Stan Wood's Mead Log (Old Batches)

#26 - Eric's Blended Cyser
#27 - Cinnamon Sack
#28 - Cinnamon Raspberry Sack
#29 - Sack Mead
#30 - Sack Mead
#37 - Sack Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
#38 - Sack Buckwheat Cyser
#39 - Sack Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
#40 - Sack Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
#41 - Sack Buckwheat Cyser
#42 - Sack Cyser
#43 - Sack Cyser Methlegin
#46 - Sack Cyser
#44 - Sack Cyser Methlegin
#45 - Cherry Sack Mead
#47 - Sack Cyser
#48 - Sack Cyser
#49 - Sack Cyser
#50 - Sack Cyser
#51 - Sack Cyser
#52 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
#53 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
#54 - Sack Cyser
#55 - Sack Cyser
#56 - Blended Sack Cyser
#57 - Chocolate Banana Sack Mead
#58 - Lithuanian Mead
#59 - Sack Cyser
#60 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
#61 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
#62 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
#63 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
#64 - Buckwheat Cyser
#65 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
#66 - Buckwheat Cyser
#67 - Lithuanian Mead II
#68 - Buckwheat Cyser
#69 - Buckwheat Cyser
#70 - Buckwheat Cyser
#71 - Buckwheat Cyser
#72 - Buckwheat Cyser
#73 - Cyser
#74 - Cyser

Abbreviations used in this log:

Cider & Juice

  • AC - Louisburg Cider Mill Apple Cider

  • SAC - Louisburg Cider Mill Spiced Apple Cider with Spices

  • MAJ - Musselman's Apple Juice

  • MAC - Musselman's Apple Cider

Honey Type

  • BW - Buckwheat (Dutch Gold Honey)

  • GB - Gibbons Honey from Ballwin Mo (Walmart)

  • GM - Grandma's brand raw clover honey (Sam's Club)

  • HB - Hollenbeck's honey from Kirksville - very rich and dark

  • HW - Honey's Worth brand honey (Sam's Club)

  • PWH - Local honey purchased from Phil Wood

  • MS - Spring Tree Pure Maple Syrup - Grade A Dark Amber (Sam's Club)

  • SB -Sue Bee brand (Sam's Club)

Yeast & Other

  • RSPC - Red Star Pasteur Champagne Yeast (5 gram packets)

  • RSPrCu - Red Star Premier Cuvee Yeast (5 gram packets)

  • EC1118 - Lalvin EC-1118 Yeast (5 gram packets)

  • YN - Yeast Nutrient (tablespoons)

Miscellaneous

  • NFM2® - Modified No Fuss Method: I've taken to pouring a half gallon of AC or water into a pot and heating slightly while dumping 5 lbs of honey in and mixing well - this prevents the honey from making a thick layer on the bottom of the carboy especially in winter when the house is pretty cold.

