DIY Mead

Sep 5, 2014 12:21 AM

Views

416439

Likes

5541

Dislikes

93

The Ingredients

An Apple, Honey, Water, Yeast, A rasin or 6, and a balloon.

Run hot water over the honey

This makes it less viscous.

Chop the apple

gotta make it small enough to fit in the bottle

Put the apple in the bottle

Put the honey in the bottle

activate your yeast in warm water

add yeast to the bottle

put a balloon on it

Poke two vent holes in the balloon

This makes an airlock. When the balloon fills up with gas it will vent, and when there is no gas, the holes shrivel up like butthole in cold water.

Ready for magic

The magic is happening

See how the balloon stands up and lets it vent, awesome.

When the balloon is droopy, the magic has ended.

sanitize old 40 bottles

I use an oven at 300 degrees, and let them cool.

Bottle it.

End product

Fingers for clarity.

Props to OP for inventing the "Sideways Brewing Technique"

11 years ago | Likes 48 Dislikes 0

I feel the need, the need for mead!

11 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

Seriously bruh, we need measurements n shit.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

YAAAAY! Prison Mead!

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

"shrivel up like butthole in cold water" Thanks, I can start my day now.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Geez, this is a pretty ghetto way of making mead.

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

This is fake. The honey isn't in a bottle shaped like a bear.

11 years ago | Likes 105 Dislikes 0

What were the raisins for?

11 years ago | Likes 60 Dislikes 0

And the coffee filters and lemon loaf?

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The raisins are for nutrients that the honey lacks to feed the yeast. you could also get an actual yeast food, but raisins are simpler.

11 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

Thank you! I was wondering too

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I knew you'd get stuck on that.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Planning on going to prison any time soon?

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Why do you ask this? As long as it's under a certain ABV, home brewing is legal in most places.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Because prison wine.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Ohhhhhhhh. *whoosh*

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Missing step: shake the fuck out of it after adding the honey -- that shit doesn't dissolve by magic.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

you would be amazed at how well the yeast find all the honey. I've had carboys where the honey didn't dissolve properly come out just fine.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 4

Note: This is not going to make good mead. Spend the extra $0.25, get proper yeast from a homebrew supply shop.

11 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 1

Because those are just everywhere

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 6

They're fairly common, yeah.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Many liquor stores have at least a few basic home brewing things, like yeast

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

UNDERAGE DRINKING HERE I COME.

11 years ago | Likes 44 Dislikes 1

I love the fact that you have 21 points.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

I love the fact that you posted this 21 minutes ago.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And I just love you

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

As a homebrewer of several years: no.

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

y'all ought to learn how to rotate pictures

11 years ago | Likes 357 Dislikes 0

[deleted]

[deleted]

11 years ago (deleted Sep 5, 2014 10:46 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

"Y'all" is singular. "All y'all" is plural/collective.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Or take pictures landscape mode..

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I didn't realize they were the wrong orientation until you pointed it out. Brains are weird.

11 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 1

WELL YA'LL MOTHERFUCKERS NEED JESUS

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

For someone just wanting to try the process, this ain't bad. Practice with this, then move up to better equipment and brewer's yeast.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

+1 for "the holes shrivel up like a butthole in cold water."

11 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 0

Extra funny when you say it like Khan from King of the Hill.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That is entirely the wrong yeast - go to a wine store. The apples make this melomel, not mead. And source for concept: 1960s "balloon wine"

11 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 2

Cyser, not melomel.

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Both, actually. Any mead made with fruit is melomel. Only apple mead is cyser.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

know the intended audience. this is clearly for beekeeping bakers in apple orchards after the fall of society.

11 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

The point was that you can make it easily without specialty stuff. If you are going to brew as a hobby of course you would not do this.

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

everyone right now:

11 years ago | Likes 1567 Dislikes 5

perfect.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I WANT TO GENTLY JUMP IN THERE!!

11 years ago | Likes 45 Dislikes 0

I'm the one on the far right. Head still tilted but reading your comment a the bottom of my screen.

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

KNEW IT

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I noticed they are turned sideways after I looked at your gif :D

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Rotate you're goddamn pics son!

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

This is the perfect gif +1

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Done something very similar, used organes, strongly urge you to use a wine yeast.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Ha, organes....

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Or:

11 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Yaaaaaass!!! I love that movie!!!

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow, everyone.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You bastard, you know us all so well!

