How to Make Delicious Mead from start to finish

[@ElessarEstel]

I bought a craftabrew kit back when I wanted to try mead making for the first time. My experience was fantastic. My kit came with a broken carboy (no doubt the fault of the mailman.) I asked craftabrew for just a new carboy and they sent me a whole second kit. The instructions were perfectly clear, even though I knew nothing about brewing back then, and through the entire process there was never a single hiccup. I get to say that the first mead I ever brewed came out damn near perfect, and it started what is a legitimate hobby for me now. Craftabrew is a great option for someone learning to brew.

[@blazed9586]

How long have you worked for craft a brew?

[@ElessarEstel]

@@blazed9586 ever hear of the dead internet theory?

[@four1629]

​@@ElessarEstelik it's been a month, but what is the dead internet theory? now i'm curious

[@elitheking8886]

I do completely agree with what you’ve said about it. Everything came out perfectly. The only thing I would say. Is what’re the measurements of the nutrient packets and yeast packet. Buying things on my own now, and not too sure what measurements we all used for the craft a brew kit.

[@kristofen5741]

@@elitheking8886 that was my question process. I'm about to buy a kit and start the hobby fresh after watching and reading a ton, and I wish the size measurements were stated and not just "Add this packet". Seems like a way to isolate you to only buying the refill kits.

[@jensmccown9156]

I hope Craftabrew makes more videos with this person, he does a fantastic job. I learned so much from watching it.

[@0TheFather0]

"Doin' the most brewing" is his youtube channel.

[@soconoha]

I learned how to read instructions!

[@RealWolfmanDan]

My wife has beehives, we got a big yield of our own honey this year. I bought a kit to try, have always wanted to try it

[@Craftabrew]

That's awesome, super local mead! Let us know how it turns out!

[@bradleywhais7779]

So how'd it turn out?

[@RealWolfmanDan]

@@bradleywhais7779 Fermentation stopped sooner than expected so I restarted it by adding a little more honey and some additional yeast and nutrient, racked it out to a secondary after 30 days and it was pretty strong so we're just letting it mellow. I think the kit was a great starter kit And it really inspired my interest in this process as a hobby in general, so much so I have now made 3 additional gallons

[@ignifymagix2184]

After watching this video im definitely gonna start making mead! i was thinking about it for a while but this video really showed me how easy it is to get started. Looking forward to doing this with my friends!

[@theovertyrant2620]

Oh dude! I didn't know you guys had a channel I've bought 3 of your kits, I've got an Orange Citrus Mead, a Baked Apple Pie Cyser and a Cinnamon Donut Cider fermenting right now. Wish me luck. First one will be finished end of next week.

[@theleh]

How'd it turn out?

[@KandraBranning]

Just got your mead kit today and started immediately. Decided I was gonna use a mixture of berries in both the primary and secondary for it. Excited to see how it turns out

[@Caelidra]

Bottling mine today, just wanted to get a good look at how it's done. I hope it turns out good, I added raspberry juice from the berries we grew this year!

[@Craftabrew]

Very nice! Hope those raspberries bring great color and vibrant flavor.

[@jameskeal8957]

I know you from somewhere. I like the idea of introducing new browsers to the hobby of home brewing. It's made easy to follow instructions. Great idea!

[@brittanymartinez3296]

I really like how youre able to just eye the 1/3 1/2 measurements and that it doesnt have to be exactly 💯 even. I know where im going if i ever want to make my own

[@johnathanenglund9401]

I got my first mead making kit from Craft A Brew. I can’t wait to get it going and this video helped me out a lot. Thank you guys and look forward to trying my first Mead and one that I have made myself.

[@Craftabrew]

Cheers!

[@tomahawk014]

how did it go?

[@daviddiefendorf1035]

Great video! Will begin my mead tomorrow using local orange blossom honey.

[@user-wo8ft5lk7b]

Will be making my first batch soon. I’m excited to come back to this video for reference.

[@futurenavysailor37]

I’m making traditional Viking meat which caused for 6 cups of honey also use raisins and orange zest which half a cup of both

[@Funpants94]

This dude is legit! Great videos, great recipes, and prolly has one of the biggest peeners in all of the homebrewing community.