    •
Batch #1 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. water, 1 RSPC
Began: 3-1-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 4-5-97, also added 1 additional RSPC, 9-27-97
Bottled: 11-9-97
Many people said it was too sweet, but I ended up drinking it all and using some to top off the other carboys. Too much sediment impaired flavor, rack at least 3 times.
Batch #2 - Spiced Cyser
Ingredients: 15# HW, .5 g. water, 3.5 g. AJ, 8 spice pkgs from Chaucer's Mead, 2 RSPC
Began: 4-5-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 9-29-97
Bottled: 1-20-98
Picked up a real nasty odor from spice package inadvertently left in primary. Might be infected. Spice package floated to top after a couple of weeks and was fished out. By first racking, smell was diminishing. By bottling time, smell was only apparent to me (perhaps my bias from earlier samples). It is still getting great reviews from the gang. Best mulled. Note for the future: Don't leave spices in primary & rack more than once.
 3-1-03:  Still very good.
Batch #3 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. water, 2 RSPC
Began: 5-1-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 9-29-97
Bottled: It never made it to the bottles!
Made the same was as B1. Tasted pretty much the same, too. Sweet, but I like it that way. High alcohol content. :) So far the easiest, simplest, and most drinkable recipe I've done. Both it and B1 never made it to bottling.
Batch #4 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. water, 2 RSPC, 5 YN
Began: 8-2-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 9-27-97, 1-2-98
Bottled: 2-1-98
Topped off after racking with dregs from B1. Added 1/3 g. leftover AJ from B6.
8-29-98: Very tasty, good apple flavor.
11-6-98: Got very good reviews, good flavor.
 6-18-00: Very good, mellow, save last three bottles for special occasions!
10-23-03: Still very good. 
Batch #5 - Traditional Dry Mead
Ingredients: 11# HW, 4 g. water, 2 RSPC, 5 YN
Began: 11-29-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 1-10-98,  2-5-98
Bottled: Mar. 7th, 98
I wanted a very dry mead and that's what I got. Personally, I don't like it very much, but several people said it was their favorite to date, esp. those who favor dry wines.  I used the stuff I didn't bottle to top several newer meads off with. Its fine for those who like it, but I will try to make a slightly sweeter version.
11-6-98: Now the guys tell me its too dry and bitter.  I'm gonna put the bottles away and forget this for a couple of years (or Fall 2000).
Summer 2000: Nice aroma and after taste, dry and could use a bit more aging.
Batch #6 - Dry Cyser
Ingredients: 13.5# HW, 3 g. AJ, 1 g. water, 2 RSPC, 5 YN
Began: 11-30-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 1-2-98, 2-27-98, 10-22-98
Almost blew the airlock off, next time put a cyser in the sink for the first couple days to prevent a mess.  Wanted this cyser to be dryer than B5.
10-27-98: Too dry for me.  Added some B15 (the sweet one with too much tea) to reduce the dryness.
11-7-98: Using this mead to top others off after adding some additional honey.
Batch #7 - Dry Traditional Mead
Ingredients: 11# HW, 1# sorghum, 4 g. water, 2 RSPC, 5 YN
Began: Dec. 5th, 97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 1-10-98, 2-27-98, March 1998
Bottled: March 1998
An experiment with sorghum.  The yeasties loved it (or the nutrient). As with B6, the airlock overflowed for nearly three days.
October 1998: Dry, no off flavors, not really tasty, but has a nice honey bouquet.
11-6-98: Not well received by the guys, too dry and bitter.  Will put away and check again in fall.
6-18-00: Very dry, "like drinking Brute" (champagne).
Batch #8 - Very Dry Traditional Mead
Ingredients: 10# HW, 4 g. water, 2 RSPC, nutrient
Began: 12-21-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 2-27-98 - After first racking I topped it off with B5. 11-1-98
Bottled: 4-28-99
Another very dry mead. Will put these away and check again June 2001. Several bottles were consumed over the next couple years without notes
 9-25-03: Dry, not remarkable but satisfying. 
Batch #9 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# HW, 1.5 g. AJ, 1.5 g. water, 2 RSPC, nutrient
Began: 12-21-97 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 2-27-98 - After first racking topped with B5.
Bottled: 5-6-98
9-1-98: Strong, sweet, apple flavor apparent but not overpowering.
10-28-98: Sweet, nice flavor, no off taste.
11-6-98: Got very good reviews from the guys.  Sweet and tasty.
6-18-00: Sweet, they liked it better than B4.
Status: All gone.
Batch #10 - Dry Cranberry Mead
Ingredients: 12.5# HW, 24 oz. cranberry juice cocktail, 2 RSPC
Began: 1-10-98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 1-29-98
Racked: 2-27-98, Topped with B5. 11-1-98,  Added LD Carlson Cranberry Flavoring
Racked: 11-7-98, Clearing very nicely, got some reddish sediment.
Bottled: 11-25-98
I wanted a fairly dry mead with the flavor of cranberries for the holiday season. I think I may try Ocean Spray next time. 
10-21-03: Pleasant aftertaste of cranberries although I don't find it too tasty - too dry for me.
Status:  All gone.
Batch #11 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# HW, 3 g. AC, 2 RSPC
Began: 2-1-98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 2-28-98
Bottled: 5-9-98
10-28-98:  Sweet, strange but not bad aftertaste.
 11-23-98:  Everyone said this was too dry and bitter.  I'm gonna leave this one on the shelf for awhile and check it in later.
9-25-03: Sweetish, but was supposed to be sweet. Not all that bad though.
Status: All gone.
Batch #12 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# HW, 3 g. AC, 2 RSPC, 3 YN
Began: 2-1-98 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Racked: 2-27-98, 10-31-98 & added B15, 11-30-98
Bottled: 9-30-99
Notes:  10-19-03: Sweet and awesome!
Status:  All gone.
Batch #13 - Maple Mead
Ingredients: 5# HW, 1 g. MS, 2 RSPC, 3 YN
Primary: 5 g. glass carboy
Began: 2-1-98
Racked: 10-31-98, Bit of a vinegar odor  :(  On 11-19-98, added some B15
Bottled: May 1999
Notes: Strong maple-ish odor. Lost 3 1/2 gallons in accident, damn that cat!   Vinegar odor diminished but still seems to be faintly present.  Might be my imagination.  
 10-19-03: Dry now with slight maple aftertaste.  Good.
Status: All gone.

