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New Member
For those not so constrained by traditional methods, hints of prosciutto / berries etc: An uncomplicated way to make Melomel.
I have tried store bought Pomegranate, Cherry, Grape+'berries' and Prune all really good. Mandarin (store bought and home grown (much better) and home grown Brazilian Cherry (both 50:50 water and juice) had like it or hate it flavours.
Store bought juices in Coles and Woolies come in 1L glass or plastic bottles. I save the glass bottles for brewing in.
Method.
I start the Mangrove Jacks M05 yeast in a separate jar with juice and honey.
Roughly halve the juice in each bottle and on the scales weigh in 300gm of honey for each 1L bottle and give them a shake to mix in the honey.
Put the yeast in each bottle (I mix 1/2 pack of yeast for 5 litres).
Fill with juice but leave enough room for the froth.
Screw the cap on firmish but loose enough to let the Co2 out.
Wait...
Sanitation:
I figure the juice is sterile, the honey from local supplies has natural antibiotics etc and any wild yeast has not been a problem so the only thing sanitised are the bottles and caps.
I also figure the small space at the cap is under constant positive pressure so nothing can get in (I will be corrected I'm sure), but to date I have not had a failure.
Because the juices are so finely filtered, after fermentation there is only a thin layer of dead yeast that largely sticks to the bottom of the bottle. Easy to decant or increase your Vit B levels.
Subjectively at least, it has quite a kick but it could just be that it is so 'just another little one' drinkable. M05 is supposed to tolerate 17% ABV.
I have tried less and more honey. The 300gm per litre seems to have a good balance between dry and sweet. More honey gives it more body and sweetness. Otherwise they all have had a port like feel.
Cherry was the absolute favorite for everyone who tasted it, followed by Pomegranate. A couple of people commented on the potential evacuating effect of Prune but drink enough and you wont give a ...
Coles sell organic, wild picked, cold pressed pomegranate juice otherwise they are reconstituted.
I have tried store bought Pomegranate, Cherry, Grape+'berries' and Prune all really good. Mandarin (store bought and home grown (much better) and home grown Brazilian Cherry (both 50:50 water and juice) had like it or hate it flavours.
Store bought juices in Coles and Woolies come in 1L glass or plastic bottles. I save the glass bottles for brewing in.
Method.
I start the Mangrove Jacks M05 yeast in a separate jar with juice and honey.
Roughly halve the juice in each bottle and on the scales weigh in 300gm of honey for each 1L bottle and give them a shake to mix in the honey.
Put the yeast in each bottle (I mix 1/2 pack of yeast for 5 litres).
Fill with juice but leave enough room for the froth.
Screw the cap on firmish but loose enough to let the Co2 out.
Wait...
Sanitation:
I figure the juice is sterile, the honey from local supplies has natural antibiotics etc and any wild yeast has not been a problem so the only thing sanitised are the bottles and caps.
I also figure the small space at the cap is under constant positive pressure so nothing can get in (I will be corrected I'm sure), but to date I have not had a failure.
Because the juices are so finely filtered, after fermentation there is only a thin layer of dead yeast that largely sticks to the bottom of the bottle. Easy to decant or increase your Vit B levels.
Subjectively at least, it has quite a kick but it could just be that it is so 'just another little one' drinkable. M05 is supposed to tolerate 17% ABV.
I have tried less and more honey. The 300gm per litre seems to have a good balance between dry and sweet. More honey gives it more body and sweetness. Otherwise they all have had a port like feel.
Cherry was the absolute favorite for everyone who tasted it, followed by Pomegranate. A couple of people commented on the potential evacuating effect of Prune but drink enough and you wont give a ...
Coles sell organic, wild picked, cold pressed pomegranate juice otherwise they are reconstituted.