What's on deck for 2025 mead?

[MightyMosin]

For me will be:
Zinfindel pyment
Viognier pyment
Marshmallow mead
Cyser
Blueberry Cyser
Several trads from: Pumpkin, Sage, Star Thistle, Meadowfoam honeys
I will also do some session meads.
I also need to use of some mentioned session meads to blend into the cucumber session I have made that came out with too much cucumber character. Will add some lemon to it as well.

Not sure what else at this point.

 

[Maylar]

I have $250 worth of Tupelo honey calling me to be made into a traditional.

 

[MightyMosin]

I've heard that is an incredible honey.

 

[Dan O]

I've heard that is an incredible honey.

You've never had Tupelo honey?

 

[Kickass]

Have to say I’ve only read about the lore of Tupelo. I’d love to give some a try.

 

[Dan O]

Have to say I’ve only read about the lore of Tupelo. I’d love to give some a try.

Smooth as velvet on the tongue & quite a unique flavor. The bottle I bought in 2020 still hasn't even started to crystallize yet...smooth as the day I bought it.

 

[Maylar]

Smooth as velvet on the tongue & quite a unique flavor. The bottle I bought in 2020 still hasn't even started to crystallize yet...smooth as the day I bought it.

I bought mine in 2019, same deal - not crystalized. I have a Sous Vide that'll warm it up a bit before I mix it. Need to get every $$ drop.

 

[Dan O]

I bought mine in 2019, same deal - not crystalized. I have a Sous Vide that'll warm it up a bit before I mix it. Need to get every $$ drop.

Agreed. That stuff is expensive

 

[Graham H]

Just pitched a 1 gal batch of candy cane mead—should be ready by December 2025. My batch from last November is just about ready to drink. I’m guessing I’ll pitch another batch same time next year.

 

[MightyMosin]

Agreed. That stuff is expensive

I just looked at one site and 5Lb is $75.00 and another one is $136.00. 30 Lb for $444.00 Ouch.
I prefer doing 5 gallon buckets to get the lowest cose per pound, but no way in hell for Tupelo.
I may do the 5Lb at some point and do a gallon trad.

 

[brewbama]

I have plans for a Pyment and an Experimental (Agave Jalepeño).

 

[Maylar]

I just looked at one site and 5Lb is $75.00 and another one is $136.00. 30 Lb for $444.00 Ouch.
I prefer doing 5 gallon buckets to get the lowest cose per pound, but no way in hell for Tupelo.
I may do the 5Lb at some point and do a gallon trad.

I think a 12 lb. gallon jug with shipping cost me about $200. That was pre-pandemic. I added a couple 2 lb. jugs to the order to insure I had enough for a 6 gallon batch plus back sweetening later.
The honey comes from one place in the world, the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia. I'm guessing that the nasty weather they had this year may have impacted the apiaries.

 

[MightyMosin]

Just pitched a 1 gal batch of candy cane mead—should be ready by December 2025. My batch from last November is just about ready to drink. I’m guessing I’ll pitch another batch same time next year.

Willing to share your basics on this?

 

[Graham H]

Willing to share your basics on this?

Sure thing. Credit goes to @LudovicoManin. He had a five gal recipe. I scaled it down to 1 gal.

2 lbs honey
1 lb crushed candy canes
12 bags peppermint tea
Yeast nutrient (Fermaid O)
Yeast (D47)

I boiled water 15 min to sanitize, then steeped the tea for 5 min. Adjust your starting water as needed for your boil-off rate—the goal is 0.8 gal peppermint tea.

Combine the honey, candy canes, and peppermint tea in your fermentation vessel of choice. Allow it to cool as needed before pitching yeast. I used D47 and cooled to 70°F before pitching. After pitching, ferment in desired temp range—I’m using 60°F. IIRC my SG was around 1.115.

Step feed with your nutrient of choice. Mine was 1.0g of Ferm-O each time at 24/48/72hrs, then one last time at the 7 day mark.

Ferment for about two months, then rack to bulk conditioning for another 4. Bottle, then wait 6 months (for an even year or so).

When I bottled last year I had 3x full bottles and 2x smaller flip-tops. I sampled the smaller bottles at about the 8- and 10-month points—very pepperminty!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Well, I’m a little late to the party, but here we go…
Bochet (fermenting now)
Polish historical with golden raspberries or red raspberry
Honeysuckle 2025
Something with coffee and cacao nibs
Blueberry melomel
Maybe an apple cyser