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

My head IS tilted how did you know?!

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

At first i was like "Finally my underage ass can get some mead!" (Im 20) then i realized i'll already be of age when its done -_-

11 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

Happy...birthday?

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I love how we are both not things. We could bond over this.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

ATTENTION! If you want a better air-lock, get a sealed tube (instead of balloon) and run it up, over, and into an open jug of water

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Out of the dozens of airlocks that I have I love using this method.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Why do you own two different brands of St. John's Wort?

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

For science.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Depression?

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I know what it's used for I just wanted to know if one worked better than another in certain situations. Hence having 2 brands.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Breweries hate him!

11 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 2

If I had started making mead when you posted this comment, it would be just about perfect by now. The breweries aren't going to care. :)

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

For this one simple trick!

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Using that baker's yeast is probably not the best idea. Different yeasts produce different flavors. Look online or at a homebrew shop.

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

read title.

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 5

Baker's yeast will give off some terrible compounds that will taste bad and give you a headache. But, if you are desperate... whatever.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

there's the comment i was looking for! just because it's easier to do cheap bakers yeast doesn't mean you'll enjoy the results.

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

As a homebrewer, this is closer to prison hooch than actual mead. Water, raw honey, and quality brewing yeast is all you need to make mead.

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

This is great, kudos to you for making this, but for $2 you could get enough brewer's yeast for several batches, plus a real airlock.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

is it in the grocery store?

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

ive seen them at safeway and superstore in Canada.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 3

Whole foods carries these items, yes.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No, home brewing supply stores aren't tough to find...plus one of these packets is good for five gallons. http://amzn.com/B00434CB74

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"When the balloon is droopy, the magic has ended"... word, man, word.

11 years ago | Likes 1082 Dislikes 3

Huff :>

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

"the holes shrivel up like a butthole in cold water"

11 years ago | Likes 38 Dislikes 1

But, will there be some form of liquid in the droopy balloon

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

PHRASING

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I loled

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I giggled.

11 years ago | Likes 43 Dislikes 0

That's just the nitrous

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That just makes it droopier :(

11 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I'm in class trying not to giggle.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

It's not working...

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Joe's Ancient Orange Mead is a good beginner-level recipe (Source: An avid mead-er) (link below)

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Whatever you do, do NOT attempt to drink Joe's Agent Orange Mead.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Admittedly this took me a few reads, but ultimately I blew air slightly harder out of my nose

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Funny, I always hear this recipe derided on the homebrew forums, like, yeah, it works, but you can do so much better for the same effort.

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This post piqued my interest but I gather I shouldn't actually do it this way if I want a quality result. Got recommendations?

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Maybe something like this (linked from Homebrew Talk forum) http://home.comcast.net/~mzapx1/FAQ/BasicMead.pdf

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This is hooch, toilet wine, pruno, jihad juice, or whatever else you want to call it but not mead...

11 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 10

Yeah, as a former prison guard, this is NOT any of those things. Honey=mead.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

Bread, oranges, and koolaid is how you make hooch. Legit.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

add water and a plastic trash bag and you have the most vile beverage known to man.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Being fermented honey and water, it does seem to be mead. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead

11 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 1

Actually, this isn't a mead, it's a variant of a mead called a cyser, which is a blend of apple and honey.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

The stuff in plastic bottles at the supermarket is made from water, malt and hop, but I still refuse to call it beer.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

....ok? Beer is fermented grains. Mead is fermented honey. Not quite sure what the issue is...?

11 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

Not everything what technically is beer or mead, does actually deserve to be called so.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 3

I think it's a superiority complex.

11 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 1

Very much so

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

It is technically. But grapes toilet tank water and ketchup are also wine.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Sure, it's gonna taste like ass though. At least pony up another $2 and get some English Ale yeast. Trust me, I'm a professional.

11 years ago | Likes 285 Dislikes 3

Mead yeast is pretty great. But 1856 can do wonders.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Agreed. Or use wine yeast, that'll yield a higher ABV. And while you're at it boil the honey/water mix. If youre gonna do this, do it right

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Or 1056.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You could also make wine from grocery store grapes, doesn't mean you would want to drink it.

11 years ago | Likes 64 Dislikes 0

as a professional, could you make a diy for better mead. this seems like a kickass project.

11 years ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 0

http://www.stormthecastle.com/mead/ this is a good start

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sure, I've been brewing/wine and mead making for a long time.

