Mead, drink of vikings, comes out of the Dark Ages

hosted ^ | Dec 29 | ALLEN G. BREED

[JoeProBono]

[Uncle Miltie]

That picture just screams “Horney” somehow.

[Uncle Miltie]

I prefer this:

[central_va]

Viking chicks are hot.

[discostu]

Mead is one of the worst hangovers you can get. It couples the usual alcohol hangover with a massive sugar crash. Tasty beverage but use in moderation or pay the price.

[Lurker]

I've been brewing mead for years. Properly done the stuff is wonderful and boy does it pack a kick.

Did know that mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to mankind? It's a least a thousand years older than beer. That's because mead could be made by primitive hunter gatherer societies and beer presupposes organized agriculture and an excess of grains.

In some ancient tribes it was a death penalty offense to harm the mead-maker.

L

[hoagy62]

MY brother-in-law makes a dynamite mead. He doesn’t do it much anymore, but I hope he does again soon.

[mamelukesabre]

Mead fell by the wayside because it is an excruciatingly slow process to make it. Very hard to turn a profit while competing with grape wine and grain beer...both of which are often spiked with some type of sugar to speed up the fermentation. I would be really surprised if this new mead is really pure honey and water and no sugar added.

[JoeProBono]

[SpaceBar]

Mead is a vile beverage. Sounds quaint, tastes like vomit.

[JoeProBono]

[sima_yi]

The manufacture of soap is one of the oldest of chemical syntheses. It is not nearly so old, however, as the manufacture of alcohol. Apparently, man's desire for cleanliness is much newer than his desire for drunkeness.

( I quote Organic Chemistry, third edition, Morrison & Boyd)

[JRandomFreeper]

It's a least a thousand years older than beer.

There's your sign.... Older is not automatically better, nor is newer. But to ignore advances in technology, especially brewing technology, leaves one thousands of years behind the curve. ;)

< /religious wars over booze>

/johnny

[dljordan]

“I’ve been brewing mead for years. Properly done the stuff is wonderful and boy does it pack a kick.”

I’ve got 15 pounds of honey sitting in the basement right now ready for my first batch.

[Lurker]

Mead is a vile beverage. Sounds quaint, tastes like vomit.

You've never had a good one.

[Professional Engineer]

Cute girl.

Mead sucks. Ugh.

[Professional Engineer]

Cute girl.

Mead sucks. Ugh.

[Lurker]

Booze wars? Hardly. But it's a fun little hobby of ours. Mead takes a LOT longer to make than beer, that's for sure. My last batch took almost 2 1/2 months from cook to popping corks. But it was worth it.

L

[SuziQ]

I've never tasted the stuff, but whenever I hear about it, I think of the movie, The 13th Warrior.

[Lurker]

Lurkers Maple Blueberry Mead

12 pounds honey
2 pounds real maple syrup
1 quart fresh blueberries
Champagne yeast
Charging sugar

Cook the honey, syrup, and blueberries until the honey and syrup are completely incorporated and the blueberries have released all their juice, about an hour or so. Skim off the foam as it cooks.

Cool completely, toss the Champagne yeast, and pour into a sanitized carboy. Add airlock. Walk away.

Mine didn't stop fermenting for amost a month, YMMV.

When ferment has ceased transfer to another sanitized carboy to let solids settle out for a week or so.

Prepare the charging sugar as you would for beer. Cool mixture and add to fermented honey and syrup. Immediately transfer to PUNTED Champagne bottles (VERY important!), cork, cage, and set in a cool, dark place for 3-4 weeks.

When finished chill thoroughly before serving.

You'll end up with a wonderfully dry sparkling mead with just a hint of maple and blueberry flavor. Be warned: ABV on mine was over 12%.

And yes I know it's technically not a mead because of the addition of fruit, it's a melomel. Cut me some slack. All I know is the stuff ROCKS.

Happy New Year!

[JoeProBono]

Happy New Year!

[Dead Corpse]

gotmead.com

*nom nom nom*

[Lurker]

I don't care for sweet meads at all. If that's all someone tries I can completely understand them thinking the stuff is terrible.

