Mead
I know, I know its not beer, but cut me some slack. Vint Dad just doesn’t roll of the tongue as well.
A year and a half ago, perhaps longer, I started a batch of dry mead. It sat in primary for a couple months and then in secondary for over a year. In fact, last night was the first time I touched in since that second racking. I ended up putting it in a keg for ease of transport.
Overall the flavor was still a bit harsh and nearly unpalatable. I’m hoping leaving it in the keg for another six months or so will help it age a bit more. I was less than careful leaving the lees, so I’m also hopeful that the keg will help reduce that as well. If it doesn’t turn out I have a bottle of raspberry extract that I can add to see if that helps. Or to cover up the off flavors. I’ll not go that route for another year though.
Perhaps a filter might be in the works. Let my wines and mead tertiary in a keg before filtering? Something to think about anyway.
On a sudsy note, it has been months since I offered for a local brew day, I think that is going to have to happen next month. By then hopefully I’ll have a kegerator up and running!
Cheers,
Tony
I’ve heard it can take over two years for a dry mead to age properly.
A brew day sounds good to me, since everytime we’ve tried in the past something goes and ruins it.
I’m also working on building a kegerator. I’ll let you know when I have pics and details up somewhere, as it’s a bit more invovled then the one you are making
as i’m custom building the fridge box to fit inside a bit of furniture that I have.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
I had the opportunity to try some 6yo mead, very different than this young one!
With you kegerator, I’m sure you know to leave ventilation for the fridge. I’ve seen pics of one that the guy built with cpu fans on the back to make sure there was enough air flow.
I’ll let you know about next month!
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Hey! I was thinking of trying to make some mead. we’ve collected some bottles of dry, semi dry, sweeet, etc. A tasting is in order on Friday.
Once we pick on we like we’ll try to make something in that style. Any pointers?
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Be patient with it, I guess. I was ready to dump this one until I tasted that 6yo mead at my brothers. Yeah, he was mead-sitting for a friend. Incredible flavor. Still nothing like the taste of true mead from across the pond though.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:29 am