MEAD

[HeathenHall]

My second experimental batch is nearly ready for bottling. The first batch was tasty, but weak....patience has never been my strong suit.

[HeathenHall]

The second experimental batch is in bottles, and the "testing" bottle is empty....it turned out real nice.

[Bathilde]

lol cool

[Aelfgar]

That's my problem too, I keep wanting to sample the batch!

[HeathenHall]

And, now, my least favorite part in the brewing of mead. The vat is full, the yeast is happily making it's way through the honey. The latest batch is begun....and now I just have to wait a few weeks for the next step. I hate the waiting part.

[Wodenborn]

Making Mead is really quite simple

ingredients
4½lb. of honey
yeast nutrient
If a wine yeast is to be used, have it activated and ready in advance. Doesn't need to be any particular type.
Some use lemon juice as well to add a tang to the mead but personally I like mead pure.

Method
Bring the honey to the boil in two or three times its volume of water.

Stir with wooden spoon (sterilised)until honey is dissolved, or it may burn.

Skim off any scum which rises. To the hot liquid add half the yeast nutrient.

Add the rest of the water when cooler, transfer to (sterilised) fermenting containers and add yeast and yeast nutrient when cool.

there will be about nine to 10 pints of liquid which will allow for a full gallon after racking,so 2 Demi Johns (sterilised) are needed with appropriate airlocks

Racking off into a third Demijohn(sterilised)should take place when the wine is beginning to clear and a layer of sludge can be seen at the bottom.

Keep for a minimum of 3 months before drinking....this is the only hard bit as the smell is extremely tempting

[Karlsefni]

I like Bea's Mead, from Lindau, DE, and Redstone Meadery's Peach Puree Mead.

[JeffSinger]

Mead good, Gin bad

[Kitta]

I don't know where to get any mead around here - I just moved to Dousman, Wisconsin near Milwaukee. I am interested in making my own, but I don't have the slightest of clues how to even get started. Anyone got a book or something on the subject you'd suggest? Or tips of your own? I was hoping maybe once I started finding some Heathens in the area I'd locate the best source of mead around here ... but the locating Heathens part is turning out to be a little difficult as well. I didn't expect that.

[Bathilde]

You should check out those websites. There are also groups on fb about beer/mead making, some heathen oriented.

I don't brew myself, I don't like alcohol at all. I wish I did though, I need some mead for my midsummer ritual and all I have is chaucer's.