How to make a simple homebrew mead

[@1234hijs]

I tried this. Right after fermentation it tastes like acetone. After a year it mellows down to aa good, nice drink.

[@PreparedCamping]

@@1234hijs try it using apple juice rather than water to make an apple mead or cyser I really enjoy that, thanks for taking the time to comment 👍 All the best Roo

[@kevindouglas8768]

Thanks for the quick video. Most people drag this out for half an hour...

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching hope you have a great weekend 👍 All rhe best Roo

[@probablecausetocheckhard-drive]

Hear hear

[@PreparedCamping]

@@probablecausetocheckhard-drive thanks for watching and the kind feedback All the best Roo

[@Jazzman5]

Oh, now THIS, I'm gonna make!

[@PreparedCamping]

Dead easy mate I got some of Tesco's cheapest honey that I'm going to use with some additives for flavours and using these Old Rosie bottles it's very cheap to get started 👍

[@Jazzman5]

@@PreparedCamping I've had plenty of mead. Scottish heather honey mead is stunning.

[@PreparedCamping]

@@Jazzman5 the quality of the honey makes a difference thats why for the super cheap version I'll add some things to give it a lift Hoping to get into the beekeeping next year 🤞

[@sv8313]

@@PreparedCamping out neighbor sells honey that is absolutely amazing. Best honey I have ever had. I'm going to make some mead with it.

[@PreparedCamping]

@@sv8313 using locally produced honey is a fantastic idea it can't get better than that 👌 All the best Roo

[@thekevstertv]

Happy to see a video that shows how easy it is to make mead. It's hard to show how easy the process is to others when every other videos is 30 min+

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching and the positive feedback buddy much appreciated 👍 Hope you have a great weekend, all the best Roo

[@kiritsakis1]

I stumbled upon this video again and I'm so happy 😊 In these couple of years, i have a lot of brews under my belt (mostly beers). I still love this, the simplecity of it and how easily you can add amything to your liking to it.

[@PreparedCamping]

Thank you for that kind comment really appreciate it, happy brewing 🍻 All the best Roo

[@bailey3209]

This , this is what ive been looking for . A quick simple to the point British video using things i van buy from Wilko's,may amoe some this weekend and hope its drinkable for a festival mid August

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching and the kind comment, it might not completely finish on that short a timescale so be aware it may be slightly fizzy and bottle appropriately, happy brewing buddy 🍻 All the best Roo

[@shovelhead8]

you can use a piece of paper as a funnel for the yeast, Thank you for the how-to, Roo. Stay safe and stay warm

[@PreparedCamping]

Yes indeed Sean it was a bit wasteful of me to rush but I was doing several things at once and for such a small batch it only needed a small amount 😉 God bless brother Roo

[@scottwilkins]

I put some rosemary in along with everything, really special.

[@PreparedCamping]

Will have to give that a try, thanks for sharing Scott 👍

[@HusseinTays]

Amazing guide, nice and simple. I'm gonna start making mead soon thanks for sharing brother

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for that kind comment really appreciate that hope you have a great weekend and happy brewing buddy! 🍻 All the best Roo

[@Pooter-it4yg]

Just doing my Christmas batch now so I thought I'd add some details. Before starting use a very dilute solution of ChemSan to sterilise the demijohn and all implements you'll be using. Just fill up, whirl round and chuck out - you don't need to rinse afterwards. This is to prevent contamination. Fill the airlock with ChemSan solution as well. All kinds of funny little things can take an interest in fermentation and none of them can make it past sanitiser. After full fermentation (which can take up to 6-8 weeks) the yeast will have eaten all the sugar, sweated out as much alcohol as possible and farted off a lot of CO2 leaving you with a totally dry mead. Interestingly the honey flavour and the sweetness are separate taste components. If you want to sweeten it there are a lot of considerations and possibilities. Most important thing to appreciate is that even if carefully siphoned off (racked) there will still be some yeast in solution and adding sugar to it will restart fermentation under the right conditions. You absolutely don't want this in sealed bottles because the CO2 will accumulate and explode the bottles. The simplest and safest thing to do is to add stabiliser for a couple of days once you're reasonably sure fermentation has stopped then siphon into bottles and keep them in the fridge to be sure fermentation doesn't restart. To sweeten, simply stir a teaspoon or two of sugar into each glass when serving. This is probably enough for a no nonsense approach but.. Tip 1. Add a cup of cold black tea to the water at the start to add tannins. Tip 2. Demijohns can be a pain to clean. Another option is to use a food fermentation jar with a wide neck - eg Kilner. Not only easier to clean but easier to get all the stuff in and you can use a whisk to mix and oxygenate instead of shaking. Tip 3. Mark the bottle with the date you started the ball rolling - easy to forget which is which and you can't tell by the bubbles. Tip 4. If you want to be precise about the alcohol content (all being well) and more importantly be sure that fermentation has completed, you'll need to use a hydrometer. Separate discussions there though.

[@paulhadfield7909]

perfect video, this is how all homebrew vids should be, cheers,

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching Paul and for the kind feedback much appreciated 👍 All the best Roo

[@davidlees4199]

Great instructional video and great money-saving tips too. Thanks.

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watchjngvand the kind feedback buddy really appreciate it 👍 All the best Roo

[@johnbragg127]

Awesome little guide

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching and the kind comment John much appreciated 👍 All the best Roo

[@RS250Squid]

Using glass 2 litre cider bottles! Honestly the thought never even crossed my mind, I feel daft now that I never put two and two together! We used to have loads of demijohns but my dad gave 'em away when I was a kid! Thanks, I'm amazed I spent as long as I did wondering where to get the bottles!