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

I'd love to see it a how-to post about it.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I've been wanting to, I'm a bit of a lazy fuck though. I just brewed a vanilla bourbon imperial porter, it's fermenting away right now.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

can i have it please

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'll second that motion

11 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

same

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Just a couple alterations. 1) Use an appropriate wine or ale yeast. 2) Use a liquid airlock. 3) Mead needs to age. 3-12 months.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

What CaptainSamuelVimes said.

10 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Old roommates made 'mead' in a garbage can, with no lid, sitting in the middle of their bedroom. Flies everywhere.

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

You mean prison trash bag wine

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Always upvote homebrewing. How long was the primary fermentation? Do you bottle condition afterwards? Also, wouldn't you get better (1/2)

11 years ago | Likes 165 Dislikes 5

Will it get me all fucked up??

11 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

If you drink it enough to get little drunk it will make your insides do the polka and turn your butthole as a sprinkler for the next day.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

That's all a person can ask for, really.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Well, i guess i do have to admit that there are only a few activities that make you feel more alive.

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Me and my friends used to make it this way in college. It will get you on a very different kind of buzz. My opinion of it at least.

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Explain

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Like a box of wine buzz?

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Like a "laying in the middle of the parking lot laughing at the dick shapes in the stars" kinda drunk.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Slap the bag.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Tickle it first?

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

results if you used a yeast more suitable for brewing? (e.g. champagne or ale yeast) (2/2)

11 years ago | Likes 97 Dislikes 2

Also leaving it in that plastic bottle isn't a great plan either. Get a glass gallon of apple juice, drink, clean, sanitize

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Definitely different yeast leave different flavor profiles, remember when you drink booze you are drinking yeast excrement so pick carefully

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Haha...he's making this in a water bottle with a balloon on it.

11 years ago | Likes 66 Dislikes 1

idk why I laughed so hard but I did

11 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I never thought there was a difference in yeast until I used the brewers yeast. It's like 87 vs 93. Way higher alcohol content.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yes, you also want to put it in a secondary for about a year with mead. It takes a long time to mature.

11 years ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 1

I rarely let it mature that long. 3 months is more then enough for most.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 4

Doing it half-assed like in this tutorial (wrong yeast, wrong water type, ineffective airlock) you def want to wait longer than 3 months and

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

I am friends with 2 commercial mead brewers, neither of them age it longer then 3 months. been making mead for 5 years and dont half ass it.

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 5

also rack it into a 3rd container after a few months, before drinking it. Plus it tastes better sparkling, so I add dextrose @ the 3rd rack

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

I would be concerned about the plastic bottle leaching bad chemicals into the liquid. Also the bottle should be sanitized at least.

11 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 9

[deleted]

[deleted]

11 years ago (deleted Jun 6, 2022 5:21 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

depends on what its made from. A water bottle is not made for brewing so I could see the heat and alcohol posing an issue for the plastic.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 4

[deleted]

[deleted]

11 years ago (deleted Jun 6, 2022 6:48 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

pretty sure I said it depends on what the bottle is made of... acetaldehyde is one or Terephthalic acid. heat also wont help.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 4

Then this toilet wine brew method isn't for you.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

...so I should stop then?

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Only if you hear the safe word.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've seen the 'brew in a bottle of purified water' method before. Presumably, an unopened bottle of water should be sterile.

11 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

You are dumb

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

There's actually many levels of sterile

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

If all bottles of water were sterile, we'd just use them. Much cheaper

11 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I've had a field sanitation course in the military, there's lots of different "sterile" and levels of contamination allowed and not allowed.

11 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Make a big difference depending on its application (2/2)

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Just because there's no contaminants doesn't mean that the water you drink is suited for hospital applications.Even hard vs soft could (1/2)

11 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I don't believe that bottles of drinking water are sterile. We use sterile water in hospitals that come in bottles saying they are sterile.

11 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Bad chemicals from bottles is a horrible, horrible myth.

11 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 8

Bottles used repeatedly or subject to large variations in temperature DO leech plastic particles. The harmfulness if questionable though.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

bad chemicals leeching into water you might be able to argue. Brewing creates head and alcohol both of which could cause issues.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 4

I can argue for both - head is nothing but water and air and food-safe plastics have no monomers that the alcohol could dissolve.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

head was a typo, heat is what I was attempting to say.

11 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2