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Another Newb

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DavidF

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 1, 2007
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Hi everyone,

Just registered and figured I'd say hi. Thanks for all the great info posted here. I've contemplated making mead for a few years now and stumbled onto this site a few days ago. Kinda gave me the kick in the rear I needed to get a batch started. Made a trip to the brew shop then headed home to mix it all up. My tendency to go against all good advice makes me fear that this first gallon will turn to vinegar but I'm a glutton for punishment so it's all good. I'll drink it anyway. ;D

Anywho, thanks again for all the good stuff here.

Sláinte :cheers:
David
 
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DavidF

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 1, 2007
5
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Sandman said:
Welcome to the forum David!

You'll find more information and advice here than you'll know what to do with. Any ideas on what your first batch will be?
:cheers:
Sandman
Click to expand...
Thanks, Sandman. :)

Not sure what it'll turn out to be. Swill, most likely. I just tossed a couple pounds of honey, a bit of water, and way too much baking yeast into a jug. Then decided that wasn't good enough so I put in half an orange. Blew up the airlock within an hour. I'm not too good at following directions but I've gotten lucky in the past being reckless with fruit wine projects.

This weekend the real mead making starts. Might even try to follow directions.

:cheers:
David
 
sandman

sandman

Premium Patron
Premium Patron
Feb 5, 2007
804
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Hartford, Huntingdon, United Kingdom
My first mead was a batch of Joe's Ancient Orange. It turned out great after 4 months. It's drinkable earlier, but the extra aging time only helped improve it. I'd say 4-6 months is a good batch time on this one. When it clears you can rack it for storage. Then give it another month or three (if you can) before drinking it.

Aside from the JAO though make the effort to get some real brewing yeasts. If there's no LHBS near you I would advise making an online purchase soon.

Also, try following the directions a few times before branching too far into experimentation. You'll be glad you did. :drunken_smilie:
:cheers:
Sandman
 
J

Johnnybladers

NewBee
Registered Member
Feb 13, 2006
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Sandman said:
Aside from the JAO though make the effort to get some real brewing yeasts. If there's no LHBS near you I would advise making an online purchase soon.

Also, try following the directions a few times before branching too far into experimentation. You'll be glad you did. :drunken_smilie:
:cheers:
Sandman
Click to expand...
I'll second that
 
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DavidF

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 1, 2007
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Hello again,

Been a couple months now and I'm back for another question or two. Hope you don't mind. :)

The mead that I started has sat in the basement for a little over two months now. I pretty much forgot about it so it sat on the yeast, in the primary fermenter the entire time. It has cleared nicely but being on the yeast for so long has me a bit worried. Should I be worried?

The few orange slices that are in it have not settled to the bottom of the bottle yet but I'm thinking of bottling it now anyway. What say you? Should I wait until the fruit settles or just go ahead and bottle now? Or should I just dump it because it's ruined?

Thanks for any and all help.

:cheers:
David
 
J

Johnnybladers

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Registered Member
Feb 13, 2006
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DavidF said:
Or should I just dump it because it's ruined?

Thanks for any and all help.

:cheers:
David
Click to expand...
How do you know it's ruined if you haven't sampled it? Taste it, bottle it (or rack off the sediment and age further in bulk) and later drink it :drunken_smilie: My understanding is age cures many ills. Let baby mead grow before you judge it harshly
 
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DavidF

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 1, 2007
5
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Johnnybladers said:
DavidF said:
Or should I just dump it because it's ruined?

Thanks for any and all help.

:cheers:
David
Click to expand...
How do you know it's ruined if you haven't sampled it? Taste it, bottle it (or rack off the sediment and age further in bulk) and later drink it :drunken_smilie: My understanding is age cures many ills. Let baby mead grow before you judge it harshly
Click to expand...
Oh, I'll definitely sample it. I was just asking because it seems most of the folks around here seem to have the basic chemistry for each batch memorized. Thought they might be able to tell me what the stuff would be like.

You are right though; age does cure most ills. The last beer I brewed tasted better than anything else I ever brewed after a year of aging and the fruit wines I've made were great after a while either in a secondary or after cold-shocking. So I'll probably give a few things a try with this little batch.

Thanks, man.

-David

EDIT: Well, I went ahead and sampled the mead. It wasn't too bad. Not as much yeast flavor as I feared. Very dry thanks to, I think, the amount of honey used but not too disappointing. A slight bubblegum flavor was present. ??? I think it will definitely benefit from some aging in the the bottle.
 
Yo momma

Yo momma

NewBee
Registered Member
Jul 14, 2007
934
3
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Flint, Michigan
Sound like your on the right track. I am the first to admit that I have a problem following directions. Remember that everyone here has there own little way of making there wine or mead. You will have your own way and it will take you in many different directions. :icon_thumleft:
Experimentation is the mother of good mead!! ( I made that up! ;D)
 
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