[@PreparedCamping]

If you're in the UK these "Old Rosie" bottles need a 19mm rubber bung which is widely available on eBay or Amazon if there's no homebrew shop near you 👍 All the best Roo

[@de14jabs]

In regards to the water, I’ve read/heard filtered water is recommended since tap water can have chlorine which will prevent fermentation. Any ideas to remove without spending ?

[@PreparedCamping]

Chlorine will evaporate from tap water if you leave it overnight before use or a quicker option is boil the water for 15 minutes then allow to cool 👍 All the best Roo

[@matthewk3473]

Fantastic video, as many others have mentioned, great to get one that’s to the point and also uses metric. Can I ask what type yeast it is you’re using? Is it a brewing specific one or literally just like bread yeast you’d use for baking? I’ve heard that if you use bread yeast the alcohol level tops out around 15% but wine yeast would make it higher. Thanks very much?

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for the kind feedback Matthew I used the wine yeast from Wilko It's made for them by youngs and is widely available on amazon, eBay, etc and now that the range have bought the wilko brand the website is up and running again for online orders These ratios produce a mead that should be at least 15% abv, I've not tried bread yeast might be interesting to see if that would affect the the final product. All the best Roo

[@Sevenseasick]

Can you explain that last sentence about pitching into another container and conditioning? I'd love to give this a try, but not sure what this part means. Do you have another video for this part of the process?

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi "racking" is the process of transferring the must to a new vessel by siphon to leave the dead yeast cells in the base of the first container This helps with clarity and prevents off flavours developing "Conditioning" is the time you set it aside for the flavour to mature Usually when I make mead like this it's quite clear so I rack it straight to bottles to finish if you search racking wine I'm sure there will be loads of videos showing the process Thanks for watching if you have any other questions let me know 👍 All the best Roo

[@vipervidsgamingplus5723]

I decided to make mead for myself because I didn't want to pay the high price for it from a shop and I am so far pleased with the process.

[@PreparedCamping]

I don't blame you I did the same thing 👍 All the best Roo

[@qpcherryqp1306]

What does rack it into another container and condition it mean also what yeast is best and do i need to add anything to said yeast

[@Tapirrr]

@@qpcherryqp1306 some yeast nutrients and something to help stop the yeast once its done

[@PreparedCamping]

The yeast will naturally stop fermentation when the alcohol or sugar levels get to certain points Thanks for watching guys much appreciated 👍 Take care Roo

[@trepathy1]

Homebrew is much, much better

[@OldNavajoTricks]

One thing I hadn't planned for on the kit, brewing 👍

[@Summervaycay2014]

Literally off to the shops to get the stuff. Cheers for this amazing.

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for the kind feedback hope you have a great weekend mate 👍 All the best Roo

[@Summervaycay2014]

@@PreparedCamping I will cheers. How do you do the transfer to other bottles. Is it simply pour into clean bottle with another airtrap? Or is there a specific process. Do another video of the process. I've just subbed. Thank you. 🙏⚔️🙏

[@PreparedCamping]

I siphon using a tube to transfer to to a clean container leaving the sediment in the original one I'll do a video on it some time this week to show how I do it mate 👍

[@Summervaycay2014]

@@PreparedCamping brilliant. Looking forward to it. I have some cider to drink now. Hahaha. 🙏⚔️🙏

[@PreparedCamping]

@@Summervaycay2014 🍻

[@DXmYb]

Love your videos, no messing about. I've just followed your simple apple juice coder recipe. I'll be making the mead next!

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for the kind feedback mate appreciate it hope you have a great weekend and happy brewing! 🍻 All the best Roo

[@ageoflistening]

Okay, I'm confident to do that. Thanks to your video. But have you got another video on conditioning? 😢

[@PreparedCamping]

Once it turns clear and you can't see any bubbles anymore you can separate the liquid from the solids by siphoning into a new container like this; kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWq8m4d4ZseEhbs Then store it for 6 - 8 weeks at which point you can drink it or bottle it to let it mature further, some people wait at least a year from brewing to drinking Hope that helps, all the best Roo

[@Kirusion]

I have got 4 of those cider bottle from Xmas gifts, I'll be getting my stuff from Wilko tomorrow, this is exactly how I'll be doing it, can't wait to get started

[@PreparedCamping]

Cool the bungs you need are 19mm to fit these bottles if they don't have any you can use a balloon over the top and just let the carbon dioxide out of the balloon each day until you get the right size bungs 👍

[@Kirusion]

@@PreparedCamping Yeah I found that out the hard way... though I've maybe found a solution to that, I don't know how effective it is, so I'm doing two now with it while I do the other two when the 19mm bungs arrive I got Waggle Honey from Poundland, they have a squeezable top, which threads fit the Rosie bottles perfectly, they also have the flexy rubber seals to keep the honey in which is the perfect size for the Airlocks from Wilko, I've tested the seal and it seems to work, but time will tell when I compare them to the correct bungs

[@PreparedCamping]

@@Kirusion nice 🍻

[@Theoriginalurbanbuffalo]

Can you make another video of the second part of the mead making? The conditioning after it sits for two weeks.

[@PreparedCamping]

Yes I will but that would be in a month or so from now

[@Theoriginalurbanbuffalo]

@@PreparedCamping awesome! Ty

[@janstewart2041]

You can make the juice into wine first before you use it for mead. The apple juice is a kit in itself just add the honey or sugar and yeast

[@stealthandysteath1069]

Morning brother, nice one 😁👍. I always wondered how too make that that... Thank you. 👍😁🇬🇧⛄

[@PreparedCamping]

Morning Andy you can add all sorts of fruit and spices to create different flavours too All the best mate

[@MisterPotski]

Heres a question, with the one gallon jar. It calls for 3lbs of honey to 1 gallon of water. With honey taking up space in the jar obviously you would end up with less water. Should you be using 3lbs of honey with whatever the gallon jar takes to fill? Or use less honey and find the correct amount of each somehow?