[@NickiBrown-h1z]

You surely will be "doin the most" with CraftaBrew's mead making kit.

[@jasonlayman8817]

great video and a nice trick with the syphon.

[@simonedwards3111]

great video - great pace as you explain the principles. The racking demonstration was top notch

[@brittoncaldwell2090]

So, after making a batch, can you start the process again but instead of using water use the previous batch?

[@TheBondProjectii]

No racking to a secondary?

[@oldrikky-q3l]

Now I know why my first mead did not work. All the videos I had seen about Mead said nothing about staggered nutrient additions or degassing. Thanks for this great video, learned a lot for my next attempt.

[@karl6458]

its not necessary, yours was probaby just infected/not sanitized enough. I have never added nutrients - always got nice mead out of it. stop wasting money on that

[@PlumpTrump]

Great video, I just started making my mead a few days ago. Only question I have is how often should I de-gas my mead? Every 3-5 days?

[@peteymanessjr.9149]

Help! I started a batch last night and must have overfilled bc it is overflowing from the top. Can I just pour some out and put the plug back in? Or will that mess it up?

[@jorynickila7760]

I have a question for you. I'm making Blueberry Lemon lavender Mead. I was wondering if a tiny pinch of Spanish saffron would go well in a 5 gallon batch? I have 25 lb of honey 5 1/2 lb of blueberries and almost 3 lb of lemons. Honest and truly.... Other than the yeast and the permanent supplies like fermentation bucket airlock hydrometer things of that nature what else would I need?

[@papolfo]

Great video!!! I just got the kit and did day one instructions, but I have a couple of questions. When you say add 1/3 of the honey I believe you meant 1/2 of the honey cause you only poured honey twice and the 2nd question is after you add the yeast, do you have to shake the carboy? because the yeast seats on top of the liquid. Thank you!

[@kraids2006]

Are you not racking into a different vessels to help clear the mead? Ive never not racked my mead so this is new to me. Is the degassing process the only thing to do to help clear it?

[@zealousepileptic2690]

can we use propyl alcohol to sanitise?

[@HaydenHosick]

Should I alway stabilize the mead before bottling even if I’m not planning to back sweeten the Mead? 1st time brewing mead!

[@TheBanaxel]

Question? :,why the sanataise all why not just regular soap and water? Can sugar be used or not? Why nutrients are add ? and what are those nutrients?Thanks

[@TheHerpingLizard]

The soundtrack to his video is me and my fiancé's new way of annoying eachother 😂

[@davidwren1879]

Thwack that packet! You watch City Steding Brews? 😀

[@kaimanchester8062]

Seems like the only starter kit to have fruit and veggies, doesn;t seem to have these in other kits i've seen. Being in England i'm reluctant to jump on this with shipping being a mare from the states etc so thats why trying to find comparable one my side of the pond no such luck yet

[@LION.ALSHMRI]

Please I need same this video how to make a beer step by step long video same this video before I order ❤

[@christianderting]

How much yeast nutrients are in the day one packet?

[@bobbyhernandez7117]

I need to know as well lol

[@somebodyintheworld5036]

Could you use some of that sanitation water in the airlock?

[@theastronomer5800]

Yes, but normal water works just fine.

[@WikedNinja]

Got a kit for Christmas and finally started it yesterday, only question i have so far, is it supposed to have a sourish smell to it? Did day 2 steps today and was just wondering. Dont wanna mess up my first batch

[@Craftabrew]

During the initial phases of fermentation, there are compounds like sulfur that are created and can give off a foul smell. This typically dissipates after the remainder of the fermentation and degassing processes you'll do as instructed in our included Guide to Making Mead.

[@Atheist-Free-Republic]

I'll make an order from Amazon to Sweden, vary helpful video

[@chriscardoza6164]

Enjoyed your video and plan to watch more of your content after subscribing. Thought it might be a little easier to stir with a drill, or an old mixer, especially if you need to stir for several minutes. I've never brewed anything but plan on giving it a try since you make it look so easy.

[@landonsanchez1797]

I’m going to follow this recipe but triple it. I know I don’t need to triple the yeast for fermentation, but should I triple the nutrient additions?

