The Metheglin Project
The Herbalists involved: Thaninieyeres and Elina
This project breaks down into two areas of study. The first is the Cordial subgroup.
These are meads that have been herbed to produce a specific result of a medicinal
nature. The second is the metheglin subgroup. These are meads that are spiced
for flavour not effect. Both groups are further broken down into period or non
period. Period in this case is merely a note that only ingredients available
in our period (pre 1200AD) were used.
Note: with the exception of the cleaning solution and the original campden
in the must no non-period chemicals will be used. All of these meads will be
cold cleared.
Note 20/09/93: All meads are now being done with NO campden, or sorbate.
The base meads have been kept separate and appear only as a notation in the recipe.
Batch #1 - 10/10/92 8 US gallons
8 kg clover
honey (Country Bulk)
just that
and water
Racked:
1/11/92 after active fermentation ended.
All were tested on 8 Nov as Mistress Tamara was worried that
the prolonged exposure to the raw herbs would bitter the end product. She
appears to have been wrong. (20/09/93 - or maybe right tough call.)
NOTES
21/9/93 Let this be a lesson
in general to groups trying to co-operate across A&S boundaries. Remember
that the others with you usually know NOTHING about your area of specialty.
Specifically ... The first round of the metheglin project was done with basic
meads to which herbs were added. It never dawned on me to mention to the
herbalists where I was storing the mead, or how I clear it, nor the other
tricks like oxygenating the mead to ease the bouquet. Nor did it dawn on
the herbalists to mention to me that herbs and sunlight don't get along, or
that freezing herbs is bad, or even that oxygen is bad for herbs. Thus I
racked the herbals in the usual way adding LOTS of air. Once racked I left
them out back to cool clear them (in the sunlight) and got caught by a very
cold night which froze them. I simply let them thaw and didn't think anything
of it. ALL the meads took a BIG down-turn at this point. Next time, of course,
we won't make these mistakes.
--- Cordial Subgroup ---
Cold Cordial - PERIOD - designed as a cold remedy 1 US Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
1/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - a nice flavour but not yet ready retest in 2 weeks
Tested:
22/11/92 - getting there but stronger would be better - 2 more weeks
Tested:
12/12/92 - Time to rack.
Racked:
17/12/92 - Herbs removed
Next Batch:
3 Gallons
Racked:
11/4/94
Knockout Mead - PERIOD - a sleeping draught 1 US Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
1/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - nice but not strong enough - 2 Weeks more
Tested: 22/11/92 - this is good now.
Racked:
23/11/92 - Herbs removed.
Tested:
12/12/92 - Coming along just fine
Next Batch:
5 Gallons
NOTES
Enter
this in the Spring A&S
Parachute / Aphrodisiac Mead - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
1/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - Nice flavour but not strong enough - 1 Month
Note: 1
small shot seemed to have a good effect on Alasdair both in the "high"
and the aphrodisiac effects (which he did not know about in advance)
Tested:
22/11/92 - Colour is much deeper now but more steeping is needed
Tested:
12/12/92 - Time to rack now
Racked:
17/12/92 - Herbs removed
Tested:
2/1/93 - in bulk (750 ml per person) all aspects of this mead appear to work
very well. <Grin>
Next Batch:
5 Gallons
NOTES
A couple of interesting questions appear here. It would be
very nice to test this mead in an impartial way (i.e. see how horny it will
make a group of people without their knowing what it is) but what about the
moral considerations?
Before Dinner Mead - PERIOD - designed to increase appetite
2 Litres
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
3/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - Strong enough now - strain and let it go until dry
Racked:
9/11/92 - Herbs removed
Tested:
22/11/92 - coming along nicely
Tested:
12/12/92 - A little acidic
Added: 17/12/92 - 1/2 tsp base (chalk)
Next Batch:
2 Gallons
After Dinner Mead - PERIOD - designed to settle the stomach
2 Litres
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
3/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - not strong enough - 2 Weeks more
Tested:
22/11/92 - ready now
Racked:
23/11/92 - herbs removed
Tested:
12/12/92 - Kick like a mule needs some balancing
Added: 17/12/92 - 1 tsp base added (chalk)
Next Batch:
2 Gallons
Future Batches:
1 Gallon:
Headache - willow & lavender, feverfew
1 Gallon:
Hangover Cure
1 Gallon:
Refrigerant
1 Gallon:
Fever cure
1 Gallon:
Relaxant
1 Gallon:
Sassperilla
1 Gallon:
Birch bark
Parachute - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 2 US Gallons
Done as
a tea and 1 kg of dandelion honey (country bulk) was added to each gallon
Yeast:
#2
Racked:
22/11/93 Bottles listed as I and II
Tested: 22/11/93 I Clear and Earthy taste but OK. Still slightly
musty. II also clear and much nicer than I (less musty taste).
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
NOTES
12/8/94 Tried this at war it was VERY nice. Do
this one again in bigger quantity.
Parachute 1 - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 5 US Gallons
Done as a tea.
5 Kg Wildflower Honey (Full Circle)
Yeast #2
Racked:
Parachute 2 - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 5 US Gallons
Done as a tea.
