Dandelion Metheglin - Finishing, Bottling and Tasting (Mead - Herbal Honey Wine)

This is my Dandelion Metheglin that I started in April (it's now July) - now it's time to get it into bottles, and have a little taste.
To see how this was made, here's part 1: • Making Dandelion Mead ...
(with a brief update on fermentation here: • Random Stuff - Stock, ... )

[@alexanderleuchte5132]

These videos have the perfect ratio of enough "production value" to be good to watch without compromising the authenticity, i really hope it can stay that way and won't be forced to become more YT "streamlined" like many channels do when they grow

[@AtomicShrimp]

I've no plans to make any major changes - I hope my production quality will gradually improve over time, but I started out doing this because I love it - it kind of accidentally became viable as a day job, and that's fine, but I am not about to turn it into something I hate doing

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

@@AtomicShrimp Your production quality is already, if I may say, rather exquisite.

[@mannye]

@@AtomicShrimp Don't change a thing. You've got great audio. That's all that really matters technically. Content is king... no amount of fancy editing and camera work can substitute for good content.

[@edwardli9856]

@@AtomicShrimp yes, like the others have said, your videos are wonderful. We truly enjoy sticking around because you seem to enjoy it too. I’ve learned so much from your videos and also had many a laughs too (thanks scammers!)

[@CheeseDud]

“The whole vinegar leg thing” made me laugh. I’m glad you also watch Adam Ragusea. Definitely seems like a collaboration could be in order

[@armands3153]

"Hey, you mix potions, right? Can you brew me an ale?" - Guard

[@thegmredditor1573]

*Dungeon Master note making noise* For reals, that could be a neat little side quest.

[@jpaulc441]

He's too busy scambaiting the thieves guild.

[@EggBastion]

My potions are too strong for you, traveler.

[@glitchedoom]

I'd be a lot warmer and a lot happier with a bellyful of mead

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Was it healthy to spend thousands of hours playing this game? I will not regret any of them anyways, in fact, I loved them all. Bahlaan tiid !

[@krampuskardashian5890]

7:47 You maybe already know this and someone may have mentioned it, but you can check the alcohol level of future brews with a hydrometer. You measure the gravity (density) of the brew pre-fermentation and then check it post fermentation. Then plug those numbers into an online calculator or crunch the numbers yourself and you have your alcohol level.

[@clevermcgenericname891]

The SIMs Cottage Living is really just an Atomic Shrimp simulator.

[@CarJul666]

Fantastic clarity and a wonderful colour! Several of my family members dabble in mead making and beer brewing, and that clarity is VERY impressive. Well done! 🍻

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

:D Mead and barley wines are indeed a thing that we all should more heavily tend back to. Industrial beer is... an abomination.

[@cr3237]

I have yet to bottle my lot of mead. I made 2 demijohns and they are slightly different colours and not as clear as this one. Wondering if I should wait a bit longer?

[@simonhopkins3867]

My step dad was a home brewer of wine and beer. The clarity of yours looked brilliant.

[@Maetthw]

Hey its me, the guy from last time who was wondering about how exactly to steep the dandelion flowers. Mine exploded because I tried to age it in a glass container before it was done fermenting :) Live and learn

[@sinom_00]

You and your channel are the champion of "one man's trash is another man's treasure".

[@patricialavery8270]

Looking forward to the "is it sparkling mead?"video.

[@thewrastler]

Did that ever come true?

[@CXT14GamerMouse]

Made some too, inspired by you! But instead of decanting I tried pouring it and lost the beautiful color. It had an amazing taste, and I'm currently setting up another round with honey from friend this time. Just have to decide on the herbs. Thank you so much for the idea!

[@MartinAhlman]

That looked really nice! I'm a mead drinker and that looked very good.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

The colour just charmed me more than I could say. Reminds me of Baekse-ju...

[@badspellah]

I love these foreged alcohol videos. It reminds me of my grandad. I recall my grandad and his friends making allotment larger where they would use left ove carrot leaves, pea vines / shoots lettuce leavs along with ale yeast and leav it to brew. I wish I had his recipie but him and his friends have long passed.

[@kawaiilotus]

You know I quite like the tape on the cupboards and if you didn't mention it, it would look like a design feature, it's your cupboards of course but I just wanted to pitch in.