[@theastronomer5800]

The 5g packets of yeast are good for up to 5ga of brew. Most people use half a packet for 1ga brews, but you could use just 1g and it will be fine, and for a 3ga brew you can use half a pocket to one packet. If you don't use enough it will just take longer to get going, but it's pretty forgiving :) You'd scale the nutrients, if you use them (I never do).

[@iBuffy_]

So did you wait 15 days or a month before bottling?

[@gwyn5144]

So is 15 days long enough to bottle? That's what he said if I'm not correct. Like he bottled at 15 days in the vid.

[@michaelvitetta7231]

Mine came out great!

[@DhammaTroll]

I was just wondering, why are there no hot eater used at the beginning? All the recipies I have seen boil water and add honey.

[@nightshadekelly]

Iv heard raisins make good nutrients withiut changeing the flavor. Have you tried it?

[@enam6704]

Please do a video for your beer kit lol

[@Tripppysmurf]

what do you guys think about using a degasser tool to degass at these stages?

[@Craftabrew]

That can be useful, just make sure the drill is set to slow if using a drill -- you don't want to inadvertently mix in oxygen. A manual wine whip works well also.

[@danieldigirolamo8730]

so if you do not have the kit for the stager nutrient how much do you use each day.

[@Craftabrew]

We'd recommend using the calculator at meadtools.com to calculate how much nutrient to use, as it works with lots of different nutrients. :)

[@S0ulsinner]

Can I rack into a separate jug at 2 weeks in? To help clarify more? What about cold crashing as well?

[@drummernick_2135]

Does anyone know the OG measurement for this? I totally didn't know I needed to measure it since this is my first time making mead and I'm about to bottle today. Thanks!

[@ladygolden319adistractedga5]

I got my kit for my birthday a few months back. I am finally getting around to making some mead. The only question I have is do I need to hide my mead for the first 24 hrs in the dark or can it sit out in indirect light?

[@ghostkill3086]

I just started making my first mead and I'm nervous haha, I'm not sure if I did it all correctly.

[@danielcook4377]

What the alcohol percentage after fermentation?

[@phillysTarantulas]

When do i add fruit?

[@videogameking9896]

for storing the mead either backsweatening or not do you have to stabilize the mead? and should you use an air lock for bottled mead?

[@rickandrews9302]

can you put finishing sugars in when you bottle the mead?

[@iantuttle5537]

This was great, but how often should I be degassing my mead?

[@RolandDeschain1]

Can you use rice malt syrup instead of honey? It's a lot cheaper.

[@Craftabrew]

There are many cheaper alcohols that can be made yet Mead is made only with honey.

[@alexhightower4040]

How loose does the airlock need to be for the day two degassing?

[@Craftabrew]

Loose enough to breathe a bit. Our advice is to take it slow, and let the bubbles recede between rounds.

[@alexhightower4040]

@@Craftabrew so far so good, excellent videos. Is Craft a Brew based in Orlando? Florida rocks!

[@cardboard1763]

Is the honey amount changeable or would you have to increase the amount of yeast and what not?

[@crystalizedape1750]

Hey! If i degas with fruits in it will it hurt the mead or make the fruit go bad?

[@jadenstanley5937]

Do you have to use warm water

[@Craftabrew]

Warm water will help dissolve the honey much better than cool water.

[@NK-ne9uf]

How often do you recommend degassing after day 5?

[@loweredyote8416]

Until it stops probably. Looks like most people wait 3-6 weeks

[@kaitlyntuson6686]

I tried making some and tried to make sure all the equipment was properly sanitized but it smells vinegar-y..almost like a kombucha. And it wasn’t bubbling nearly as much as this video. Also I accidentally spilled the airlock water into half of the nutrients so I had to buy a different kind off of amazon (Fermaid K) and put maybe a teaspoon of that. So I hope it works anyway..

[@kaitlyntuson6686]

Also it looks really cloudy

[@Kohnqueror]

I made this yesterday and am about to add the day 2 nutrients but it doesn't look like the mead has started fermenting at all. Have I done something wrong or is it OK to keep going as per the instructions

[@DavidMiller-x8x]

Dang if I knew people were posting how to make mead I should of started almost a year ago lol awesome video btw

[@sonnyylopezhernandez6078]

What if it’s not crystal clear ?

[@danielmince9261]

My nutrients and yeast turned into a ball is that normal.

