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My First (Successful) Mead/Melomel Ferment!

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:54 pm
by Mynock
I say successful because the first one only got "Ok". It was drinkable but "hot" with a burning alcohol aftertaste. Kept it too warm, and the fermentation went to fast.

The second one I kept in a cooler spot in the basement, slower ferment, got slightly better flavor, but because I made the mistake of using artificial yeast nutriant it wouldn't clarify, so it tasted better but looked all cloudy.

Third time was a charm. Spring Water, Honey, about a dozen Blood Oranges (cause they sounded cooler than regular Oranges), Raisins as a natural yeast nutrient, and plain old Fleischmann's bread yest. Cold fermented for 2 months on the fruit, racked into a secondary, and in another month it was perfect. Probably needs a few more months to mellow out but I don't know if it's going to last that long. :twisted:

For some reason this dumb thing is turning my pictures sideways...... :roll:

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Re: My First (Successful) Mead/Melomel Ferment!

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:57 pm
by Mynock
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When you open the pictures, they are right side up! :lol:

Re: My First (Successful) Mead/Melomel Ferment!

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:03 pm
by Fred588
I presume you are aware of this forum:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/

I have zero interest in brewing beer but I am a member there because they have a sub forum on carbonated beverages. Nearly all the discussion there is about beer and related stuff.

Re: My First (Successful) Mead/Melomel Ferment!

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:22 pm
by Mynock
Yup, I lurk on a couple brewing forums. Beer is a little more involved and needs some more (expensive) equipment, not sure if I want to get into that. Fermenting is relatively cheap, the glass carboys are the only really expensive piece of equipment I had to buy.

Re: My First (Successful) Mead/Melomel Ferment!

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:35 pm
by Fred588
Mostly I just carbonate water and then use that to mix with a whole range of things. Cranberry juice, tomato juice, pineapple juice, peach syrup, pear syrup, apple juice, ice coffee, and so on. Even the juice from a jar of green olives is pretty good in the right amount. I have come pretty close to duplicating Moxie (for those few who know what that is) using Angostura Bitters and have made what I call Good and Plenty Soda using vanilla and anise extracts.