[@PreparedCamping]

For a one gallon jar use 3lbs of honey then top up with water buddy 👍

[@delaneydyer2412]

after a few weeks you rack it into anothe me bottle how many times also do you use a cheese cloth while racking or just syphon/rack a few times times until clear. should i rack it a few times then strain it? there are some many last details i wish these kind of videos gave. yeas the solution/ingredients i understand but what about the last refining steps. please help my new joint needs refining :)

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi Delaney thanks for watching 👍 I use a siphon to transfer which leaves almost all the lees behind, I only use muslin cloth if I'm making a wine so that I can squeeze the pulp to extract as much juice as possible and that's done about a week into the primary fermentation. Then I siphon again to bottle, so even if some had been transferred in the racking none gets into the bottle as the lees settle into such a fine layer from racking that its much easier to avoid second time and gives a nice clear product. I try to make videos that are concise so cut out the time shaking or siphoning sorry I've never had to add any finnings to my meads they always clarify nicely without them. Hope that helps, and happy brewing buddy! All the best Roo

[@thomasiconmsn]

now when the mead is made. Can you give it a taste afterwards?

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi Thomas thanks for watching, taste is very subjective we all have our own preferences and I make what I like, not all my experiments have been to my liking though It's easy and cheap so I would just say give it a go and tweak to suit your tastes, I've got another video on cyser which is an apple mead and I really like that but my wife preferred the cherry one I make more Hope you have a great weekend and happy brewing 🍻

[@thomasiconmsn]

thanks for reply. there was more if you could give a mead taste after it was made. I have previously had red berries in during brewing and got the flavor that way

[@PreparedCamping]

@@thomasiconmsn thats one of the best things about mead there are so many flavour combinations you can make 👍 All the best Roo

[@deckyBWFC91]

When you say condition it after a couple of weeks, what do you mean??? Is it not just ready to bottle and drink?

[@PreparedCamping]

You can drink it at that point but it will taste better if you leave it a while so I tend to siphon it into a clean demijohn for a month before I bottle or drink it, some people leave it a whole year after bottling before drinking but I'm not that patient! All the best Roo

[@emeraldfox7175]

Leave it for at least 2 months to get all your floral taste out of your honey

[@PreparedCamping]

@@emeraldfox7175 some suggest a whole year but not sure I'll ever be that patient 😉

[@harun5358]

wow, that’s awesome. thanks for the video

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching Harun hope it was helpful if you have any questions let me know. All the best and happy brewing 👍 Roo

[@MichaelR58]

Roo , very cool , thanks for sharing , stay safe , God bless !

[@PreparedCamping]

Thank you brother this was the second batch and the first is almost ready so I'm getting excited for the holidays! All the best

[@CurrentElectrical]

Hello from Canada! I will be following to see how to make the completed product. So far I have only made Mangrove Jacks cider, and currently a few store ought fruit juices are fermenting. Question though. Your air lock at the end of the video, is it not overfilled? Sorry for the newb question, but on my airlock, there are fill lines- I don't want to mess things up first try. Thank you.

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi thanks for watching and taking the time to comment The fill lines are so that the bubbler doesn't overflow once fermentation begins as the gas will push the water around the u bend Don't worry if you do overfill it as only a little water will escape All the best Roo

[@jaynebuffey8393]

Should I leave the red cap of the airlock on?

[@PreparedCamping]

Yes it's not airtight so will let the carbon dioxide out but will stop bugs from crawling in Happy brewing 🍻

[@patrickmaguire9784]

Great video thank you very to the point

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for that kind feedback Patrick much appreciated Happy brewing 👍

[@skelter1153]

Great Video! I'm going to do this over the weekend.

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching and the kind feedback really appreciate it 👍 Happy brewing! Roo

[@kevinpeacock1433]

Hi. Great video. I too am amassing the old Rosie bottles. However I am struggling to find a 19mm rubber stopper with hole. Can you provide link for where you purchased them from please? Thanks

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi Kevin I got them from eBay and can't find them now but this is similar on amazon here: amzn.to/3p1gMQr You may have to make the hole a bit wider to accept the airlock I put the bung into a bottle and used a drill with a wood bit to do that to mine 👍 All the best Roo

[@patriotsedge6730]

Just a note for the "General rule" of 3lbs honey to 1 gallon of water. When using a 1 gallon carboy, you won't be able to use 1 gallon of water so if you use 3lbs of honey in a 1 gallon carboy, your mead will turn out VERY sweet. Usually around a 1.026 - 1.030 final gravity after primary fermentation.

[@PreparedCamping]

Excellent point 👍

[@zookyhill1350]

@@PreparedCamping does this change the estimated alcohol percentage at all???

[@PreparedCamping]

No because the yeast will convert the honey into alcohol until it hits its tolerance or has no honey to convert So if your must has too much honey the strength would be the same but the product would taste sweeter as there would be excess honey leftover once the yeast topped out

[@zookyhill1350]

@@PreparedCamping Alrighty great to know thank you one more question are adding any extra nutrients like fruit necessary at all or will the honey in this recipe suffice?

[@PreparedCamping]

@@zookyhill1350 not necessary but will add different flavours, mead with added fruit is called a melomel I have a video of a cherry one also known as viking blood mead due to the deep red colour which is very nice

[@mnadler2779]

what is the yeast nutrient you mentioned? and what do you mean by conditioning? thanks

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi, Basically it's vitamins for yeast, most home brew stores and online retailers sell it, the brewers yeast I used here has it mixed in with the yeast already. Conditioning is storing the product for a while before drinking which allows the flavour to mellow and improve Happy brewing! Roo

[@EggplantHarmesan]

I prefer to use EC-1118 and it recommends activating the yeast by mixing it into warm water for 20 minutes beforehand.

