I plan on aging it until whenever and however long it needs. It's just a shame it's only a gallon so I won't have any to drink. We have two more gallon jugs, one needs to be filled with mead and that leaves the other for revolving rackings. Then I think it's time to move to five gallon batches. Now if only I could find honey at a price approaching reasonable.
Plastic particles, sanitation concerns, yeast shock
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Oh I've done my HW. I've tried all those places and more and the best deal I can get nearby is a "gallon" for $57 except they weigh the jar in with the gallon so it's more like 9.5 pounds for $57. And all you can REALLY find in CT is wildflower, no varietals unless you can afford $8+ per pound. And as an extra hurdle, a large percentage of the suppliers listed on that (and other) sites are now defunct for some reason or another. What I really want is 5gal pails for a reasonable price but I'm not having any luck.
Another CT Yankee here. From the middle of the state. I haven't moved to 'gourmet' honeys yet. I've been using BJ's clover honey (8 bucks for 3 lbs) and its okay for most things. I DO have a pound or so each of wildflower, buckwheat and Orange Blossom that I plan on using for backsweetening batches, but I'm also constrained as far as finances are concerned, so large quantities of good quality honey are beyond my reach right now. I've made truly good meads using BJ's store brand honey, I just wonder how much better it could be with 'real' honey.
Don't worry about "only" gallon batches. Its true that they're wasteful of yeast, since you use the same amount of yeast for a gallon batch as you would for a 5 gallon batch, and the returns are small, ie waiting months for 1 gallon as opposed to waiting the same number of months for 5 or 6 (or more) gallons, but there's something to be said for the freedom that gallon batches give you to experiment.
A local home brew shop should be able to sell you 4 one gallon jugs for around $20. On the other hand, you could check with an Italian restaurant or two and see if they get their 'house wine' in gallon or 4 litre jugs. The 4 liter jobbers make decent carboys, since when you rack off the lees you usually end up with right around a gallon and maybe a jigger to sample. I make my gallon batches to just over 4 liters and rack to a gallon jug, which usually fill it to the neck of the jug to minimize headspace.
Yeah, you'll move on to 5 or 6 gallon batches. Its a natural progression. But when you want to diddle with a recipe, it's easier to sacrifice 3 lbs of honey rather than 15 or 18.
Good luck!
Joe
I buy the wildflower in a bucket because it is only $180 ($9 a quart). Wildflower here is regularly going for $15 a quart ($300 a bucket). And varietals are around $20 to $25 a quart ($400 to $500 a bucket), plus they will not sell varietals in buckets, only quarts and barrels (I never bothered to ask the price of a barrel) here. There are no citrus here so no OB for me, or most other varietals as they are WAY WAY outta my price range. Plus after my big batches are done I'm sticking to small gallon batches to keep it affordable.
$180 is EXACTLY what I want to pay for a 5gal bucket. But around here everyone thinks "I CAN sell it for more so I WILL sell it for more" (Gas Only just dropped from $3.99/ gal) I've found only one producer that will provide 5gal and it's a two hour drive one way for wildflower honey I can't sample beforehand, for $225. I can't bring myself to go to BJs cause I keep picturing bear shaped corn syrup when I do, even if its not true. I have a mental block about anything pasteurized at all as well. (You're processing it more by doing that, don't charge MORE MONEY for the "artisanal" raw honey)
I know what you mean, but it's really not bad honey. At least I believe its all real honey. The taste is pretty good. Just like when I was a kid. It lists countries of origin, and yeah, I'm positive its pasteurized.
I'd recommend busting open the wallet for 8 bucks and giving it a shot in a gallon batch. Worst case, you backsweeten with a good honey.
As an aside, and way off topic, I just paid $2.17[SUP]9[/SUP]/gal for gas... at BJ's. The way they price gas (zone pricing) is a crime.
Just racked this the other day, was pleasantly surprised with the taste. Will continue aging it, considering backsweetening with just a bit of honey in water to top off the jug, but it's so nice and clear I dont want it to cloud up again.
Better to use a neutral white wine than water and honey to top off. That will restart fermentation.
Sent from my TARDIS at the restaurant at the end of the universe while eating Phil.
Sent from my TARDIS at the restaurant at the end of the universe while eating Phil.
