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First Batch
Well it started like this I was in the homebrew store getting myself setup to brew a batch of California Red. I was chatting with the owner looking at his current creation. There in a 3 gallon carboy hidden under a t-shirt to block the light was a batch of Blue Agave. I had to ask "How much for a 3 gallon carboy?". That was it. I was going to make a batch of mead. I got 10 lbs of clover honey, a package of champagne yeast, and yeast nutrient. Driving home I realized "I didn't ask the boss." This is gonna hurt. I managed to get by with minimal apologies (love that wife). Had the friends over and started the beer. 5-6 hours later beer is done and cooling off. Wife goes to bed friends go home. Me, I wait for the beer to cool. Awake and still wanting to do something I go for the HONEY. I break out the cleaning equipment and carboy. Now mind you this is 2 am by now. I am not exactly coherent. I warm the Honey and put the funnel in the carboy. NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS MY FIRST BATCH OF MEAD and I'm tired. Can you tell where this is going? I take the first jar and begin to pour. Well I don't want to forget the nutrient. In it goes. Well I (in my infinite wisdom) just added it to the funnel. That should do it right? WRONG it clogged the funnel. Got a knife cleaned the knife (keep everything clean). Cleared the funnel. In goes the second jar of honey. Now if you can't tell be now I am doing this all wrong. And yes I do know how to do this correctly. I was tired! I get the 10 lbs of Honey into the carboy and start to top it off with water. No problem right? Right. Get it to the perfect temperature to pitch the yeast. and Yes I pitch the yeast. On goes the air lock. I finally have the beer to the right temp. In goes the yeast. and I'm off to bed. 7 am wife comes into the room and quietly asks "What's this on my counter?" I explain that I was bored waiting for the beer and decided to start my mead. Now at this point I still haven't realized what I have done.) Down the stairs I go and into the kitchen. I notice that my darling wife has cleaned the pots for me. What do you do when the wife does something really nice? You thank her Right? I go up to her give her a kiss and say" Thank you sweetie for cleaning up my mess. "Puzzled look and pause! (not good) "I didn't clean up anything" she informs me. Ok where are the pots I used for making the must? (LIGHT COMES ON). I look at the carboy and the air lock. Air lock is bubbling (good) didn't heat the must (BAD). Well looks like we are going to find out how easy it is to make a good MEAD. Brief description of the filled carboy about 6 inches of honey with clumps of nutrient scattered thought the layer. The rest yellow water with a thin layer of yeast along the top of the honey. Now its 4 weeks later and its still going I have about 1/4 inch left of honey on the bottom and the yeast is gaining on it. The nutrient has settled to the bottom of the carboy. Looking good so far. Please excuse and mis-used terms I am still learning.
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