Mead Making

1682 University Avenue,Berkeley CA 94703

13 November, 2021

Description

Make mead that is drinkable in 1-2 weeks! This "short" mead making class will focus on making mead that will be drinkable by Thanksgiving. Learn to make a non-traditional short mead that takes about 1-2 weeks. A short mead is a honey based alcoholic drink that is lower in alcohol than a traditional mead and in this class you will learn how to make it. The process is suited to fruit and herbal flavored meads that have some carbonation. The process allows you to experiment with small batches, get results quickly, and repeat with a bigger batch of a particularly tasty recipe or honey. You will learn about yeast, what equipment you need, how to prepare must (unfermented mead), what flavors work well together, fermentation, sanitation, and bottling. You will learn how to use a hydrometer. There will be a tasting of some of Jim’s meads along the way. We will then make batches of mead in class to take home to ferment! Be warned that making meads this way requires a more complicated recipe than traditional mead and more cooking science understanding, but this class is still accessible for beginners. The quick, reliable results are well worth the effort. Instructor: Jim Veitch is a Berkeley beekeeper who has been making meads for the last six years and experimenting with different delicious recipes, including rooibos, passionfruit, soursop and more. You need to bring 2 lbs of your own liquid honey (purchased or from your own bees, not crystallized) with you to the class, and then you will be able to make your first batch of mead during the class. If you have a quart pouring jug please bring it though we will be able to share. Bring $25 cash, check or Paypal for supplies. Honey will be available for purchase at $15/lb. BioFuel Oasis is a worker-owned cooperative that is a biodiesel station and urban farm store. We teach classes on urban farming, including beekeeping, backyard chickens, herbal medicine, mead-making, fermentation, and more. We believe in divesting from large corporate systems of food, agriculture, and energy, and strive to invest in local, sustainable practices of living by connecting local instructors to you and building self-sufficiency in our community. Our store is located at 1441 Ashby Ave., in Berkeley, CA - stop by to chat with one of the worker owners, to fill up your diesel car with our recycled veggie oil biodiesel, or to pick up your urban farm supplies!