[@spoonsandspades]

So if you get honey with honeycomb in it you dont need yeast?!

[@PreparedCamping]

If you have whole honey in comb then there will be natural yeasts present, but there could also be other organisms and the capability of that yeast is unknown. You should use a commercial strain that is incredibly cheap in comparison to honeycomb, but yes if you wanted to be a purist it should ferment

[@jihlnabaat6329]

when you say dry yeast and yeast nutrient do you mean nutrient for the yeast or yeast nutrient? because i have seen both and i have used dry yeast

[@PreparedCamping]

Normally people buy yeast separately from yeast nutrient such as fermax but this one I use from wilko already has them blended together in the ideal ratio 👍

[@560smr4]

Thanks for the video. Iv just make a batch using your method. Cheers

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for the kind feedback happy brewing buddy 🍻 All the best Roo

[@YoungStrongAndCrazy]

i am now experimenting with wines and beers, the only thing that worries me is that when I bottle up, its not fermenting anymoreso bottles dont blow up. and I am not a fan of those yeast killers, I heard that you can heat drink up to 60 celsius to die down fermentation, but that could not be good for drink. Maybe just waiting out for 1 month till it stops producing bubbles is the best way to make sure its done and ready to bottle. There was one method with cold too, but I dont have right climate to do that.

[@PreparedCamping]

Tgsts what I do, I bottle after fermentation has ceased naturally because either the sugar has been consumed or the yeast has topped out Happy brewing buddy 🍻

[@swapravachanda9162]

hey, stupid questions here: 1. since fermentation as a reaction does not exactly require water, would it be possible to make mead with only honey and yeast and later on add the water? 2. Why do you use the airlock, is it really necessary or could I get away with keeping my jar open while letting it ferment? and great video btw!

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi thanks for watching and the kind feedback much appreciated 👍 1. Water is required, it may be possible for yeast to live on honey alone but multiplication would be inhibited and the process would be very slow, any alcohol produced would evaporate 2. Not strictly necessary, carbon dioxide is heavier than air but if left uncovered you may find your mead gets contaminated with insects, you could put a cap on the bottle loosely so the carbon dioxide can escape to minimise this if you don't have a bubbler All the best Roo

[@scottwilkins]

@@PreparedCamping Insects aren't the only thing that could contaminate the mead. Best case is you only mix new oxygen and other nasty tastes in the air in with the process souring the mead. Use a bubbler or something else made for this process, always.

[@anasain6590]

Is the airlock needed? Could i theoretically just open the lid and shut it once a day?

[@PreparedCamping]

You could put the lid on loose if you want the positive pressure inside will mean the CO2 would push its way out if the cap isn't screwed down 👍 All the best Roo

[@anasain6590]

@MA-do9vr thanks for the input. I just got a good deal for some jugs and fitted airlocks anyways so thats what I will use.

[@anasain6590]

@@PreparedCamping I got some jugs and airlocks anyways. Just seeing this now. Thanks for the input

[@PreparedCamping]

@@anasain6590 that is the better way in my opinion, happy brewing 🍻

[@runkbaz4907]

@MA-do9vrCould I use a balloon instead of an airlock or is there really no alternative to the airlock?

[@UnstoppableTramp]

Hiccup!!! You didnt get loxked in with all that mead mate?! 2 years ive noticed!!! Lets go mate 💪

[@PreparedCamping]

Made all sorts, really got into the experimentation homebrewing allows blueberries and blackberries make lovely red wines Good to see you and Costa posting again and glad to hear you're doing well 👍 All the best to you and your family

[@richardharris9899]

Good little video which has made me fancy having a go at some mead brewing. Just out of curiosity where did you get the bungs to fit your 2L cider bottles. Thanks.

[@PreparedCamping]

I got them from eBay the opening on the Old Rosie bottles is 19mm, do it's a very simple process, happy brewing! All the best Roo

[@xiaohuli27]

just got a bottle of old rosie today, cant wait to finish it and start making some mead! i got the tesco value honey in a jar thats only 69p!

[@PreparedCamping]

You'll need a 19mm bung for the Old Rosie bottle buddy 👍

[@xiaohuli27]

@@PreparedCamping on the way, should arrive tomorrow 😎👍

[@pnyarrow]

Hi Roo. seems a really good and easy process. Thanks for sharing. ATB. Nigel

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching Nigel this homebrewing is super easy wish I started it long ago!

[@jamesdavies9918]

Hey where do u buy glass 2ltr bottles off cider from? Defo making some

[@PreparedCamping]

I live in England and this can be bought in Tesco or Morrisons but probably in the other supermarkets too. This bottle needs a 19mm bung which is commonly available on eBay or Amazon. Hope that helps, all the best. Roo

[@jamesdavies9918]

@@PreparedCamping I’m in Northern Ireland we don’t have Morrisons here but we have Tesco. Thanks for the reply 👍🏽

[@PreparedCamping]

@@jamesdavies9918 they should have it there then, worst case you can buy bottled water and use the plastic bottle for your fermentation vessel as it will be sterilised, if you don't screw the cap back on tight the carbon dioxide will escape and because it's under positive pressure it won't suck in air, happy brewing buddy 🍻

[@IndecentLouie]

@@jamesdavies9918 they sell them in Iceland (Old Rosie cider), in case you have Iceland there

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for that information 👍 All the best Roo

[@cullencasa7217]

Awesome! I will be copying this! Amazon is out of these bubblers- and recommendations on an alternative? Thank you!

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi thanks for watching and the kind feedback if there's no homebrew shop near you just Google "airlock bubbler" they're widely available online 👍 All the best Roo

[@babak8527]

thanks . how much alcohol does it produce ?

