Mead Making (esp for KarmaDog)

[jon.hayworth]

KarmaDog, asked for my Mead recipe as it is a drink for lovers, claimed to boost libido - the drink the ancients drank at Wedding Feasts hence the name Honeymoon - I decided it deserved its own thread.

Equipment as for wine making. - A I gallon DemiJohn, bung and fermentation trap.

For 1 Imperial Gallon 4.55 Litres 9pints U.S.

(Sterilise all equipment)

Ingredients.

3 pounds 1.5Kg of Honey - can go to 4 pounds 2Kg for very sweet takes longer to ferment -, 1 Lemon, High tolerance Wine Yeast,
Teaspoon or 2 of Ground Ginger, Yeast Nutrient.

Put yeast into a 1/2 cup of tepid (20c 68F) water add 2 spoons of sugar cover and put into a warm place for 8 - 12 hours to start Yeast

Put the Honey into a suitable large pan pour 2 to 3 pints of boiling water over it and stir until really runny. Pour into DemiJohn.

Cut Lemon into four or more pieces put into DemiJohn.

Add Ginger.

Top up to 1 gallon level with cold water and Agitate.

Check the temperature of the mixture - (less than 20c 68F).

Add the started Yeast. and agitate.

For first 24 hours cover with a cloth or bung with cottonwool.

Replace with Bung and fermentation trap - wait for fermentation to end.

With some modern Yeasts as little as 6 weeks and with others up to 3 months.

Use a wine Hydrometer to check down to level for sweet wine.

Add Camden tablets and stop.

Rack off, stand for a couple of weeks then Bottle - if you are patient give it another 4 weeks minimum before drinking best after 4 months or longer.

Jon

Damn - don't even get any votes for this effort.

 

[karmadog]

* * * * *

I voted, and thanks for the info!

 

[Un-registered]

Karmadog, your mead to that recipe will be bland and uninteresting. You need to add at least six cloves to the mixture when you put the ginger in. I know at least one person who adds some allspice as well.

If you know anyone with an illict still then distilled mead is the most delicious liqueur to drink with coffee after dinner. It can be bought legally as "Trappistine" but is very hard to find.

 

[wildsweetone]

At the risk of receiving the wrath of USA, is moonshine the same stuff?

 

[karmadog]

Moonshine

Nope. Moonshine is usually made from corn, then distilled illegally. Moonshine is whisky. Before anybody says, "No it isn't, it's clear." I'll point out that whisky is clear until caramel coloring is added, or it is discolored by being aged in a cask or both.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

How can you make mead without hop?

 

[Un-registered]

How can you make mead without hop?

Would it be too unkind to point out that not all alcoholic beverages need hops in the recipe? Another example is cider.