[@keeper1722]

HELP! I'm 24 hrs in and my mead is bubbling waaay too much and won't go down. It's making its way up to the airlock. Did I add too much water to the carboy? How can I get the bubbles to go down?

[@Craftabrew]

You should add enough water to get to the "ONE GALLON" fill line. Aggressive fermentation can occur with high temperatures so consider trying to lower the temperature a bit for a more consistent fermentation. If bubbles get into the airlock its not a problem, once it dies down you can simply remove the airlock, give it a quick rinse and reinsert it into the stopper.

[@saulrodriguez768]

what would the alc percentage be?

[@Craftabrew]

About 12.5% ABV

[@ryangreskoviak4889]

I have a question, I am trying to rack mead into a glass one gallon bottle, but liquid is not moving from one container to another using tools in kit. Why is that?

[@Craftabrew]

We do have a few videos on our KZbin channel about siphoning, make sure the stopper is not still in the jug and the vessel with the liquid is much higher than the empty vessel.

[@ryangreskoviak4889]

@@Craftabrew thanks I didn’t I had to hand pump it first to get it going.

[@iamjaysaul1169]

using this video and same kit, my mead stalled :( - its my first time, any suggestions ?

[@iamjaysaul1169]

Thanks for no help @craftabrew

[@dirkhoekstra727]

13:25 Putting your rubber stopper directly on the table...not good...not good... Great video though with extremely valuable info. Will definitely try this one.

[@Craftabrew]

Once fermentation starts there is an extremely small chance of contamination due to the presence of alcohol and the fact that the yeast is outcompeting any foreign organism (wild yeast or bacteria) that may be introduced during this time.

[@drewashington-locc]

Wouldn’t staggering your mead on day 2 and day 5 potentially cause oxidization ?

[@Craftabrew]

The mead is fermenting very actively during the initial week of fermentation so any little bit of oxygen getting into the fermentation at this point will actually be beneficial to the yeast.

[@TheBunnyboy2010]

When your degassing your mead (or any home brew that needs it) and you take off the airlock, do you have to worry about keeping it sanitized at all before putting it back on?

[@Craftabrew]

Sanitation is most important at the beginning of the process before the yeast is actively multiplying and creating alcohol, at this stage, you should still be careful by laying the stopper and airlock on a clean surface or fresh paper towel.

[@theastronomer5800]

You can also wait and let it degas itself. I bottle my meads no sooner than 3 months after start, and by then they normally clear and degas themselves.

[@epicdock7092]

I accidently added the yeast first and then I quickly realized my mistake and added the nutrients right after will it be okay?

[@LiteralLettuce]

i would say so, theyll eat it just the same, update me tho

[@NickBEADG]

You didn't take an initial gravity reading?

[@henrycruzjr8570]

So mine has been fermenting for one week, the air lock stopped moving, is it bad if it stops moving? On day 5 when I put second half of nutrients it was moving and bubbling inside of jar. I just checked 2 days later which is one week today and they're is no movement in jar or air lock. Is my mead ruined?

[@Craftabrew]

Everything sounds okay, during the initial phases of fermentation the yeast is the most active eating all of the sugars from the honey, during the remainder of the fermentation activity will drastically slow. Simply follow the provided instructions and timeline and you'll end up with some great mead!

[@henrycruzjr8570]

@@Craftabrew ok thank you for letting me know this is my first time trying to make mead

[@henrycruzjr8570]

I have one more question. You only give mead nutrients three times through the entire process?

[@R3troZone]

I prefer to mix my honey and water in a large saucepan and heat it just until the honey is dissolved. It allows for easier transfer into a fermentor. You just have to wait until it cools down to room temp before pitching the yeast.

[@adamgodofwar666]

What was your starting gravity?

[@Mixxd_Gaming]

Can I adjust the amount of honey to 3lbs for a sweeter mead?

[@Funpants94]

The yeast may ferment all of that sugar and you end up with a higher abv. Depending on the yeast you can max out the yeast tolerance and get a sweet mead but the abv is then higher as well.

[@ElessarEstel]

I used three pounds with this kit. It won't make it sweeter but it will increase the ABV

[@LLRollins37]

Your best bet is to ferment with the recommended amount of honey (or however much you need to get to the ABV level you want) then stabilize and back sweeten to taste.

