Mead Maker 101: Light and Spritzy Cranberry Orange Mead (a hydromel!)
Time & Location
About The Event
Produced since ancient history you, or a loved one, can now join the ranks of the Meadmaker! Limited to seven participants (couples are encouraged and can work together on with ticket), each meadmaker will receive the equipment, ingredients, and expert guidance on making over one gallon of ~6% abv light and carbonated cranberry/orange mead (which can be spiced later on..this will also be discussed). Perfect for summer! Lead by our own meadmaker -- a nationally awarded meadmaker and two-time teacher-of-the-year! You will first be introduced to the basic concepts, prepare your "must", take part in a demonstration on preparing a yeast slurry, pitch the yeast, and take home your mead to ferment out at home with explicit instructions on what to do (and not to do)! Mead trivia will be thrown in between activities! All the while you enjoy a flight of our mead....
Mead makers will receive: A primary fermenter (2-gallons), secondary fermenter (one-gallon glass carboy), airlock and bung, turkey baster for sampling, hydrometer, siphon, bottling wand, tubing, nutrient, fining agent, potassium sorbate (used prior to bottling), Camden tablets (optional prior to bottling), Approximately 1.25 lbs of our honey, cranberry juice (we will discuss what to do if you want to use whole fruit next time), zested fresh orange, six-500ml flip-top bottles, instructions on what to do at home, access to BeeCraft if instructions are not clear or yeast misbehave, and a flight of mead from our meadery (and printed notes in case flight of mead clouds your memory)!!
All money collected beyond cost of equipment, materials, and facilities will --once again-- go to KARE (Kids Are Really Equal)
Note #1: In the event of bad weather or zombie apocalypse we would move the date to 27th.
Note #2: We will build the yeast slurry together and pitch yeast from it collectively.
Note #3: Yeast are funny beasts...and a bit temperamental. There is no guarantee your mead will turn out perfect but should come close...the beauty of being a home meadmaker is that if off-flavors develop you merely use stronger spices to cover them up! This is probably why metheglyns were invented anyway.