5 Kg Dandylion Honey (Country
Bulk)
Yeast #2
Racked:
Cough - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 2 US Gallons
Done as a tea
1 Kg Clover honey (full circle)
Yeast #2
Racked:
--- Metheglin Subgroup ---
Licorice Mead - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added: 1/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - no licorice flavour yet - 1 Month more
Tested:
22/11/92 - coming along but needs more time - at this point this is very nice
but not strong enough in licorice flavour. Slightly sweet still.
Tested: 12/12/92 - The mint taste is overpowering the licorice
and a much heavier acid level is now appearing. Time to rack the herbs out
and re-balance the acid level.
Racked:
17/12/92 - Herbs removed, 1 tsp base (chalk) added.
Next Batch:
2 Gallons
Racked:
11/4/94
Spiced Orange - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
1/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - A little light on the orange and a little heavy on the cloves but
a nice taste - rack out herbs now and let it ferment to dry.
Racked:
9/11/92 - Herbs removed.
Tested: 22/11/92 - Smiles all around. This is incredible. Clearing
nicely, a little sweet (a 2 or 3) and the flavours are blending nicely.
Tested:
12/12/92 - This just keeps getting better.
Cold Racked:
25/11/92
Next Batch:
5 Gallons
NOTES
Spring
A&S - never entered
21/9/93 This mead definitely came down a step
due to the freezing/sunlight/oxygen. It is still nice enough though.
Indian Chocolate Coffee- NOT PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
1/11/92
Tested: 8/11/92 - a little weak but this will be VERY nice soon.
Try again in 2 weeks and warm it in a brandy snifter first.
Tested: 22/11/92 - Rack it now. We were right heated in a brandy
snifter this is awesome. Try it with some cinnamon.
Racked:
23/11/92 - Herbs removed
Tested:
12/12/92 - Just fine.
Racked:
12/12/92
Next Batch:
1 gallon - use period ingredients
NOTES
21/9/93 this was released at Melee this summer
and although it showed an apparent restart if the bottle was allowed to warm
up the mead itself was very nice when heated.
Many Mints - PERIOD 1 US
Gallon
Base Mead: Batch #1 Herbs added:
1/11/92
Tested:
8/11/92 - not yet strong enough - 1 Month more
Tested:
22/11/92 - Tasting mighty fine but could still be stronger
Tested: 12/12/92 - Mint is still not strong enough. Leave the
herbs and add some fresh spearmint.
Added: 17/12/92 - Four sprigs of fresh spearmint.
Next Batch:
5 Gallons
NOTES
21/9/93 Nicknamed (aptly) "Wrigley's ice-wine"
this is VERY strong and sweet. Not to everyone's taste but as predicted VERY
popular at war.
Future Batches:
Period
Coffee
Peach and
Wildflower honey
Coffee
and Buckwheat honey
Apple,
nutmeg, raison and allspice
Batch 2A
The following meads were done as teas and 1 kg of dandelion
honey was added to each gallon the next day. A yeast #2 was then added and
off they went.
Indian Coffee - 19/9/93 - NOT PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - Dark and rich. Very nice warm. Quite ready
now.
Racked
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
AnnaHay - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - Clear but rather acidic. 2 tsp chalk added
30/11/93.
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
NOTES
12/8/94 Tried it at war and I wasn't happy with the taste.
Lick-em-aid - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - still cloudy and a bit acidic. Watch the
acid count as this one is currently on the edge
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
NOTES
12/8/94 Tried it at war and I loved it. The name has to
go and it should be stronger but still I would count this one as a success.
Tri-mint - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US
Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - Very clear, really nice. Cold clear and bottle
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
Bombay Spice - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - still cloudy, really nice with a nice "edge"
to it. Let it clear some more.
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
NOTES
12/8/94 Tried it at war and I loved it. I would put this
on the "repeat as is" pile.
Lemon Flower - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - still cloudy, nice and sour. Try sweetening
half of it. Has a very oily aftertaste (seems to be the lavender)
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
NOTES
12/8/94 Tried it at war and I hated it. The oily taste
was all there was. Definately avoid the lavender inthe future.
Orange Spice - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - clear and ncie tasting but still young. Very
delicate flavour. Leave it be for now.
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
Wildflower/Lemon - 19/9/93 - PERIOD 1 US Gallon
Racked:
22/11/93
Tested: 22/11/93 - clear. Rather acidic, slightly yeasty and
with an oily aftertaste (must be the lavender and only this and lemon flower
had lavender)
Racked:
11/4/94
Racked:
3/8/94
NOTES
12/8/94 Tried it at war and I hated it. The oily taste
was all there was. Definately avoid the lavender inthe future.
Scarborough Faire - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 2 US Gallons
1 Kg Clover Honey (Full Circle)
Yeast #2
Racked:
Carraway - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 2 US Gallons
1 Kg Clover Honey (Full Circle)
Yeast #2
Racked:
Lick'em'aid - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 2 US Gallons
1 Kg Dandylion Honey (Country
Bulk)
Yeast #2
Racked:
Bombay Spice - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 5 US Gallons
6 Kg Clover Honey (Full Circle)
Yeast #2
Racked:
4 Mint - 12/10/94 - PERIOD 5 US Gallons
5 Kg Wildflower Honey (Full Circle)
Yeast #2
Racked: