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Help Gonzo
- Thread starter Gonzo
- Start date
Standard bottle caps work on crown top beer bottles (not twist off bottles) and american style champagne bottles (not european champagne bottles). Regular wine bottles will not take bottle caps nor are they meant to hold carbonation so they are a no no if a sparkling mead is desired.
Oskaar,
Someone else posted an answer on the old boards and so I did not pursue it. Unfortunately I do not live in the same kingdom and do not know their rules. Check out the Mead in the SCA threads on the old board...
Someone else posted an answer on the old boards and so I did not pursue it. Unfortunately I do not live in the same kingdom and do not know their rules. Check out the Mead in the SCA threads on the old board...
I have modified my previous comments in this thread and would ask all of you to go back and reread my comments on the Ancient Orange, Clove, and Cinnamon mead. Someone pointed out that I was very harsh with my original comments. I have been under tremendous stress at work and more than a bit stressed and hurried when I originally posted. Upon rereading the comments found them to be a bit harsh myself.
It was not my intention to slight JMat at all and so I apologize to him if I did. The recipe is probably the best one out there for a first timer.
Thanks,
Pewter
It was not my intention to slight JMat at all and so I apologize to him if I did. The recipe is probably the best one out there for a first timer.
Thanks,
Pewter
In regards to this recipe, would any yeast work instead of Fleishmann's?
For example 71B-1122?
Joe's Ancient Orange recipe
3 1/2 lbs Clover or your choice honey or blend (will finish sweet)
1 Large orange (later cut in eights or smaller rind and all)
1 small handful of raisins (25 if you count but more or less ok)
1 stick of cinnamon
1 whole clove ( or 2 if you like - these are potent critters)
optional (a pinch of nutmeg and allspice )( very small )
1 teaspoon of Fleishmann’s bread yeast ( now don't get holy on me--- after all this is an ancient mead and that's all we had back then)
Balance water to one gallon
Thanks,
gonzo
For example 71B-1122?
Joe's Ancient Orange recipe
3 1/2 lbs Clover or your choice honey or blend (will finish sweet)
1 Large orange (later cut in eights or smaller rind and all)
1 small handful of raisins (25 if you count but more or less ok)
1 stick of cinnamon
1 whole clove ( or 2 if you like - these are potent critters)
optional (a pinch of nutmeg and allspice )( very small )
1 teaspoon of Fleishmann’s bread yeast ( now don't get holy on me--- after all this is an ancient mead and that's all we had back then)
Balance water to one gallon
Thanks,
gonzo
Yes, stick with the recipe as Joe posted it. You can tripple it to make a 3 gallon batch which is what I've done.
My first batch of this is half gone and it only cleared just before New Years.
Very young it is a bit rough at the edges but very drinkable. It mellows very quickly, and I've noticed a marked improvement in the 4 weeks it's been bottled.
I hope that I have enough willpower to let one bottle age a full year.
This is probably one of if not the best first time beginner recipe.
Good luck and enjoy.
David
My first batch of this is half gone and it only cleared just before New Years.
Very young it is a bit rough at the edges but very drinkable. It mellows very quickly, and I've noticed a marked improvement in the 4 weeks it's been bottled.
I hope that I have enough willpower to let one bottle age a full year.
This is probably one of if not the best first time beginner recipe.
Good luck and enjoy.
David
Thank you thank you thankyou,
I'm now wondering and have investigated a little. Need to confirm this thou.
I can get a plastic food grade "clean" bucket from a resturant, (none at Ace Hardware) granted it didn't have vinegar products in it. With a lid I can cut a hole in the top for the airlock and plug and I'll have my primary fermentation container?
thanks,
gonzo
I'm now wondering and have investigated a little. Need to confirm this thou.
I can get a plastic food grade "clean" bucket from a resturant, (none at Ace Hardware) granted it didn't have vinegar products in it. With a lid I can cut a hole in the top for the airlock and plug and I'll have my primary fermentation container?
thanks,
gonzo
If you can't order one from a home brew shop, or an online homebrew shop, then scald the bucket with boiling water. Scrub it good with a soft sponge and some dish soap, scald it again, and then let it sit overnight with some star san sanitzer in it before you use it to do your primary.
