5-6 hours of time invested, but the $$ cost is generally very low. Screwing up a batch of mead with top-shelf honey (and honey prices continue to rise) and quality fruit...ugh. Don't even want to think about it...luckily my cranberry mead turned a corner once carbonated.

The traditional I have planned with that meadowmaple honey is going to break my heart if it sucks...that honey was NOT cheap. I'll probably never make another mead if it ends up ******.

 

[axeman91821]

Dumping a batch of beer sucks because of the 5-6 hours of time invested, but the $$ cost is generally very low. Screwing up a batch of mead with top-shelf honey (and honey prices continue to rise) and quality fruit...ugh. Don't even want to think about it...luckily my cranberry mead turned a corner once carbonated.

The traditional I have planned with that meadowmaple honey is going to break my heart if it sucks...that honey was NOT cheap. I'll probably never make another mead if it ends up ******.

Definitely curious as to how that meadowmaple traditional turns out. From the description it sounds like it could be a good honey to use for a bochet.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

Definitely curious as to how that meadowmaple traditional turns out. From the description it sounds like it could be a good honey to use for a bochet.

I thought they say to use inexpensive honey for a bochet. This Meadowmaple wasn't Tupelo expensive, but damn close. Will not burn. Don't give me ideas!

 

[axeman91821]

I thought they say to use inexpensive honey for a bochet. This Meadowmaple wasn't Tupelo expensive, but damn close. Will not burn. Don't give me ideas!

Yeah, I've read all the same stuff about using cheap honey, but honey that tastes like marshmallow and maple just makes too much sense. Maybe boil some cheap honey and blend in with un-boiled Meadowmaple before fermentation.

 

[mjohnson171]

Wasn't Knudsens. I used CurrantC. They specialize in just currants and Aronia Berry, in every format (dried, juice, concentrate, etc).

I used 32oz of concentrate per gallon.

I woke up last night in a panic because I realize that the above is not accurate. I know, I'm crazy, I'm having nightmares about giving incorrect mead information.

I realized that I used 32oz of concentrated currant split over 2 batches, so the oz/gal of concentrate was actually more like 12 oz/gal, which equates to about 57oz of currant juice.

 

[rcubed1]

Got a small jar of Kiawe sunset blossom honey that is unreal. I'm wondering if that would make a good mead. Has anyone tried it?

 

[RyanG1]

I haven't home brewed, but reading this thread the last few weeks has sparked an interest in making mead. Especially since I have access to local farms. Going to start simple though.

Anyone have recommendation for a good mead making kit?

Ordered the compleat meadmaker, should arrive this week.

 

[RyanG1]

I haven't home brewed, but reading this thread the last few weeks has sparked an interest in making mead. Especially since I have access to local farms. Going to start simple though.

Anyone have recommendation for a good mead making kit?

Ordered the compleat meadmaker, should arrive this week.

Found this one in a previous link on here: http://www.austinhomebrew.com/Mead-Making-Equipment-Kit-Glass-Secondary_p_5683.html

Drop by the local homebrew store and pick up the similar items from there.

 

[FTowne1]

Found this one in a previous link on here: http://www.austinhomebrew.com/Mead-Making-Equipment-Kit-Glass-Secondary_p_5683.html

Drop by the local homebrew store and pick up the similar items from there.

Welcome to the world of brewing!

 

[RunninMixz]

I woke up last night in a panic because I realize that the above is not accurate. I know, I'm crazy, I'm having nightmares about giving incorrect mead information.

I realized that I used 32oz of concentrated currant split over 2 batches, so the oz/gal of concentrate was actually more like 12 oz/gal, which equates to about 57oz of currant juice.

57 oz per gallon?

 

[mjohnson171]

57 oz per gallon?

Yes, the concentrate:juice ratio is about 1:5, so 12 oz of concentrated currant = about 60oz of juice (i.e Knudsen's juice).

That's how you get so much currant flavor in the mead, by using concentrate. You'd never be able to achieve that ratio with just currant juice.

 

[sweemzander]

Yes, the concentrate:juice ratio is about 1:5, so 12 oz of concentrated currant = about 60oz of juice (i.e Knudsen's juice).

That's how you get so much currant flavor in the mead, by using concentrate. You'd never be able to achieve that ratio with just currant juice.

That is pretty much how I did mine. I forget the ratio off the top of my head, but used juice, puree & concentrate together. So far so good! - its about 2+ months into secondary currently

 

[quirkzoo1]

Got a small jar of Kiawe sunset blossom honey that is unreal. I'm wondering if that would make a good mead. Has anyone tried it?

Kiawe is just a fancy word for mesquite, lots of good meads made out of mesquite honey.

 

[bayonetwork]

I've done a few batches of mead, a cranberry orange which is a little on the dry side and is about 3 years old now, open it around the holidays for the family to enjoy....not a bad product for my first mead effort. I did a pineapple/mango mead a couple years back which was awesome but has since been consumed entirely by thirsty friends and family. The batch I have now, my 3rd batch ever, is ready for bottling. I did 10 gallons of mead total using local honey (I assume just wildflower) and, instead of fermenting with the fruit, I stopped the fermentation at 1.025 (down from 1.115) and racked out onto black currant concentrate - it is deep red/purple and tastes amazing, I can't wait to bottle it up and let some age for years to come. I'm about to order 60lbs of orange blossom honey and a gallon jug of Black Currant Concentrate and whip up a bunch more.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

I've done a few batches of mead, a cranberry orange which is a little on the dry side and is about 3 years old now, open it around the holidays for the family to enjoy....not a bad product for my first mead effort. I did a pineapple/mango mead a couple years back which was awesome but has since been consumed entirely by thirsty friends and family. The batch I have now, my 3rd batch ever, is ready for bottling. I did 10 gallons of mead total using local honey (I assume just wildflower) and, instead of fermenting with the fruit, I stopped the fermentation at 1.025 (down from 1.115) and racked out onto black currant concentrate - it is deep red/purple and tastes amazing, I can't wait to bottle it up and let some age for years to come. I'm about to order 60lbs of orange blossom honey and a gallon jug of Black Currant Concentrate and whip up a bunch more.

Sounds like a nice little (10-15G) used spirits barrel would be a lot of fun. Just sayin'!

 

[bayonetwork]

Sounds like a nice little (10-15G) used spirits barrel would be a lot of fun. Just sayin'!

I've got a few but I've been wanting to do Meadowfoam honey show mead into a bourbon or rye barrel....need to get going on that!

 

[Beerontwowheels]

I've got a few but I've been wanting to do Meadowfoam honey show mead into a bourbon or rye barrel....need to get going on that!

Been thinking about the same! Do you have a good source for meadowfoam? Pricey project, but the results could be absolutely amazing.