[@andersbendsen5931]

Couple of ounces of this, a dash of lime, a dollop of elderflower cordial, shaken over ice and adjusted to taste with seltzer would probably be top notch. 🤷🏾‍♂️😉

[@broadsword6650]

Atomic Shrimp’s Meth(eglin) Lab. With those dandelions, it’s Breaking Bud! 😄

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

XD

[@mikedrop4421]

I have been subscribed for I dunno 5 years maybe and I just realized that this channel is basically a grab bag of treats for your brain and soul

[@jensgoerke3819]

And lots of inspiration to get creative in the kitchen.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Never too late, all that is served here is, indeed, food for thought, a buffet of sorts :D

[@JuryDutySummons]

"vinegar leg thing" Hey, I get that reference!

[@robzyb]

Yep, I scrolled down to see if anyone else got it!

[@douglasbrouhard7024]

Took me a second and cracked me up. Perfect honestly.

[@melodybrohinsky7242]

It worked so much better than the upside down bear thing. Some of the best tag lines make themselves.

[@PotatoSmasher420]

🍾🍗👉

[@cr3237]

Brilliant! I made 2 Demijohns and will bottle it asap. Thank you for showing us how. Update: finished bottling mine, absolutely lovely brew! I did have doubts after starting it off when someone said that leaving the green bits on would affect the drink. However, as you said in this video, it didn't have any effect at all. My brew is golden and clear and tastes lovely! As you say, it tastes better slightly chilled. Thank you for posting this and I cant wait until next dandelion season!

[@steve323f]

Regardless of the flavour, you did everything amazing. But the fact it tasted good is a massive success. Well done Sir.

[@regular-joe]

That was a lovely, peaceful signoff today. Fully enjoyed the entire video. Thanks for sharing it, Mike.

[@ericvulgate]

its nice to see such an eclectic channel somehow not being suppressed by the youtube algorithm.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

It's exquisiteness defies many things but not my appreciation for sure. KZbin, on the other hand... well... meh

[@pmcKANE]

Such a satisfying end to the project.

[@MysteriumArcanum]

Been waiting for this, glad it ended up tasting nice. I could go for a nice cool glass mead right about now.

[@tduncan4875]

I love the wee primer for your syphon set. That's magic. It looks like a lovely brew

[@dazmalski]

Please don't use a wee primer - that will spoil the brew! /jk

[@markcorrigan9815]

the thumbnail made it look as if bees were floating atop the mead

[@solistheonegod]

I’ve been waiting for this, I’m glad it turned out well.

[@DanTomY93]

The Adam Ragusea reference at 5:30 was duly noted.

[@aayushaparnaginimuge4172]

Aadem plus shrimp aka the two dads you wanted but could never have.

[@GigaDavy91]

The content of atomic shrimp it's actually better and more researched, but he as less followers cause the video quality and lighting are not as good

[@alexlawson4173]

@@GigaDavy91 what are you talking about dude? adam does his research. he even interviews professionals in loads of his videos. theyre both great creators.

[@TheDarklingWolf]

Actually had to go back and relisten, thought I was imagining it at first. Two of my favourite content creators on youtube.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

@@alexlawson4173 ... in diferent ways. Yes. @GigaDavy91 Pro light and video... really? I mean... really!

[@beeragainsthumanity1420]

I've been anticipating this vid. Glad it turned out well for you.

[@brianmurphy8790]

When I was a kid my dad made loads of wine. I remember the occasional 'bang' when a bottle would pop its top off.

[@amandadavies..]

My dad did too, and beer. This video really took me back in time, as I've never seen anyone else make any ( 23 years since he died)

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

@@amandadavies.. I do admit I feel a sort of Björk sense of emergency when it comes to discovering new types of brews to subject of my not yet departed brewing fanatic dad... I just love to immerse myself in his appreciation of beers and wines, anything fermented really, a shared inherited passion. I dread the time of his departure and am sorry for your loss, I really deeply am. Time upsets me.

[@amandadavies..]