Batch #14 - Sack Mead

Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. water, 4 RSPC, 3 YN

Began:  02/08/98 - Primary: 5 g. glass carboy

Racked: 05/08/98, 10/31/98

Bottled: 04/24/99

Notes: Sweet, just the way I like it. Very good.
06/18/00: Very good reviews at Conjuration 2000
10/21/03: Sweetish with a somewhat off aftertaste, but fairly good.
12/29/04: Has a distinctive maple like flavor now, not sure where that came from.  I like it.

Status: All gone.
Batch #15 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# HW, 3 g. AC, 2 RSPC, 1/2 g. water, 2 YN
Began: Feb. 14th, 98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: Sep. 13th, 98 & Added 1 large tea bag.  Too much for too long.
Notes:  Used this batch to top off carboys after racking.
Status: All gone.
Batch #16 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 3.5 g. water, 2 RSPrCu, 3 YN Began:  02/27/98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 11/07/98 Bottled: 04/25/99
Notes: Not quite sweet enough.
03/19/00: Still not done. 
10/20/03: Sweetish, with good reviews at Konniption 2003
Jan 2007: Dry & OK, with slight maple aroma, past it's prime though
 

Status: All gone.
Batch #17 - Dry Strawberry Mead
Ingredients: 12.5# HW, 4 g. water, 2 RSPrCu, 2 YN
Began:  3-1-98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Added: 3-27-98, 4 oz. LD Carlson Strawberry Kiwi flavoring
Racked: 5-7-98, 11-5-98
Bottled: 9-20-99
Notes: Dry but smells wonderful. 
7-30-99: Got great reviews from those who prefer dry wines.  Still needs another racking at this time.
12-31-99: Got rave reviews again.
6-18-00: Nice aroma, wonderful reviews at Conjuration 2000.
5-19-05: They killed it off at Konniption 2005 and loved it!
Status: All gone.
Batch #18 - Cinnamon Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 5 cinnamon, 2 RSPrCu, 3 YN Began: 03/14/98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 05/8/98, 11/05/98 Bottled: 04/29/99
Notes: Tastes great at bottling.
06/18/00: Still somewhat raw.
03/01/03:  Craig Shaw said it was good.
10/20/03: Dryish but good.

Status: All gone.
Batch #19 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: #15 HW, 4 g. water,  3 RSPrCu, 3 YN Began: 04/15/98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 10/24/98, 11/19/98, 04/24/99, 09/22/99 Bottled: 12/15/99
Notes: Lost my notes but this should be damn similar to B20.
11/07/98: added some B6, and B15 + 2.5# HW, sweet & tasty at last racking.
05/17/00: Still needs aging.
09/20/03:  Sweet and tasty!
Jan 2007: Sweet & OK, peaked, needs to be finished off

Status: All gone.
Batch #20 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. water, 3 RSPrCu, 3 YN
Began: 5-16-98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 11-5-98, 11-19-98, 4-24-99, 9-22-99
Bottled: 12-15-99
Slow fermentation for first 24 hours. I then added a third RSPrCu and it took off like a rocket, 20+ bubbles per second. By the second day it was still at 5-10 bubbles per second but oddly enough there was no foam or overflow. :)
11-7-98: added some B6, and B15 + 2.5# HW
10-22-03: Not spectacular but OK, then tried another and it was very good.
Status: All gone.
Batch #21 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 12.5# HW, 4 g. water, 2 RSPC, 3 YN Began: 05/17/98 - Primary: 6 g. glass carboy
Racked: 10/22/98, 11/14/98 & added 2.5# HW +B15 & B6, 01/28/00, +BE, 04/25/00, 11/03/00 Bottled: 01/22/01
Notes: Started very slow.
11/05/98: Added some B15 & B6.
10/10/99:  Too dry. Added 3# HW.
09/21/03: Now a sweetish sack mead.  Very tasty.
Jan 2007: Sweet & Good, with a mapleish flavor