But if you get ahold of, or better yet make your own, dry mead you'll be amazed.

Trust me on this, a well made mead makes women's clothes fall off.

L

[SuzyQue]

My favorite movie!

“It’s honey!”

[1776 Reborn]

Any beverage that isn’t affected by being consumed out a horn leaves me wondering how good it could be.

[Hardastarboard]

And yes I know it's technically not a mead because of the addition of fruit, it's a melomel. Cut me some slack.

Darn. I was just getting ready to challenge you on that, too. You never cease to amaze me with your talents and range of interest.

[Allegra]

Mead ping.

[Colvin]

Hmmm, and I am about to send a cow to the butcher.
Reminder to ask for the horns, and a good use to put them to.

[Dead Corpse]

I’ve seen it happen. ;-)

[Lurker]

I was just getting ready to challenge you on that, too.

Well to get really, really geeky about it it's technically: Acerglyn - Mead made with maple syrup

But since it's made with fruit AND maple syrup I guess I get to coin the name. Therefore I dub it: ACERGLYNOMEL!

Whatever it is the stuff kicks. Did I mention that it makes women's clothes fall off?

Happy New Year to you my friend!

L

[Lurker]

I’ve seen it happen. ;-)

Me too. That's why there are always TWO bottles chilling, just in case the first one doesn't have the desired effect.

There was this one time Mrs. L and the neighbor lady were in the hot tub and they told me to open a 3rd bottle...... OOOOPS, wrong forum for that story.

Happy New Year!

L

[Lurker]

Or maybe ACERGLYNOMELOMELLOW would be better. What do you think?

[Dead Corpse]

"Dear Penthouse,
True story. There I was just drinking my mead when all of a sudden..."

I kept talking about brewing some up and my Wife wanted to try some before she could get behind me having yet another "hobby". The only stuff the local liquor store had was a fairly dry, but sweet, California mead. I forget the brand, but I'll never forget the Mrs reaction after a few glasses.

Sulfites have turned us off several types of beer and wine, so brewing my own mead sounds like a good way to control what goes where...

[kickonly88]

You could pm that story, if you wish.

[The Sons of Liberty]

MY brother-in-law makes a dynamite mead. He doesn’t do it much anymore,

Revenooers paid him a visit?

[Mr. K]

Get me the recipe from him, and I promise to brew some for you

I can make ANYTHING I set my mind to... and usually of superior quality

I am a great cook

[Lurker]

See post 14 on this thread.

[Lurker]

brewing my own mead sounds like a good way to control what goes where...

In more than one way my friend. LOL.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

“There was this one time Mrs. L and the neighbor lady were in the hot tub and they told me to open a 3rd bottle...”

Is that when your clothes fell off? Just asking...

[dljordan]

Thanks! I’ve been making beer since the 70’s off and on and have all the equipment. I can’t wait. :)

[Lurker]

Be sure you use the champagne yeast and punted bottles. Regular wine bottles won’t take the pressure and will explode. Trust me on this one.

[Hotmetal]

I think mead made with fruit added is called melomel.

[Hotmetal]

Sorry missed it the first time read too fast.

[Lurker]

No problem. Happy New Year!

[Redcloak]

This has got me wanting to brew a cyser (Mead made with apple juice), but She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed would probably string me up if another bubbling carboy showed up around the house.

[SIDENET]

LOL.

[TheBigIf]

Might have to order some of this.

[Hardastarboard]

I think you're out of control!!

Happy New Year to you as well, Mr. Lurker.

[madamemayhem]

Okay. You look like a person who knows this stuff quite well. I do not like dry wines of any kind nor do I like beer. Mead (I am told) is basically a strong wine made from honey, is that correct? How does one know which mead is sweet and which is dry, without tasting them? I have tried to find out about this since we wanted to make mulled mead for the holidays a few years ago. Just could not get a good answer about the sweet vs. dry question.

[hoagy62]

Revenooers paid him a visit?

Nah...just didn't want to do it anymore. Too much else to do.