mead
- Thread starter KaleoXxX
- Start date
Apache
Well-Known Member
Does any one else Keep Bees? I have 4 hives as of now, well one will probably not make it through the winter, so maybe 3 hives. Its been a great experience. We only extracted about 2.5 gallons this year. Hopefully next year we will get enough to make Mead with!
Here is a Thread with some pics of our honey harvest
https://www.rollitup.org/toke-n-talk/275157-honey-bee-honey-extraction.html
Here is a Thread with some pics of our honey harvest
https://www.rollitup.org/toke-n-talk/275157-honey-bee-honey-extraction.html
Leothwyn
Well-Known Member
That's so cool. How did you learn to do it? Is it complicated? How's the initial investment?
That'll definitely be one satisfying glass of mead if you do make some - made with your own hands from honey that you collected yourself!
Also, I thought I'd share something I bookmarked a while ago. I haven't tried it yet, but plan on doing it soon (good holiday drink). It's a traditional Polish honey drink... similar to mead, but easier and more immediately gratifying.
http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/beverages/r/honeyedvodka.htm
(Thanks for the rep kaleo).
That'll definitely be one satisfying glass of mead if you do make some - made with your own hands from honey that you collected yourself!
Also, I thought I'd share something I bookmarked a while ago. I haven't tried it yet, but plan on doing it soon (good holiday drink). It's a traditional Polish honey drink... similar to mead, but easier and more immediately gratifying.
http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/beverages/r/honeyedvodka.htm
(Thanks for the rep kaleo).
Apache
Well-Known Member
Bee Keeping is a super cool and easy hobby. I figure it is little less trouble then having a dog and a little more trouble then a cat. If that makes since? I called around and found another Bee keeper in my area and asked him if he would show me the way and thats how I got started. Here are a couple of sites to read up on it:
A cool blog of a guy who journals his adventures in beekeeping.
http://www.hive-mind.com/bee/blog/
This is the kit i purchased to start:
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=1638&idCategory=
Since I have been doing this for the past 3 or so years and it is a blast!
I also like to smoke a little "Bee Keepers Friend)" before I work with them also. Helps with the good vibe.
Cheers,
~
gogrow
confused
It's nice to see a thread like this so lets keep it going!
General brewing tips? hints?
i found this recently... its a quick recipe, ready to drink in days; but doesnt store much longer than a month... figured it would be a good start for me, and possibly others interested in the topic......
Master Robyyan's Quick Mead or Weak Honey Drink
Drinks of fermented honey and water are some of the earliest known to man. This weak honey drink is based on a recipe from Sir Kenelme Digbie's Closet, although Robyyan has modified it.
Original recipe (Digbie, p. 124):
Take nine pints of warm fountain water, and dissolve in it one point of pure white honey, by laving it therein , till it be dissolved. Then boil it gently , skimming it all the while, till all the scum be perfectly scummed off; and after that boil it a little longer, peradventure a quarter of ah hour. In all it will require two or three hours boiling, so at least one third part may be consumed. About a quarter of an hour before you cease boiling, and take it from the fire, put to it a little spoonful of cleansed and sliced Ginger; and almost half as much of the thin yellow rind of Orange, when you are even ready t take it from the fire, so as the Orange boil only one walm in it. Then pour it into a well glassed strong deep great Gally-pot, and let it stand so, till it be almost cold, that it be scarce Luke-warm. Then put into it a little silver spoonful of pure Ale-yeast and work it together with a Ladle to make it ferment: as soon as it beginneth to do so, cover it close with a fit cover, and put a thick dubbled woollen cloth about it. Cast all things so that this may be done when you are going to bed.
Next morning when you rise, you will find the barm gathered all together in the middle; scum it clen off with a silver spoon and a feather, and bottle up the Liquor, stopping it very close. It will be ready to drink in two or three days, but is will keep well a month or two. It will from the first, very quick and pleasant.
Master Robyyan's recipe:
Add one. pound of honey to 5 quarts of water, bring the mixture to a simmer and skim the foam as it rises, until there is no more foam, approximately 30 minutes. Add approx. 2 tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh ginger, the juice of one lemon, and 8 cloves, stuck into the lemon peel for easy removal. Boil for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and cool to lukewarm. Place the wort in a jug, straining the ginger and lemon pieces out. Add 1/4 tsp. ale yeast, and fit a fermentation lock.After 48 hours, bottle and store at room temperature. After 48 hours in the bottle, refrigerate.