Status:  All gone.
Batch #22 - Maple Mead
Ingredients: 5# HW, 3 qts of MS, 2 RSPC Began: 05/20/98 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 09/14/98, 11/14/98, 09/20/99 Bottled: 09/30/99
Notes: 06/13/98: Still bubbling fine...smells heavenly.
10/05/98: Added some B15
11/07/98: Noticed a slight vinegar smell. Still sucks.
06/18/00: Still sucks.
10/22/03: Has a mapleish bouquet, it's kinda dry, but otherwise very tasty.
12/29/04: Pretty much the same, mapleish bouquet and taste, dry, tasty.
05/19/05: It was well received at Konniption 2005.
Status: All gone.
Batch #23 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15.25# PWH, 3.5 g. water, 3 YN, 4 RSPC
Began: 11-20-98 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 4-10-99, 9-23-99
Bottled: 12-15-99
Notes: Using the local un-pasteurized honey for the first time.  Seller told me to use extra yeast as the honey still contained all the natural antibiotics and would resist fermentation more vigorously than store bought.
10-10-99: +2#s PWH. Not as clear as I would like at bottling.
2-16-00: Still tastes "raw".
10-22-03: Simply OK.
Status: All gone.
Batch #24 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15.25# PWH, 3.5 g. water, 3 YN, 4 RSPC
Began: 11/20/98 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 04/10/99, 09/23/99
Bottled: 12/15/99
Notes: Made the same time as B23.  This one took off first.  But after two days they were both bubbling at 1 bbl./sec.
10/10/99: Too dry so I added 2#s PWH.
02/16/00: Still tastes "raw".
 10/22/03: Simply OK, just like the above batch.
Status: All gone.
Batch #25 - Eric's Cinnamon Cyser
Ingredients: ??, AJ, RSPC, cinnamon
Began: 1998 or 1999
Racked: 01/28/00
Bottled: 02/05/00
Notes: Smells heavenly.  Very clear.
 6-7-03: Went over very well at Konniption 03.
10-21-03: Sweet. Very nice bouquet and very tasty. SCA people loved it at Valor Tourney in 2003 (in particular Pavel!)
Batch #26 - Eric's Blended Cyser
Ingredients: AC, RSPC, spices: cinnamon, ??, thyme Began: June 1999
Racked: 01/28/00, +BE 04/25/00 Bottled:  11/02/00
Notes: Combined a 3 g. (cinnamon) and two 1 g. (?? & thyme) batches of mead into a single 5 g. carboy.  Eric doesn't remember too much detail about the origins of these meads except they are probably cysers with various spices, including cinnamon.  At bottling had very potent aroma.

Originally bottled in wine bottles, I transferred it to 16-oz swing tops in the summer of 2003.
10/20/03: Sweet. Very potent high octane mead.  Very tasty.
Jan 2007: Sweet & Awesome, I think it's starting to decline but not much
Batch #27 - Cinnamon Sack Mead
Ingredients: 14# HW, 2.5# PWH, 1# sorghum, 4.5 RSPC Began: 02/12/00 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/12/00 Bottled: 10/01/00
Notes: Another dual batch. Wanted a sweet mead with overtones of sorghum.
10/22/03: Sweetish. Has a sherry-like flavor. 
Jan 2007: Sweetish & OK, still has the sherry flavor
Batch #28 - Cinnamon Raspberry Sack Mead
Ingredients: 14# HW, 2.5# PWH, 1# sorghum, 4.5 RSPC Began: 02/12/00 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 04/12/00 +5 oz. JD Carlson raspberry flavoring Bottled: 09/24/00
Notes: Wanted a sweet mead with overtones of sorghum and raspberry.
10/29/00: They loved it at Archon.
09/25/03: Dry.  Subtle aftertaste of raspberry.
Jan 2007: Dry & Good, nice flavor of raspberry but has peaked and should be finished off
Batch #29 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 03/25/00 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 04/25/00, 01/11/01 Bottled: 01/22/01
Notes: Dual sized batch
09/20/03: This mead simply sucks. Maybe it will get better over time.
Also used to top off B31, B32, B33 & B34.
Jan 2007: Finally made it to Dry & OK instead of Sweetish & Sucks
Batches #30 - Sack Mead
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 03/25/00 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 04/25/00, 01/11/01 Bottled: 01/22/01
Notes: Dual sized batch, same as B29
09/20/03: This mead simply sucks. Maybe it will get better over time.
Also used to top off B31, B32, B33 & B34.
Jan 2007: Still Sweetish & Sucks
Batches #31 & #32 - Sack Cysers
Ingredients: 15# HW, 4 g. AC, 3 RSPC Began: 10/29/00 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 01/11/01, 02/21/01 (topped with B30) Bottled: I forgot to record it.
Notes: Made this the no-fuss way as an experiment.  Poured the apple cider into a 6 g. primary and dumped the honey and yeast on top. Stirred it the next day. Took off after third day. It was cool in the house and that probably didn't help.
At racking time (2 months, 11 days) the mead had cleared significantly. Smelled fine.
10/22/03: Sweet and awesomely good.

