Mead again

I took my mead to an SCA arts and sciences event to get some feedback, and it didn't totally suck. The night before the event I took half the mead and 'backsweetened' it with 500g of really nice honey that I got out of my hives a month ago, right on the cusp of wrapping them up for the winter.

The original mead was very watery, and not terribly flavourful, but someone suggested that I could use it to make extracts. That's a fantastic idea, and I'll be doing that. The sweetened mead was a little bit watery, and it didn't meet the standards of the master brewer who tried it, but everyone else thought it was perfectly fine. Also, it had a kick like a mule. I don't know what the alcohol content is, but it's definitely over 10%.

I'll be giving a jar of mead and a jar of honey as 'rent' at the place where I keep my hives. I hope they like it.

My next brewing adventure will be more controlled. I bought a couple cider kits, and I'll be starting them soon. I want to have some good beverages to share for the SCA summer camping season, in good Anglo-Saxon mead-hall fashion.

Different apple sauce recipes

If you've been storing apples it might be time to start using them up before they go bad. You can make up some of these recipes and freeze them, or can them... Or, like at my house, just eat so much apple sauce that you feel oogy.

Hot spiced cider

Hot Spiced Cider

• One small apple (optional)
• 1/2c brown sugar or dark honey
• 8c apple juice or local cider
• 1tsp whole allspice (I never have it around, but it's yummy if you do)
• 1tsp whole cloves
• 4-6 whole cinnamon sticks