[@PreparedCamping]

At this ratio and with a wine yeast it should be at least 13% ABV Thanks for watching and happy brewing 👍

[@phillawrence5148]

I didn't wait for it to cool down will that kill the yeast? I've put some more in just in case.

[@PreparedCamping]

It might have, but if you added more once it had as you said you did you'll be fine buddy 👍

[@kamalakrsna]

W/in 2 days yu can kmow if yu killed the yeast ... if no fermentation after 2 days ??? Just add.years again Put yeast food in also because that helps the yeast eat honey

[@lennartproost]

I very intrested in this recipe, but i got a few questions: first. Do i need a bubbler? Are there others ways of doing this? Second. How long should it need to ferment for it to have a good percentage of alcohol? (5%-12%) Thanks for making it simple btw!

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi thanks for watching and the kind feedback really appreciate it 👍 You don't need a bubbler you could simply leave the cap loose so the carbon dioxide can escape, some people put a balloon over the opening and let the carbon dioxide out every day for example After a week it would be over 5% and would probably be around 12% after two weeks but the best way to regulate if you wanted a lower ABV is to use less honey or it would be very sweet if you used the ratio I did but stopped fermentation after just a week unless that's what you wanted All the best Roo

[@lennartproost]

@@PreparedCamping Thank you so much for the rapid response! I shall do it this way then. Time to get drunk!

[@PreparedCamping]

You're welcome you can get a wide range of flavours if you add some extra ingredients too such as cherries like I did in my viking blood mead so have fun experimenting 🍻

[@lennartproost]

@@PreparedCamping hey, i got a other question. What if i would keep it in its first container for the fermenting for a longer time. Would it then turn into strong liquor? Or does the fermenting of the yeast stop after awhile?

[@PreparedCamping]

It would stop fermentation once the yeast has converted all the sugars to alcohol Also yeast is a living organism so as the alcohol level rises it begins to inhibit yeast growth so even if some sugar remained it's difficult for yeast to convert it beyond 16% no matter how long you leave it All the best Roo

[@willyeckerslike9437]

Nice recipe, is it risky to let it ferment in a glass bottle? I still have an airlock left over from some old brews

[@PreparedCamping]

I had an airlock fitted to it these Old Rosie bottles need a 19mm bung which I got from eBay 👍

[@josephjohnson6626]

What kind of yeast is that?

[@PreparedCamping]

It's the gervin yeast sold at wilkos UK which has nutrients added to it already Very similar to the lalvin EC118 universal yeast Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment All the best Roo

[@pyewackett5]

I always make a little cone out of some paper when I need to add dried ingredients to demijohns. Currently on with sloe gin & wine. Been a real glut of sloes where I am. Will be making mead shortly. There are quite a few recipes for it in my Boots 'bible' of home wines & beers I happened to find in a charity shop.

[@PreparedCamping]

Sloe wine is absolutely magnificent 👌 Hope you have a great weekend, all the best Roo

[@pyewackett5]

@@PreparedCamping Oh good. It's my first attempt at sloe wine. Was originally wanting to make elderberry once again ( lovely stuff ! ) but for some unknown reason there are hardly any berry laden trees around in my little pocket of Yorkshire. Will get back to you on the results ! Best wishes 👍

[@PreparedCamping]

@@pyewackett5 once you bottle it leave to condition for six months and it is delicious The elder here in Buckinghamshire had plenty of blossom but the berries disappeared quickly

[@pyewackett5]

@@PreparedCamping Interesting. Sounds like it's nationwide then. Once made elderflower wine, not bad, but not a favourite of mine. Was going to turn it into champagne , but didn't have strong enough bottles at the time. I tend to prefer berry wines - elder, billberry, blackberry. Have a recipe for coffee wine , altho I doubt I'll be trying that anytime soon !

[@PreparedCamping]

Yeah not sure I'd do coffee either, blackberry wine is great and so cheap if you foraged them yourself 👍

[@jamesdavies9918]

Hey where do u buy glass 2ltr bottles off cider from?

[@PreparedCamping]

Most UK supermarkets sell them Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrisons all stock them hope that helps All the best Roo

[@scottwilkins]

There are lots of containers you can do this in. I do it in a wide mouth 1 gallon jar with a big opening to make filling easy. I have a big lid with an airlock. You can find these in stores that specialize in brewing. Online too.

[@sasssylasssie]

I've made mine in a very large pickle jar. What to use for the top? Just the jar lid?

[@louiefretwell4895]

I’d be careful that it doesn’t explode😮

[@PreparedCamping]

That would work so long as the carbon dioxide can escape somehow to prevent pressure build up and potentially a messy accident if it blows All the best Roo

[@PreparedCamping]

That is a risk if the vessel is airtight, so long as the gas can escape then it would work But a bung and airlock are less than £2 online, any bottle will work so that's free Take care Roo

[@BillHinson]

My Son-in-law and I were just talking yesterday About making mead

[@PreparedCamping]

It's so variable Bill you can really experiment with it to suit what you like most but this is the simplest version as I'm a simple man 😉 Hope you give it a go and tell me what you think, take care Roo

[@soulburn6671]

I bought a mead making kit from Craft A Brew. They give you the yeast and yeast nutrients I did what the recipe says but it’s supposed to sit for thirty days. Yet it stopped releasing gas by itself after only a day or two. Should I still let it go for the rest of the thirty days or is it done? I’m only asking because I’ve hear that when the bubbles stop then that means it’s ready.