Batch #32: 05/05/03: Kevin (from Berg) liked it, but said it has a very slight vinegar odor.
10/19/03: Sweet and very, very tasty.  No vinegar odor at all.
Batch #31: 01/25/07: Still very tasty, sweet and awesome. Sent last to bottles to Doug M.
Batches #33 & #34 - Sack Buckwheat Cysers
Ingredients: 10# HW, 5# BW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 01/11/01 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 02/21/01 (topped with B30) Bottled: I forgot to record it.
Notes: Made this the no-fuss way as the last experiment seemed to work just fine.  Poured the apple cider into a 6 g. primary and dumped the honey  and yeast on top.  The mead was bubbling just fine in two days.  Added the BW honey then and on day four it was going to town.
I forgot to stir the must during fermentation and had several pounds of honey left on the bottom of the primary.
06/07/03: Many, many compliments at Konniption 2003
10/23/03: Sweet and tasty. Notes: Same as B33
10/23/03: Sweet and just OK.
#34: Assumed to be as mundane as #33 so gave the tontine away for a wedding.
Batch #35 - Sack Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HW, 5# BW, 3 g. AC, & .5 g. AC/Spiced, 4 RSPC Began: 6-25-03 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 7-25-03 Bottled: 10-20-03
Notes: The no-fuss method.   Swirled the bottle vigorously several days after start to stir up the honey lying on the bottom, and again a week later.
7-08-03: The fermentation is doing well, 1+ bubble per second.
7-22-03: Fermentation has slowed to a halt, foam has decreased in top of carboy.
10-20-03: At bottling it had an odd soda-pop like flavor. Just needs aging.
9-15-05: Sent all remaining bottles to Halv's Norsa event.  It was well received.
Batch #36 - Sack Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HW, 5# BW, 4 g. AC*, 4 RSPC
Began: 11-01-03 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Notes: Used the wrong apple cider (that with preservatives) the batch would not start so after 2 weeks (and much additional wasted yeast) I dumped it. Bummer.
Batch #37 - Sack Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HW, 5# BW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC, 4 cinnamon sticks Began: 11/02/03 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/25/04 Bottled: 04/05/04
Notes: Made using the No-Fuss Method® (NFM)
Nov 2005: Sweet & Great
Jan 2007: Sweet & Good, time to kill it off!
Batch #38 - Sack Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HW, 5# BW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 11/03/03 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/25/04 Bottled: 04/06/04
Notes: NFM®
Nov 2005: Sweet & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & OK, but slightly off flavor
Batch #39 - Sack Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 15# BW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 11/04/03 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/25/04 Bottled: 04/07/04
Notes: NFM®.  At bottling had a sweet, unfinished taste
12/18/04:  Still raw but very sweet and tasty,  This ought to be a very strong and sweet mead when it ages the roughness out.
Nov 2005: Sweet & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & Awesome
Batch #40 - Sack Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 15# BW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 11/04/03 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/25/04 Bottled: 04/07/04
Notes: NFM® At bottling had a sweet, unfinished taste
12/18/04:  Still raw but very sweet and tasty,  This ought to be a very strong and sweet mead when it ages the roughness out.
Nov 2005: Sweet & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & Awesome
Batch #41 - Sack Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HW, 5# BW, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 05/02/04 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/07/04, 01/14/05 Bottled: 01/30/05
Notes: NFM® Crystal clear at second racking.
Nov 2005: Sweet & Great
Jan 2007: Sweet & Great
Batch #42 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# SB, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 05/02/04 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/07/04, 01/14/05 Bottled: 01/31/05
Notes: NFM® Added a bit of tea at second racking to help clear it. Still fairly cloudy. Cleared before bottling.
