Book Recommendations?

[Emiroo]

So when I got serious about brewing beer, I read anything I could get my hands on and it helped improve my results a lot. However, there seems to be a lot more good information on brewin' beer than brewin' mead.

I am ordering Compleat Meadmaker by Ken Schramm from amazon. Any other must reads? (pun intended )

Thanks!

 

[lostnbronx]

Emiroo'

Check out these pages here, here, and here at GM for starters. After Ken's great book, "Mad About Mead" is a good next step, I think.

You have read through the Newbee Guide, too, haven't you? It's a veritable book in its own right, filled with everything a new mazer could want to know.

-David

 

[Oskaar]

Making Mead: Honeywine by the Late GREAT Roger Morse.

 

[Emiroo]

I was actually able to check both books out from the library today Excellent!

I did read through the Newbee guide which certainly gave me lots of great information on how to get started and make my first mead (added to y'alls wonderful advice of course). Add these three titles and I should be well on my way

Thanks again for the recommendations!

 

[mrflibble]

I have Ken's book and I really like it.

One thing I am finding out is that there are a bazillion ways to make make and many seemingly contradictory suggestions. For example: One books said "Never be afraid to rack" and another one said "Never rack until the fermentation is done." Now, those aren't really contradictory, but sometimes it is hard to find the true middle ground.

Also, recently I ran into instructions for using bentonite. (My first batch is still cloudy after four months.) The instructions on the bentonite say to add it then thoroughly mix the mead by stirring or shaking. But most other sources say "Don't ever stir/shake, that will introduce oxygen". So are the bentonite instructions assuming this is at the very beginning? Or that sulfite have been used? GAH! There has to be some truth in there somewhere.

And another... Ken never talks about stirring after the pitching, but many sources do. Then what? I would like to know why to do / not to do.

 

[Rhianni]

I have Ken's book and I really like it.

One thing I am finding out is that there are a bazillion ways to make make and many seemingly contradictory suggestions. For example: One books said "Never be afraid to rack" and another one said "Never rack until the fermentation is done." Now, those aren't really contradictory, but sometimes it is hard to find the true middle ground.

Two comments in reference to your contradictory statement (which I too have noticed)
1: Mead making to me is about probability of success. One could take water, add honey, dump in yeast and wait and get get mead. The chance of getting something pleasurable to drink is pretty low. Likewise one could follow the stricitest of santitation practices and still have something go wrong. People will often give advice for what has worked for them and feel that since it worked its the right thing to do and therefore is the only way to do it.

2: I will see advice given to always do something or never do something without giving a reason. That really doesnt help educate brewers. Mead can be stubborn enough as it is and the more knowledge of whats going on the better.

 

[Oskaar]

Hey MrF.

As I mentioned in another post, it's time for you to do some of you're own research. Check out my other replies and use the search tool in the forums. There is a wealth of information out there including many references by others and myself about nutrients, stirring, oaking, etc.

Spend some time reading.

Cheers,

Oskaar