[@PreparedCamping]

I'm not familiar with that kit but I would say it's unlikely it's finished Couple of questions, did you take a gravity reading? Is the liquid clear with a layer of sediment at the bottom of the vessel? Kind regards Roo

[@samueldarkprincemcgriff6104]

Question, can i add syrup along with honey to the mead

[@PreparedCamping]

You can which will increase the amount of sugar the yeast will convert into alcohol Using maple syrup and honey it would technically be called a acerglyn mead 👍 All the best Roo

[@harv1377]

Hi mate so I've had mine in the first demijohn for a month , how do I now condition it please

[@PreparedCamping]

Once you can't see any bubbles rising siphon the liquid into a second sanitised container or bottles leaving the sediment in the primary fermentation vessel Some people like to put it into a second container for another month or two before siphoning into bottles to ensure its as clear as possible and reduce chance of sediment in the bottles

[@nikthetrickster9948]

So...when it stops bubbling and settles down, I just transfer it into another container and that's it? Is it alright to pour it directly or do I need to filter it with a cheesecloth or how? Sorry for the questions, I'm literally new on this:(

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi Nik I transfer using a siphon tube but if you didn't have one you could use a filter and pour slowly and carefully so you don't disturb the solid that has fallen to the base of your container. Yes technically it is ready then but if you can leave it for a while longer it will taste better as the flavour mellows If you want one that is great straight away swap the water for 100% apple juice to make an apple mead called cyser, although this too gets better with age 👍🍻 Like this; kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2G5pmp_rMl2brM Half the fun is experimenting with different flavours by adding various fruits or spices the cherry (a.k.a. viking blood see in my homebrew playlist) is also very nice even without much aging, hope you have a great weekend 🍻👍 All the best Roo

[@nikthetrickster9948]

@@PreparedCamping thanks!!! Best wishes for you too

[@bootdude7527]

@@PreparedCamping so when I first rack the mead is it a bad idea to not use an airlock, since the yeast would be dead (so I've been told)

[@PreparedCamping]

@@bootdude7527 the airlock is just to allow the carbon dioxide to escape, when you're at the racking stage fermentation has slowed so much that you can get away with not using one and just screw the cap back on. The carbon dioxide is then unable to escape so combines with your brew to make a slightly fizzy drink

[@bootdude7527]

@@PreparedCamping ok, thank you so much.

[@myme5615]

Wait what how much honey to water....I use 5L of honey to 17L of water to make 22L mead @ roughly 13% alcohol.

[@PreparedCamping]

Honey in UK is generally sold in containers measured in grams but it sounds like you have a similar ratio if that's your ABV level buddy 🍻

[@mattjames9868]

What’s the timeline from start to drinking it? Anything in between?

[@PreparedCamping]

Depending on how much honey you put in and what yeast you use fermentation should be complete in a month or maybe two and you will have made a mead that you can drink straight away However some people leave them aside to condition in bottles for a year before drinking, its personal choice but I'm not that patient generally and drink them after three months usually I brew using the ratio used in this video and bottle the mead after fermentation is complete in 6 or 8 weeks (I set my demijohns in a cupboard to ferment and don't check on them every day) any that doesn't make a full bottle I drink straight away, the full bottles I store in my garage, I still have one left from this batch that I'll drink at Christmas Thanks for watching buddy and if you have any other questions let me know. All the best Roo

[@mattjames9868]

@@PreparedCamping Thanks for your reply. I’ve been searching for videos and info on making mead. It seems the more I research the more complex the process seems. Yours is by far the most simplified tutorial. People boil their mix and back sweeten?! Decant 3 or 4 times! Im going to give yours a go I think. So I may bother you for further stupid questions :)

[@PreparedCamping]

@@mattjames9868 happy to help and thanks for the kind feedback, no question is stupid mate, I often make a cyser (apple mead) using apple juice rather than water and that is absolutely delicious

[@mattjames9868]

@@PreparedCamping cheers mate 👍🏻

[@greeny7457]

What size bungs do you use for them the ones I have are to big for the old rosie cider bottles

[@PreparedCamping]

These old rosie bottles have a 19mm opening I bought some bungs from ebay that were "size 19" which are 23mm wide at the top tapered down to 17mm that fit them perfectly All the best Roo

[@globe11123]

This looks interesting, may give it a go after the cider! Do you drink this still? Never had mead before.

[@PreparedCamping]

I do, I also drink cyser which is an apple mead by swapping the water for apple juice which finishes around 15% 😉 Hope you have a great weekend 👍

[@Ali-rb1mq]

Nice video. Str8 to the points. Potency. Amd the voice accent sounds like gecko from the geico commercials. Lol

[@PreparedCamping]

Not aware of that advert but thanks for watching and the kind feedback it's much appreciated All the best and happy brewing buddy 👍

[@helenhurd7391]

Hi, what size bung am i looking for? I brought a packet from wilko but they are 2 big

[@PreparedCamping]

For an old rosie bottle like I used here you need a 19mm bung you can get them from eBay and Amazon if nowhere near you has them Worst case you can just put the cap on again but don't tighten it and the carbon dioxide can leak out or some people use a balloon which they open to drain off the gas each day The ones in wilko fit their 5l demijohns that cost about £8 each Good luck Roo

[@helenhurd7391]

Thank you, i e kinda hacked at the bung i brought and forced it in,as i was annoyed at myself for making it all first without thinking bung woundnt fit 🙄 first time making any mead/beer/ wine lol

[@PreparedCamping]

@@helenhurd7391 happy brewing 🍻

[@WelcometotheApocalypse]

Good video, Roo. I’m not a drinking’ man anymore, but looks like it would be fun to make!

[@WelcometotheApocalypse]

Shared to the WTTA Facebook Page and Group.

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks Dave it is and its useful to know how to brew and distill alcohol I think With everything that happened this year lots of companies were able to quickly switch production from drinking alcohol to sanitisation alcohol Which got me thinking so I aim to try that too sometime or as a fuel for my alcohol stoves

[@PreparedCamping]

Thank you sir I appreciate that 👍

[@jpawp7785]

whats that tube called that u attached on top of the jug, im going to attempt making this,

[@PreparedCamping]

It's an airlock sometimes called a bubbler as bubbles of carbon dioxide from inside can flow out but the water in the bend stops air flowing in Thanks for watching and happy brewing, all the best Roo

[@telshormanor6081]

@@PreparedCamping what's the purpose of doing that

[@PreparedCamping]

You need it capped to keep bugs out, but if the carbon dioxide is contained then the pressure will build up and blow the cap off or explode the vessel This let's the carbon dioxide out and nothing in.

