A Productive Day

[Abbax8]

Just finished the prep work for a fresh batch of mead. 15 pounds of honey and 5 gallons of water, 2 packs of champagne yeast (waiting to be pitched when the temp drops to 80 degrees).

When the air starts to turn crisp in a few of months it should be ready.

Dennis

[Leopard]

That is alot of work. I volunteered to help someone with this and I had no idea what I was getting into. :laugh: It actually turned out nice and smooth. Now I need to lable all the bottles.

[Abbax8]

I haven't bottled it yet, it is in the primary fermenter where the yeast will do what yeast do. Later I'll add a bit of honey to each bottle and fill and cap. That's like 2 months away give or take.

Then the hard part, waiting about 6 weeks to see how it came out.

Dennis

[Mark Jordan]

Also had a productive day but nothing like that. Never tried brewing beer at home but it would be nice if I can do that someday.

[Abbax8]

It's really easy and a very reward (hic) ing past time.

The initial cost for equipment is about $100.00 give or take. The best part about it is as you do it you will learn how to make the perfect beer for you.

Dennis

[Abbax8]

The mead is working already, bubbles are passing through the air lock. Things are happening fast.

Dennis

[Abbax8]

Well it looks like I this batch will be ready to bottle in about a week or so. I'm next considering a batch of Ginger Mead. Semi-sweet with a Ginger bite. I should get some more bottles and also make a batch of beer. My wife really likes Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, I may try to brew a batch of Cherry Wheat beer.

So little time, so much beer.

Now I need a recipe for a Low Carb Beer.

Dennis

[Rasputin]

Well it looks like I this batch will be ready to bottle in about a week or so. I'm next considering a batch of Ginger Mead. Semi-sweet with a Ginger bite. I should get some more bottles and also make a batch of beer. My wife really likes Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, I may try to brew a batch of Cherry Wheat beer.

So little time, so much beer.

Now I need a recipe for a Low Carb Beer.

Dennis

Rig up a still. Whiskey is low-carb. I bet honey mead would make for a very interesting distilled beverage.

Subject to laws in your state, of course. GD'ed revenooers!

[Abbax8]

Plan on spending today bottling the mead. My sons want to help, yep - the family that brews together stays together.

Dennis

[Abbax8]

Rig up a still. Whiskey is low-carb. I bet honey mead would make for a very interesting distilled beverage.

Subject to laws in your state, of course. GD'ed revenooers!

Any type of distillation is illegal unless you are a commercial producer with all the permits.

Dennis

[Abbax8]

The mead is now bottled and so begins the hardest part of the process - waiting for it to be ready. Of course I had to sample some of the must before I capped all of it, it is almost where I want it and it already has a good amount of carbonation, small, uniform bubbles.

We actually had more mead than bottles so we had to think fast. I took two of my cordial bottles that were almost empty but still had the fruit in them, cherry and blackberry. So we filed those bottles with the remaining mead. So we will have a fruited mead, which is called a melomel. I'll need to open the caps of these bottles periodically as I don't think they are as thick as the champagne bottles I use for the mead.

Dennis

[dao]

Lesson learned: do not try Jalapeno Mead. Just don't.

[Abbax8]

:laugh:

Yeah, there are some strange concoctions out there that some really enjoy, and others find almost toxic.

Was it too hot or just plain nasty tasting?

Dennis