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Traditional Mead

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wheresthemead!
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Wheresthemead!

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Recipe (basic recipe):
3 pounds of honey
1 gallon of spring water
yeast (researching the best yeast for my batches)

Is it possible to make a traditional mead with these three ingredients or should I add raisins?
These are questions for future batches (the ideas are flowing!):
If I wanted to add fresh raw ginger root, how much per gallon? I use two thin slices daily for morning tea.
Could I use imitation Vanilla extract? If, yes, how much per gallon? Or should I buy vanilla beans instead? What about Almond Extract (real stuff)?
Where do I get Oak slices for mead? I have pine trees, an apple tree, peach tree, and a fig tree. No oak. I do have mesquite chips for the smoker...
 
Hi,
You don't need raisins. I would recommend good rehydration protocol such as described in Scotts Labs Handbook 2018. I would also recommend staggered nutrient additions (SNA), aeration, etc.

I've used DV10, K1V, QA23, and D21 for Trads, and so far so good. The type of honey you use will make a big difference. I get mine from my own hives, and it's a bit richer, and more complex than a 'standard' clover or alf-alfa type honey. Darker honey tends to have more mineral content and anti-oxidants based on my research.

I'd go with vanilla beans vs extract, but folks on here have used extracts to their satisfaction. Anything you add from a flavor perspective can be tested in small amounts. You can do this using small glasses and scale up, but always sneak up slowly - start small, wait a day, taste, add some more, etc.

Oak is always a good idea for Trads. I'd stay away from oak chips based on what I've read from others' experience. I've had good luck with Xoakers from morewine.com. Oak adds mouthfeel, aroma, and can also add a vanillan flavor. Ryan Carlson has a podcast on this site somewhere in the October 2017 timeframe, but morewine.com also has a nice brief write-up. There's more of a science to toasting wood/oak than you would think, so definitely research that before using your own.

Just my thoughts.
 
Hello 4give,
I like Nature Nate's honey. I use it daily & used part of it for the JAOM (JAOM is doing fine).
I am new to mead making. So, DV10, K1v, QA23, and D21 are all different yeasts? I am not familiar with rehydration protocol. Didn't know about Scotts Labs Handbook 2018 either. I found it.
Looks like I need a beginner's mead kit & books. There is so much to learn!
 
Wheresthemead! said:
Hello 4give,
I like Nature Nate's honey. I use it daily & used part of it for the JAOM (JAOM is doing fine).
I am new to mead making. So, DV10, K1v, QA23, and D21 are all different yeasts? I am not familiar with rehydration protocol. Didn't know about Scotts Labs Handbook 2018 either. I found it.
Looks like I need a beginner's mead kit & books. There is so much to learn!
Click to expand...

If you look up Gotmead live podcast and start on 9/5/17 you can learn to start at step one to the end how to make great mead using modern protocols. The oak podcast is just in front of that.
 
Squatchy,
I will listen to the Gotmead live podcast. I found a few different beginner mead kits.
 
Hi - Sorry, yes, those are yeast strains that I gave you. You can read more about them in the handbook.

Along with Squatchy's podcasts, you may also want to read the NeeBee Guide here on GotMead. You may find a few semi-conflicting points with all the information, but these are overall good starting points to educate yourself. I'm still learning too, so I know exactly what you mean about all there is to learn. My goals are not competitive, or anything like that. Essentially, I just want to make good mead, and have some fun doing it while learning along the way.
 
4give said:
Hi - Sorry, yes, those are yeast strains that I gave you. You can read more about them in the handbook.

Along with Squatchy's podcasts, you may also want to read the NeeBee Guide here on GotMead. You may find a few semi-conflicting points with all the information, but these are overall good starting points to educate yourself. I'm still learning too, so I know exactly what you mean about all there is to learn. My goals are not competitive, or anything like that. Essentially, I just want to make good mead, and have some fun doing it while learning along the way.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information. Not doing competitions either. May visit a few festivals for fun. I want to learn how to make good mead too. Mine will be for sitting on the deck with a glass in the evenings.
 
Wheresthemead! said:
Thank you for the information. Not doing competitions either. May visit a few festivals for fun. I want to learn how to make good mead too. Mine will be for sitting on the deck with a glass in the evenings.
Click to expand...

I've had a long term offer to the community here. If you want to send me something. Along with your log. I will judge it as if it was a competition entry, according to how we judge meads in comps, and try to up your game and critique your protocol as well
 
Squatchy said:
I've had a long term offer to the community here. If you want to send me something. Along with your log. I will judge it as if it was a competition entry, according to how we judge meads in comps, and try to up your game and critique your protocol as well
Click to expand...

Thank you. I serious doubt my log will pass the test and the mead. Honestly, no clue what I am doing. But, I did find a mead recipe that only has a few raisins, honey, water and yeast. This is the closest to traditional mead I can do at the moment. I may just stick with this method of madness. No kit. Just get bottles, corks, and I have no clue what it is called, the thing you use to put the cork in a bottle.

And I have two brothers that brew beer & post it on Facebook every time they taste one. Never invite me for a taste. One of them is a third owner of a bar. So, I will stick with this simple process & this summer I will start to enjoy my mead. Maybe give my sister a bottle. Maybe not.
 
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Squatchy,
I would be pleased to send you a 12oz bottle of my choke cherry mead. Is it legal to mail? I don't have a log, per se, but the recipe is public on Brewers Friend, under Other Fruit Melomel, it's the only Choke Cherry in there. I could also print it out and send it along. There was no space to log TOSNA, but I did roughly follow it using yeast nutrient and DAP, which I don't intend to use again, I believe I will stick to Go-Ferm and Fermaid O from now on.
 
Robert Scogins said:
Squatchy,
I would be pleased to send you a 12oz bottle of my choke cherry mead. Is it legal to mail? I don't have a log, per se, but the recipe is public on Brewers Friend, under Other Fruit Melomel, it's the only Choke Cherry in there. I could also print it out and send it along. There was no space to log TOSNA, but I did roughly follow it using yeast nutrient and DAP, which I don't intend to use again, I believe I will stick to Go-Ferm and Fermaid O from now on.
Click to expand...

I just replied to your email. It is not legal to send alcohol through the mail. DO NOT send USPS. They would likely prosecute. Just use another carrier and either just not even declare it. Or say it's vinegar samples
 
This post was originally about Traditional Mead. Not how to get your mead judged.
 
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