[@telshormanor6081]

@@PreparedCamping oh I see. I haven't been able to get my hands on one of those. I started brewing a mead though. What's an alternative if any?

[@PreparedCamping]

You can simply put a balloon over the top held on with elastic bands and release some of the carbon dioxide each day to stop it popping 👍 All the best Roo

[@Katy00101]

Hi , where do you get the bungs for the demijohn as I can’t find any 19mm ones anywhere , thanks

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi Katy it's been a while but I got these online have a look on amazon or ebay if there's not a homebrew store near you Take care Roo

[@Katy00101]

Thanks for the quick reply, I’ve looked on both of them and can’t seem to find any , thanks anyway

[@PreparedCamping]

@@Katy00101 Hi this on eBay should do the job 👍 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235180686913?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=f2w8wcnirha&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=tk_dM_IjShi&var=535179772009&widget_ver=artemis&media=EMAIL All the best Roo

[@Katy00101]

Thank you for that , I’ll grab a couple now , 😊

[@PreparedCamping]

@@Katy00101 you're welcome, thanks for watching and happy brewing 🍻

[@jhj9296]

how long is the fermentation process? Do you let it age afterwards?

[@PreparedCamping]

3 to 4 weeks buddy

[@jhj9296]

@@PreparedCamping Thank you. Time for me to get to the store 🙂

[@PreparedCamping]

@@jhj9296 happy brewing 🍻

[@sporegazm]

​@PreparedCamping when you are conditioning and aging in this second container...I assume you are making sure all fermentation finishes up, so you still are letting c02 potentially escape? Only safe to finally air tight cap after 4 to 6 weeks of conditioning?

[@PreparedCamping]

@sporegazm yes I fit a rubber bung and bubbler to allow the CO2 to escape. But I did bottle some once after fermentation had almost ceased and got a slightly fizzy mead which was rather nice Thanks for watching really appreciate it, all the best Roo

[@jonahdonahue2930]

What should i do if a large portion of the yeast has clumped into a puck? Will it be ok ?😂

[@PreparedCamping]

It will still be fine as the yeast does its thing it will settle to the bottom but you'll see the bubbles of carbon dioxide rising from it All the best Roo

[@jonahdonahue2930]

@@PreparedCamping awesome, thanks for the reply! I woke up to it active and a bit too healthy! Have had to clean the air lock a few times

[@PreparedCamping]

@@jonahdonahue2930 you're very welcome happy brewing buddy 🍻

[@lockieynwa3493]

What would you do if after 2 weeks it's still bubbling up. Do I wait another week before until it stops?

[@PreparedCamping]

Sometimes it can take longer to finish fermentation depending on the temperature so just leave it until it settles down Hope you have a great weekend, all the best Roo

[@lockieynwa3493]

@@PreparedCamping thanks Roo

[@elijahkaehler9369]

Why not put the containers of honey in warm water and use ur funnel to pour into the fermenter, I mean you're using a kettle with hot water, easy to rise it out and a lot faster too...

[@PreparedCamping]

They're squeezy plastic bottles and it's runny honey so I just squeezed them and rinced out with warm water at the end which caused them to deform slightly due to the heat of the water If I was using honey from glass jars I would do as you have suggested though Take care Roo

[@lockieynwa3493]

So if you use 1 tsp of yeast for 2 litres. I'm doing the 5 litres . How much yeast do I put in 2 tsp?

[@PreparedCamping]

No one is still fine only need to go 2 tsp if doing 10 litres or more buddy 👍

[@JitendraKumar-mv4tm]

Sir How much mead is intoxication in drinking only

[@PreparedCamping]

That will vary from person to person on their ability to metabolise it, the ratio I use here is for a wine strength mead but you can make it less alcoholic by using less honey if you want so that it is similar in strength to beer All the best Roo

[@snekychanuwu9545]

Cool that this ancient way of making alcohol which has been around since the medieval times (and earlier) is still being used and taught today

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment buddy very much appreciated 👍 All the best Roo

[@hazzardoutdoors]

Oh I'm gonna try this i do love mead

[@PreparedCamping]

I'm going to make a spiced one next week to mature all year for next Christmas 🍻

[@chrisroberts8280]

should have used funnel to add yeas aswell

[@PreparedCamping]

Yep

[@phillawrence5148]

Ive had to use baking yeast and I;ve put far too much honey in, but the yeast should top out at 8% ABV anyway. I guess I'll find out

[@PreparedCamping]

Bread yeast can get to 10%, sounds like you might end up with a sweet mead but that's fine you can just reduce the amount of honey next time if you want it drier or use a wine yeast that should get you a few more % points 👍

[@phillawrence5148]

@@PreparedCamping Thanks pal

[@PreparedCamping]

@@phillawrence5148 you're welcome mate, happy brewing! 🍻

[@pantagruel1066]

So I'm coming from a corn liquor status. This was highly informative in expanding my new style. Thank fuck honey is cheap 🤩

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching Trevor hope you have a great weekend 🍻 All the best Roo

[@BradleyWhalley]

How do you condition after? Just leave it for a few weeks?

[@PreparedCamping]

Siphon the cleared liquid into a new sterilised container or bottle leaving the sediment called "lees" behind for a period the longer the better really and the flavour will round off and improve

[@katierose716]

how much water did you start with near the beginning of the vid

[@PreparedCamping]

500ml or roughly a pint of boiled water that I left for a few minutes to cool slightly Happy brewing and thanks for watching👍

[@janstewart2041]

Have you no funnel?