​@@PandemoniumMeltDown Long story, but very briefly his death almost destroyed me, as my mother had died when I was a teenager, and having no siblings, he was all I had. It took me 10 years to even start to come to terms with it, but now 23 years have passed and I have learned to live without him. I'm married with kids ( now adults), and I don't think I'd be here now if I hadn't had that to help me cope. Enjoy every moment with your dad....life is too short.

[@queeny5613]

I absolutely love the real time aspect of your videos

[@mrtecsom6951]

Nice 😊 to hear 👂 doggo 🐶 in the background still going strong 💪

[@mrsadrobot]

That looks amazing, I'm really glad it turned out well.

[@BWPT.]

'Permutation City' Great book, great author :)

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

:D

[@edgarburlyman738]

Yes! I've done this before, it's a grand way to make more mead with less honey.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Facinating!

[@growtocycle6992]

Could you add sugar to extend it further?

[@OAW_SE]

Found your channel because of the scambaiting videos and now here I am, really looking forward to the dandelion season. Great mix of content I must say. Keep up the good work!

[@roygbv255]

You have no idea how much I was willing this to be a taste success after the original video. It was a joy to witness the follow up and share in your achievement. I however, will continue to buy my dessert wine from the local Tescos 😉

[@HDScorpio]

Finally! Been looking forward to this since the first video.

[@onlinedivorcescotland6493]

Excellent Mike. Couple of tips from a former brewer: after about a week, take the wine off the trub and transfer to a new fermenter. If you leave it on trub for too long it can break down and give some off-flavours. Another thing is that you could buy a cheap hydrometer and take a reading before and after fermentation so you know the ABV. 👍

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Pro tip ;)

[@hannaf1989]

is the trub the big bottle?

[@onlinedivorcescotland6493]

No the trub is the bed of dead yeast and proteins at the bottom of the jar.

[@hannaf1989]

@@onlinedivorcescotland6493 Okay thank you

[@cr3237]

Thanks for the tip, I might do that next time, but frankly it didnt seem to affect the flavour this time round.

[@judycullen1111]

Looks lovely. Beautiful warm colour.I’d serve it cold with a warm desert. Glad it was a success!

[@danielpirone8028]

Congrats- great series!

[@FraustByte]

Awesome been patiently waiting

[@jackiem437]

I made elderflower wine over 35 years ago and this guy came into our house and my then husband asked him if he would like a glass of wine. He said it tasted like lemonade so he got another glass. He got up to go home and went out the door and fell into our hedge. Some lemonade lol

[@SquiggySquog]

Very well done. Never had it with dandelion, fantastic idea. Looks like it turned out very nicely.

[@DevinMoorhead]

This is one of the best channels on youtube

[@Tentakulus.]

Looks really amazing even though I have a bit of s hangover I wanna drink this

[@ollieb9875]

Hair of the dog ennit, sort you right out 😂🍻

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

I'd rather not talk about it :S

[@ollieb9875]

@@PandemoniumMeltDown looks better than the Dingo Piss Creek I was drinking yesterday 😂

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

@@ollieb9875 Hahaha XD

[@omikronweapon]

never could figure out what's up with the "actually guys, I'm kinda drunk right now lolz" comments.

[@unforgettableluncheon106]

I have been waiting for this day forever

[@LordDarrenysus]

Ohh I've been waiting for this, as someone that loves mead as a treat the bottles are looking really good

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Underrated limonade bottles indeed, thanks for bringing it up, they are very charming :D

[@psychedelikchameleon]

Beautiful colour!

[@beerad5205]

It’s finally time!!!

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

@@3iggystheorem232 Just right, like a wizard

[@Piloulegrand]

Your first video inspired me to do the same, I didn't really follow your "instructions" but also used dandelion and it turned out really good ! The dandelion wasn't really noticeable in itself but added a bit of pleasant bitterness, will surely do again next season :)

[@boom5474]

Looks really good, thank you for sharing!

[@miztahfrawg]

I didn't realize you were also a mead guy, huzzah a man of quality. I'm making an Irish braggot today

[@JBattlePants]

I don't drink, but that liquid looks beautiful!

[@terminator572]

It looks rather pretty yeah

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

@@terminator572 Your name sounds like dragon speak O.O

[@jafizzle95]

A resounding success! And well worth the wait, even if I don't get to try any :) The color and clarity is beautiful.