Still, I'd boost the coin and go on line to order a bucket designed for that purpose.
Cheers,
Oskaar
Still, I'd boost the coin and go on line to order a bucket designed for that purpose.
Cheers,
Oskaar
What about this hydrometer thingy? I've spent some dough already, unfortunatly I didn't think I should order a bucket.
Gonzo,
While you can do it without a hydrometer, the Specific Gravity (SG) readings you take before you pitch the yeast are the single BIGGEST source of info in aiding the experts here to help you if should encounter problems along the way. So it will be well worth the investment in the long run...
Good luck,
Pewter
While you can do it without a hydrometer, the Specific Gravity (SG) readings you take before you pitch the yeast are the single BIGGEST source of info in aiding the experts here to help you if should encounter problems along the way. So it will be well worth the investment in the long run...
Good luck,
Pewter
Re: Help Gonzo, man he's full of it
On with the questions,
Can I use a plastic bucket for Joe's recipe?
Can I use liquor bottles that have a removeable cork (T cork) in the end? If I can what special instructions do I have to follow.
I'm going to either have to use regular beer bottles or drink a lot of this American sparkleing wine. The restraunt doesn't sell 22oz beer or that wine with the screw top.
I'm in a small town, everyone drinks the 12 oz domestics.
What about capping some liqour bottles, are they too big?
On with the questions,
Can I use a plastic bucket for Joe's recipe?
Can I use liquor bottles that have a removeable cork (T cork) in the end? If I can what special instructions do I have to follow.
I'm going to either have to use regular beer bottles or drink a lot of this American sparkleing wine. The restraunt doesn't sell 22oz beer or that wine with the screw top.
I'm in a small town, everyone drinks the 12 oz domestics.
What about capping some liqour bottles, are they too big?
Re: Help Gonzo, man he's full of it
I've read that you should use wax with these to insure a good seal.
Bottles are your personal preference as long as you are not going carbonated. Any bottle you want will do.
Don't ask to buy bottles from the resteraunts, ask them if you can have the empty ones they have discarded. For free.
Gonzo said:
I've read that you should use wax with these to insure a good seal.
Bottles are your personal preference as long as you are not going carbonated. Any bottle you want will do.
Don't ask to buy bottles from the resteraunts, ask them if you can have the empty ones they have discarded. For free.
The T corks are usually used for fortified wines, where the higher alcohol content makes it more immune to oxidization.
I would only trust my mead to a six month to a year lifespan in those bottles, and with very little head-space.
I would only trust my mead to a six month to a year lifespan in those bottles, and with very little head-space.
In short, if you don't know the complete history of the bucket, you can't tell. If you do know the history here are some pointers:
See this link for some more info:
http://waltonfeed.com/self/upack/buckets.html
- White/Natural in color. Most dyes make the bucket 'non-foodgrade'.
- Not recycled. Recycled buckets, even recycled food-grade buckets are not longer food grade.
- Never contained anything but food. If it's been used for chemicals...fuhgeddaboutit.
See this link for some more info:
http://waltonfeed.com/self/upack/buckets.html
If you buy a bucket "new" from the home improvement store of your choice, flip it over and look at the center of the bucket. If the manufacture is Letica Bucket Co. or Rochester Bucket Co. then you are good to go with a white bucket. The Letica bucket in green is also food grade, but may have been exclusively available to pickle packers for McDonalds etc.
The bucket I use is a translucent bucket by Letica, and while I'm not 100% certain, I am confident enough to be using it.
I'll do some further digging with the Letica Bucket Co. to see what I can learn about the various colors and food grade.
The bucket I use is a translucent bucket by Letica, and while I'm not 100% certain, I am confident enough to be using it.
I'll do some further digging with the Letica Bucket Co. to see what I can learn about the various colors and food grade.
