Mead Lover's Digest #60 Tue 22 December 1992


Forum for Discussion of Mead Brewing and Consuming
John Dilley, Digest Coordinator

Contents:

What is bentonite? and Final Gravity question (Douglas Niehaus)
Juice and/or solids… (Joe Kazura)
Kumiss and Curds Awhey (Jane Beckman)

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Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 09:08:25 -0500
From: niehaus@cs.umass.edu (Douglas Niehaus)
Subject: What is bentonite? and Final Gravity question

The discussion about clearing the mead sounded like a good tip to
keep in mind, but what is Bentonite?

Also, my first, and only, two batches seemed to ferment well and
steadily over say a 1 month period going from OG 80 and 55
respectively down to 8. They also cleared after 1 racking over
the next 2 weeks. I racked the first a second time, and it threw
a little more sediment, but both seem pretty steady at 8.

However, I have mostly seem FG of 995 or so…. are my meads stuck,
do the final ten points take three times as long, or did my batches,
Barshack Ginger recipe differing only in original honey added, differ
in some way from the norm? Also, I have been doing 2 gallon batches
as a way of experimenting with technique and recipes until I get the
hang of this.

I added the suggested yeast nutrient and acid blend…

I realize I have not been precise in describing the ingredients,
but I am most interested in what kinds of questions I should be asking
about my technique and recipes…..

By the way, thanks to those who responded with the Zinger mead Recipe!
It looks great, and I will give it a try this weekend.

Thanks,
Doug
niehaus@cs.umass.edu


Date:    Sat, 19 Dec 1992 1:46:37 -0500 (EST)
From: JK_APPLEREP@UNHH.UNH.EDU (Joe Kazura)
Subject: Juice and/or solids...

Hi all,

First off… Happy Holidays!

I just got one of the best Juicer/Extractors!

AND my mind is working overtime to put some recipes together!!!

My big question is:

Will the yeast work on just the sugars in the extracted juice or will it work
on the fibers of the pulb as well?

Thanks,

Joe Kazura



Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 16:21:04 PST
From: jane@stratus.swdc.stratus.com (Jane Beckman)
Subject: Kumiss and Curds Awhey

I talked to my friend who makes kumiss (which technically isn't kumiss
because it's cow, rather than horse, milk, but…). Her recipe is pretty
much the one given here a few weeks back, but with a few differences. She
adds a small amount of vodka to the buttermilk to fortify it, before starting
ferment. (She cautions to add it slowly, whisking in, to not curdle the mix.)
And she adds a bit of almond extract, to even out the flavor.

It hit me later that I didn't ask if she meant cultured buttermilk or
churned buttermilk. There is a BIG difference between these, folks! The
cultured buttermilk is already on its way to being yogurt or kefir, and may
help keep the finished product from throwing a curd. I'm also wondering if
the small amount of vodka affects. (No, she didn't give me amounts. She
says she "eyeballs" and uses it at about 1 part vodka to 6 parts buttermilk,
more or less.)

–Jilara [jane@swdc.stratus.com]



End of Mead Lover's Digest