Mead - Tumblr Posts

So, I semi-recently got into making mead. I took an elective class on brewing and distilling my last semester of undergrad (it was classified as a chemical engineering class, lmao) and I loved it. Distilling is something you can only do with a license, and beer brewing is technically easy, but requires a whole setup I don't have space for. Mead, though, is pretty much just mixing honey and water and letting the yeast go to work (it's also a lot less carbs than beer, which my body appreciates).

The first batch I made was pretty terrible, but it wasn't hard to figure out what I did wrong, and the next try was much better. And since I have chronic gamer disease, once I had the method figured out I obviously had to try some of the Skyrim recipes - after all, if it wasn't for Skyrim, I probably wouldn't even know what mead is. I started with the Honningbrew recipe from the official Elder Scrolls cookbook, and it came out great! I have some ideas on how to improve the next batch (I'd really like more flavor from the apple), but I was proud enough of it to whip up a fun little label in photoshop, so I figured I might as well share it here, too.

Anyway, here's your friendly internet reminder that if you think something looks fun, you can literally just.. go do it. It probably will be fun, even if you're bad at it! No one's stopping you except for you.

Me: Sad :c

Three jars of homemade mead in my bathroom: *sizzling in the distance*

Me: FUCK YES I'M NOT SAD ANYMORE I'M MAKING MEAD LIFE IS FULL OF GLORIOUS THINGS LOOK AT THAT FUCKING GLOVE ON THE TOP IT IS!!!! INFLATED!!!! I'M!!!!!!! MAKING!!!!!!!!!! MEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

welp time to try making mead

Tried to infuse a jar of honey with blueberries.

Yeah…that went well. I shoulda squashed them first, because now they’re just floating at the top and not doing anything.

Tried squishing them against the glass, but they’re refusing to pop.

Sad blueberry honey experiment is probs just gonna wind up on toast and will not be spoken of ever again.

Small businesses are awesome.

This guy, a veteran and park ranger named Steve, opened this place called TreeRock in Asheville, NC as a sort of passion project, to celebrate Mead and Cider, and showcase an incredible selection of the world's first alcoholic beverage.

I just had an hour and a half long conversation with the guy. He's so personable and knowledgeable, and I had an absolute blast- I tried like 10 different drinks, and they were all awesome, and he told me about the history and making of each and every one. After a while, I decided this is my new favorite place to go.

But they're closing, in March.

These past few years have been devastating for small businesses, and they are no exception. They are going to close in March, unless something drastic happens that changes things.

So if you're in Asheville, or you know somebody in Asheville, or you have been meaning to go to Asheville to bury that body in the trunk of your car somewhere along the Appalachian trail but you just haven't gotten around to it yet, please stop by TreeRock for a flight of meads, ciders, and beers from all around the world, for less than the cost of a Chipotle burrito.

(also they love dogs!!! my dog had a great time, and I'm sure yours will too!)