[@PreparedCamping]

Yes a nice stainless steel one but for this the only thing that really needed it was the yeast and a piece of paper rolled up would do the job if you were concerned about wasting a tiny amount Kind regards Roo

[@janstewart2041]

@@PreparedCamping maybe not be noticeable but I try to keep as much food for the yeast in the bottle. That way they won’t stress as much at the end finding food. Idk just a thought. Good day sir

[@PreparedCamping]

@@janstewart2041 that's a good point, I appreciate you taking the time to post a comment thank you All the best Roo

[@JohnAmes]

Now that's very cool 👍

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks for watching John probably the easiest brew to make 👍

[@jovanimartinez8277]

What type of yeast did he use?

[@corsonforcas]

I don't know but likely it was "red Star" wine yeast or champagne dry yeast

[@PreparedCamping]

Hi its Gervin GV-1 universal wine yeast sold in wilko under their name that also has nutrients mixed in All the best Roo

[@jovanimartinez8277]

@@PreparedCamping thank you!!

[@GhostFaceKillaaa]

What happens if I were to add more honey to water ratio?

[@PreparedCamping]

Theoretically the more sugar the higher the alcohol but there is a limit to the alcohol level that most yeast can tolerate. I would expect that your mead would still finish around 14% abv but it would taste very sweet as the extra honey wouldn't have been converted by standard wine yeast. The best thing about homebrewing is the experimentation to suit your palate so I would say try it and see 👍 All the best Roo

[@derekfrost8991]

If it's too syrupy the brew will fail. This happened to me when I tried to use dark brown sugar instead of normal table sugar.. 🙂

[@BaffledMans]

What is the top called where the bubbles are?

[@PreparedCamping]

Airlock bubbler, I have a link in the description for some on amazon but they're widely available elsewhere such as eBay Hope that helps and thanks for watching, all the best 👍 Roo

[@DmpstrPirate]

Paper funnels?

[@PreparedCamping]

Yeah a piece of paper rolled into a cone shape would've been a great way to pitch the yeast

[@StephenmilesHall-tz7hk]

😮🐝🍺im ganna try this.

[@PreparedCamping]

@@StephenmilesHall-tz7hk do, it's cheap, easy and delicious 🍻

[@robert-oq9jq]

So what are we talking about a two to five ratio?

[@PreparedCamping]

2 litres rather than 5 (or 1 gallon), I wrote the water to honey ratio in the description. You can have as little or as much as you like to suit your taste and alcohol preferences 😉 All the best Roo

[@robert-oq9jq]

Thanks but I guess I'm old fashioned basically two parts honey to three parts water for the Mellow stuff and one to one if you want it stronger@@PreparedCamping

[@robert-oq9jq]

I'm going to try it out both ways I'll let you know how it turns out in about a month friend

[@PreparedCamping]

@@robert-oq9jq look forward to it 👍

[@HarshmanHills]

rack and condition?

[@PreparedCamping]

Racking is the term for transferring to another container leaving the sediment behind for a clearer drink Setting aside for a period of time is called conditioning James and it improves the taste 👍

[@HarshmanHills]

@@PreparedCamping how long do you leave sit?

[@PreparedCamping]

@@HarshmanHills should finish fermentation in two or three weeks then leave it another month at least before drinking but the longer you leave it the better If you make some split it into bottles after fermentation so you can see the difference over time

[@emeraldfox7175]

You're pitching your yeast wrong mate,you want to start it in Luke warm water for 15 min then pour it into your carboy

[@PreparedCamping]

Thanks but I use the GV1 with added nutrient from wilko which is bombproof and doesn't need reactivating separately first has never let me down 👍

[@probablecausetocheckhard-drive]

You said ' condition' it in other containers ; can you not just leave it to condition in these scrumpy bottles?

[@PreparedCamping]

You can but if you leave it with the sediment in it may affect the flavour All the best Roo

[@kiritsakis1]

You can get a second glass carboy and use some cheese cloth and a syphon to transfer but keeping it in the same container will produce a lot of off flavors. You can theoretically combat that by adding another extra honey bottle. This, regarding what yeast you used, will leave a lot of unfermented sugars which will make everything sweeter. You can try this as a "quick mead" ( leaving it to ferment for 7-8 days and condition for ~10 ) to test recipes you have in mind e.g. adding fruits, fruit extracts, chocolate (personal favorite) and so on, but keep in mind the flavor profile is not going to be the same with "normal" fermentation/conditioning durations.

[@PreparedCamping]

I wouldn't suggest trying to syphon through a cheesecloth as a filter membrane, it's not fine enough, so long as you're careful you shouldn't disturb the lees too badly, and once you syphon again later into bottles it should be pretty much sediment free. Great idea to use small quick batches to try new flavours 👍

[@adventureguy4119]

Neato

[@sebastiankjllertreebak221]

Yo my Guy what kind og yeast will work

[@PreparedCamping]

Any yeast will work but might affect the flavour if you use bread yeast I used a cheap wine yeast and nutrient blend from wilko but if there's not one near you it's easy to find on eBay and Amazon if you search "gervin wine yeast"

[@jaynebuffey8393]

What strength did this end up as?

[@PreparedCamping]

14%

[@jonmo2694]

@@PreparedCamping That is good dry light mead is not good.What was the finished gravity? What yeast ?

[@PreparedCamping]

@@jonmo2694 I used the all in one yeast from wilko which is a gervin GV1 yeast with added nutrients made by youngs for wilko. Can't remember exactly what the gravity readings were it's been a while sorry Hope you have a great weekend, all the best Roo

[@scottwilkins]

@@jonmo2694 You can use any wine yeast too.