[@Mixxd_Gaming]

Thanks for the info. We went ahead and did 3lbs anyway. Fermentation stopped and left some sugars. We stabilized, and backsweetened about 1-2 a pint to my wife’s liking. Turned out pretty good. Starting another batch on Monday, not sure what ingredients we’re gonna do yet though.

[@FilmFoolery]

What bottle do you store it in at the end, I need to buy some but don't know what to look for on amazon

[@Craftabrew]

We have them available on our website: craftabrew.com/products/mead-bottling-kit?variant=39485459923009

[@mikeromano4692]

Im concerned my airlock filled with foam during the initial 24hr period. Can I just rinse it out?

[@Craftabrew]

Yes! You may get a bit of foam in the airlock but it is fine to give it a rinse with water, fill it back to the fill line then insert it back into the jug. Cheers!

[@HappyDoesYoutube]

I notice you didn't mix it up afterbyou added the yeast. Do you just let it sit on top?

[@fishmut]

I make my own home crafted beer etc and always mix in the yeast then leave it alone. Hope that helps

[@Craftabrew]

Yes it will rehydrate and begin fermenting by itself.

[@robin7433]

Wow you look like the guy from the youtube channel "doin the most"

[@rigselwangyal5104]

I wonder what abv% mead will this batch yield

[@Craftabrew]

About 12.5% ABV

[@rigselwangyal5104]

@@Craftabrew very cool. I’ll try this recipe. Your video was super informative and helpful

[@Craftabrew]

@@rigselwangyal5104 🍻

[@mattjames9868]

How long after bottling can you drink your mead? I know the longer you leave it the better… but I really want to drink it 😂😂😂

[@Craftabrew]

The rule of thumb is to let it rest in the bottle for a month. After that, it's up to you! Usually the higher the alcohol by volume, the longer it will need to age to mellow out.

[@4288636]

Shut up and take my money 😂

[@cosmictravelor]

The Mead drinking Viking distillers did not use sanitizor.

[@justintopping5614]

Hey I'm at day 18 and I'm seeing a bit of frothy sediment at the top. Is this normal or is it some kind of mold? There's a good layer of sediment on the bottom and the mead is clearing up quite nice. It's just that foamy stuff on top that is worrying me

[@Craftabrew]

Shoot us an email with an image and we'd be happy to take a look for a specific recommendation.

[@justintopping5614]

@@Craftabrew thanks, you guys rule!

[@ElessarEstel]

If it's white or light tan colored it's probably just yeast rafts. If so, it's actually a sign that your yeast is healthy and fermenting properly

[@justintopping5614]

@@ElessarEstel thanks, mate!

[@jkidd7608]

I got this kit and followed these exact directions. After 24 hours nothing is happening 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Craftabrew]

You can always reach us at [e-mail] but some reasons could include low temperature including having the carboy on a surface that is too cold, try bringing the carboy to a warmer spot, around 70F+ until fermentation begins then you can ferment at a cooler temperature. I'd also ensure your airlock is full of water as you will not have a lot of "foam" on top of the must (unfermented honey wine) but rater tiny CO2 bubbles that will only be visible when passing through the airlock.

[@jkidd7608]

@@Craftabrew hey thanks for the info. I actually did check prior to reading this and the temperature was indeed pretty low. Moved the carboy to a warmer spot and it activated the process👍 it's doing really well now

[@thats3geese]

Someone give this man a raise because this made me want to buy your kit

[@1down4upworkshop61]

I know right. I'm on their website now looking at the kits. I've brewed beer and distilled alcohol, but haven't tried mead yet ..

[@lukewalker225]

Just tasted the result. Tastes great! Super fun and a great experience. The glass rod was broken in the packaging and they shipped me a new one right away free of charge. Would definitely recommend.

[@enricopucci4121]

I tried brewing a strawberry melomel and faced a bit of an explosive reaction probably because the fruit solids prevented gasses from escaping or at least I think that's what happened. I post this as a warning to just keep an eye out on your cardboy when brewing with fruit solids and recommend a bucket for things like melomel. I do love craft a brew since they did allow me to open my eyes to the wonders of home brewing and I send my full thanks. 10/10 would buy your product again

[@oliveprocessor3068]

Yeah, when you've got fruit in the vessel you'll need to punch that cap down daily to prevent these sort of issues. Also to help prevent mold from forming.