[@hambonefakenamington13]

Done some homebrewing myself and this series of videos shows why mine perhaps hasn't gone too well. Pretty damn interesting to watch

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

The details are the search, don't you think?

[@oliverrimes9057]

Very good. A lot of potential to experiment here. Great stuff!

[@coobk]

man, atomic shrimp yer a true modern witch!

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Alchemist surgeon of sorts

[@lewis838]

been waiting for this one!

[@bluebell7250]

Fabulous.. love this!

[@xf3s_]

awesome!! super glad to see it turned out so well :D

[@pek5117]

looks amazing and sounds like a very nice drink. Bravo Mike, very well done. making me thirsty

[@cplson2706]

Finally part 2 😁

[@thewrastler]

Looking forward to doing this with my one in the next couple of days

[@gerardmcquade]

this was an interesting prosses to watch

[@Y0PPS]

Very well done. I currently have a spiced hard kombucha mead fermenting happily in my closet.

[@Amethystar]

That looks absolutely lovely! So glad to hear it turned out to your liking! Wish I could try something like that, but it's difficult in a shared apartment where the temperature isn't always consistent. I'll just add it to the "someday list."

[@gmonkman]

Wouldn't worry too much about the temperature variation. Something like a wine you can just do in a bucket with cling film on the top if you are short of equipment.

[@chrissylibertyk9]

My former neighbors used to make blackberry wine every year from the wild bushes. I don't drink because all alcohol is nasty but that was delicious. I would love to try something like this. Probably very good for your guts

[@ashmenser7959]

I want to try this it looks so delicious.

[@Dohlenblick]

Thanks for the idea! Your original video inspired me to make my own batch. I did, however, use a commercial portwine yeast and apple juice, as well as raking the mead of the yeast after only about 2 weeks. At that point I had more of a fizzy, slightly yeasty, ginger beer/apple cider-hybrid. A decent summer drink and (also!) at about 11% alcohol content, but not quite what I had expected. Most of It went back into the scrubbed down demijohn, as I was hoping for a good second fermentation (Which hasn't be noticable and I'm not sure whether it would be). Still, after roughly 2 months of 'aging' the mead has turned to a shade of dark amber, almost garnet red, which is something. Ideally the apple and ginger notes are a bit less dominant in the final result, once I try it, but I'm glad to have brewed my own at any rate!

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

:)

[@TakeWalker]

"I am somewhat familiar with the physiological effects of alcohol" is a great way of telling someone you drink. :)

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Not an elf... obviously

[@ditroia2777]

Well done, I’ve decanted homemade wine out of a large damigiana with my dad and it’s a two man job.

[@jestawell]

Nice would love to try something like this myself, this or pine beer, might wait till next spring because I would love to use my own maple syrup for the sugar

[@ash-rp6mq]

Wow that's actually awesome nice job :)

[@lisabarnes6351]

Yay! Well done!

[@1234j]

Excellent! Video and content, not that we all got to test THAT bit. Cheers!

[@admiralkek5819]

Lovely color

[@stamatispsarras]

Excellent! I used to use a hydrometer to estimate the alcohol content. You essentially measure the sugar before and after brewing and then figure out from the delta what was converted to alcohol but your way is more enjoyable :)

[@johanneswerner1140]

As far as I recall from reading about this stuff, not all sugars can be fermented by the yeast. Some will stick around and with them the sweet taste. Looks good! I made some mead and cider (with added sorbus aucuparia, don't know the English name), turned out quite nice. And no, filtering through a coffee filter or real filter paper (lab supply) does not work. It clogs and some haze will come through. At least that's my experience. So : good job!

[@AtomicShrimp]

Yeah, I've always found that filtering anything (other than coffee) through coffee filters leads to disappointment - it clogs fast, then you try squeezing or scraping it and it punctures, and all is lost

[@IanSlothieRolfe]

I am so glad this worked out, I was worried that some wild bacteria or yeast might taint it because of the use of wild flowers, but then again people have been doing it for centuries :) A friend of mine once had beehives and sold Mead, I always liked it, but I can imagine that adding a herbal taste might make it a little more special.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Flowers, fruits (well, fruit juices more often), herbs (sometimes extracts, easier to make than one could think but...), roots, combinations (Baekse-ju)... yes!

[@HolyChungtastic]

Ooo Ive been waiting for this one

[@rogerhudson2814]

Dandelion and honey, such an English drink. As a cider and perry drinker I'm jealous. I've found commercial Meads to be too sweet.

[@SentientMuppet]

Recently racked my brew and had to siphon old school style lol got a bit more tipsy than I'd like, but good news, blueberry mead is delicious! Definitely going to try your recipe next time around, looks amazing 😁 congrats on your success!

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

So very jealous... I dream of ever tasting blueberry mead. I do have to admit that I did tried camerise beer... quite phenomenal I'll say. But bleuberry mead... yum I have to imagine :(

[@Donorcyclist]

Great video, and my mental taste buds are tingling! I want to make this, now! I hate to see the brew wasted with the lees. I think I’d have a go at filtering it through a pour over coffee filter to a separate bottle, and see how it turns out.

[@CXT14GamerMouse]

I tried it and did not syphon but poured it. I tried to filter it with a coffee filter, but it was clogged immediately and a big mess.

[@pelwanm.m5614]

Best KZbin in my opinion

[@chrisbowman2030]

I friend of mine did mead in the past. He added rum or wodka to raise the alcohol level and prevent secondary fermentation. Rum gives a nice "side" taste to the mead, the wodka is more neutral. Both give nice extra kick.

[@DJKLProductions]

I did the same once a couple of years ago, but with sweet woodruff (aka galium odoratum, sweetscented bedstraw, wild baby's breath), which grows here in Germany a lot. Mead with sweet woodruff is one of the best things you can drink! I don't know if woodruff can be found in England, but if you ever do, you should try spicing mead with that wonderful herb!

[@ricos1497]

Yes, it grows in the UK. Nice tip.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

I just love the people here :D

[@raggersragnarsson6255]

Great job and it looks great. I'm going to try this myself. A bottle rod on the end of your syphon makes racking a lot easier. Also using homebrewing buckets or plasitc kegs can be easier as well plus you can do larger brews with the same effort.

[@tricky2917]

Well done.

[@aubs400]

If anyone's curious, metheglin originates from Cymru (Wales).

[@mrtecsom6951]

Keep getting the notifications but forget to watch as too busy but there is only one ☝️ man in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 who could do this 😃 Way beyond my capabilities so I until I get an invite I’m afraid 😳 I will have to stick to buying vastly overpriced d’Yquem 🥂 We love ❤️ Mr Shrimp 🍤👍

[@yerocb]

I'm looking forward to an update on the bottles.

[@SylviaRustyFae]

It wudve been a good idea to move the barrel to the kitchen the nite before so there was no potential of any yeast gettin unsettled during moving. That gives it plenty of time to settle out again. Its also a good idea to be able to move the pipe in the original container with the lowering level of the brew; as the suctioning of the brew out can create a flow within the water and its best to avoid that as it cud bring yeast up from the settled out parts. This is why siphoning is best done with two people.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Time can be friend and foe... I'm so conflicted :S

[@KrazyKuul111]

03:15 "That could not be any tighter of a fit" -Eva "THATS WHAT SHE SAID!!"

[@Natalie-xy7zy]

Are/were you a science teacher, a chemist and a botanist? You are an amazing wizard sir, even brewing your own potion. :)

[@helvete983]

We've been using home brew wine kits for a year or so now, and I cannot believe even compared to the "for dummies" kits how simple this process was. I was surprised at the volume of honey needed especially as it is very expensive in Sweden unless you know a beekeeper who can hook you up. But I will certainly be trying this.

[@Ashleyenglish24]

Interesting video as always ! Might make some for my pub see if we can get the community involved !

[@carlz0r]

I would love to try a glass of that. It's been so long since my last fermentation project.. it's something I really mean to get back to, one day. So far I've made beer, kimchi, sauerkraut, mead, and kombucha.. but the last thing I made was over a year ago.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Ever tried Baekse-ju?

[@jolenecarney7514]

Nice!!

[@zimmyx2y833]

Finally

[@no_mnom]

I think this is the first time I've seen your face and I've been watching for a while