[@enricopucci4121]

@@oliveprocessor3068 thanks for the advice I'm retrying the melomel but with peach this time and I'm brewing in a bucket I bought from home brew ohio

[@bisonbeemead]

I usually swirl my mead for the first week or so. Seems to help mitigate most issues. But I did have a chocolate mead that got pretty messy.

[@Rloc8773]

Wide mouth jars or buckets are better for fruits

[@Aidames]

I believe you are supposed to flavor about a week before racking. Helps with the blockage issue, and the fruit flavor comes out stronger.

[@bretthoomana2541]

Here's how you make mead, buy a kit and follow the instructions 😉. Thanks Guy.

[@carlosvasquez1545]

It's like buying Mead from the liquor store already processed and bottled ,but with more steps

[@the.SteamingVegan]

I mean you are looking up a tutorial from the company that makes this product so-

[@carlosvasquez1545]

​@@the.SteamingVegan not intentionally soo

[@dupeesfashionconsultant4204]

Yea what an awful business plan, advertising... What a prick. Where does he get off creating a product to help people get into the hobby safely and easily... Then to show us how to use it?!? What a monster

[@LordKimbote-472]

Ya know... Some people are visual learners

[@larryreaux1970]

This looks like a really good beginner kit with lots of detailed information. I am concerned that your backsweetening kit doesn’t contain potassium metabisulfite. The sorbate alone isn’t enough to reliably stop refermentation.

[@scotteinuis4991]

The sorbate will not stop active fermentation, but will prevent a stopped fermentation from starting when the sugar is added.

[@larryreaux1970]

@@scotteinuis4991 I know, notice the “re”

[@PlastiForge]

Didn’t use sanitizer or vodka to the airlock 😢

I came here after watching CobraJFS.

[@michaelschneider2120]

Lol. ... Me too

[@timripple5983]

I’ve been brewing wine for 8 years and recently moved and lost everything but 3 5 gallon carboys. I use to just make wine and never did Mead before. I just bought your kit and started my must (must start with the must!) your added video helps a lot! Thank you! P.s. being slightly experienced, I added hibiscus, lavender and juniper One thing on your page… explain the difference between temperature zones (AZ vs Wisconsin) and tap water vs distilled vs spring? If I didn’t see that video then I apologize for not seeing it yet

[@tobinator7144]

I added blueberries and lemon peels in and it came out amazing after 30 days! My wife and i had the first bottle but we are letting the rest age more. This is the first of many to come!

[@gabewilliams1341]

Are you aging it in the bottles or back in the gallon jug?

[@dklee1313]

Can you describe your process a bit more? I just ordered the kit and I would like to add some fruit for my first ever batch of mead

[@LazyBoyA1]

@@dklee1313 I haven't personally done it yet, but I plan on adding fruits to the secondary fermentation of my first batch and read some useful stuff. If you add fruit to the primary fermentation, most of the original fruit flavor is stripped, you are left with the fermented flavor of the fruit so if you like that specific fermented fruit taste go for it. Adding it in secondary makes the original's fruit flavor stay as it isn't going through the rigorous stage of primary fermentation, preserving the original fruity taste. You can add fruit in both first and secondary fermentation if you want a bolder fruity flavor. Then for sanitation I read to add Campden tablets to the mixture of honey, water and fruit then wait 24 hours to add your yeast for primary, as for secondary it seems debatable as it might not be necessary since the high alcoholic content and CO2 rich environment prevent most stuff from growing, some do say to sanitize in another container with water and Campden tablets just to be safe. Hope that helps and happy brewing.

[@FastKarr19]

Did you have to sanatize the fruit first or did you just rinse with tap water and throw it in

[@mattmadeofcarbon]

in the video, he only added 2/3 of the honey. I'm assuming he's supposed to add all 2.5 lbs of honey, but the editor should've showed that part.

[@1NIGHTMAREGAMER]

apples plus raspberry plus strawberry tone it down with half cup light molasses and then put less honey in yeast and stir yep yep ? i like 10% and below should i do half the amount of honey in this ??