Nov 2005: Sour & Sucks.  Maybe it will improve.
Jan 2007: Very Dry & OK. Time to finish it off.  Perhaps its the tannins from the tea which makes it slightly bitter.
Batch #43 - Sack Cyser Methlegin
Ingredients: 15# SB, 2 g. AC, 2 g. SAC, 4 RSPC Began: 12/24/04 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/18/05, 07/22/05 Bottled: 07/29/05
Notes: NFM® Slow to start, cold climate of house is not helping I'm sure.  After two or three days it began to ferment nicely. Stirring daily to help honey dissolve into must.  Cold temp is keeping it pretty thick.  In the winter I guess I should at least heat the honey and cider in a pot to mix it better.
01/13/04: Still very steadily bubbling along.
05/19/05: Very cloudy.
Nov 2005: Sweet & Great
Jan 2007: Sweet, Spicy & Awesome, the addition of the SAC really helps and is such an easy way to add spiciness.
Batch #46 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 09/19/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 10/23/05, +Bentonite Bottled: 05/26/06
Notes: NFM2®
The Grandma's brand of honey label reports it's raw and the while it tastes better than the Sue Bee it appears it slows the clearing of the mead.  B47 below cleared weeks before all the other batches using GM.
Jan 2007: Sweet & Awesome
Batch #47 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# SB, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 09/24/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 10/23/05 +Bentonite, 05/02/06, 12/10/05 Bottled: 1/10/06
Notes: NFM2®
I think that B47 cleared much faster than B48 because it used the more highly processed Sue Bee brand.
Previous test: Sweet & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & Awesome. Doesn't have the spicy kick like B43/44 but real tasty.
Batch #48 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 09/24/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 10/23/05 +Bentonite, 05/02/06 Bottled: 03/27/06
Notes: NFM2®
Jan 2007: Sweet & OK
Batch #49 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB & 5# GM, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 09/25/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 10/23/05, +Bentonite, 01/29/06 Bottled: 02/24/06
Notes: NFM2®
I think that B49 cleared faster because it used some of Sue Bee brand too.
Previous test: Sweetish & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & Great
Batch #50 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. MAJ, 3 RSPC Began: 10/23/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/29/05, 01/29/06 Bottled: 02/20/06
Notes: NFM2®
At bottling: Sweetish & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & OK
Batch #51 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. MAJ, 3 RSPC Began: 10/23/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/29/05, 01/31/06 Bottled: 02/23/06
Notes: NFM2®
At bottling: Sweetish & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & OK
Batch #52 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. MAC, 3 RSPC, 6 cinnamon sticks Began: 10/03/05, Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/30/05, 02/3/06 Bottled 03/27/06
Notes: NFM2®
At bottling: Sweet & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & Good.
Batch #53 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. MAC, 3 RSPC, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 10/03/05, Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/30/05, 01/31/06 Bottled 02/22/06
Notes: NFM2®
At bottling: Sweet & OK
Jan 2007: Sweet & Good
Batch #54 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPC Began: 01/03/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 05/29/06 Bottled: 08/26/06
Notes: NFM2®
11/16/09 - Sweet and OK
Batch #55 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# GM, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 02/18/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 03/18/06 Bottled: 05/28/06
Notes: NFM2®. Had some comments that my sweet mead was not sweet enough, so trying the Premiere Cuvee yeast this time with an additional 2.5 pounds of honey.
12/16/09 - Sweet and Awesome
Batch #56 - Blended Sack Cyser
Ingredients: B46, B47, B49, B50, B51 Began: N/A
Racked: 02/23/06 Bottled: 08/18/06
Notes: The remains of several batches all mixed and allowed to settle.
11/16/09 - Sweet and Good
Batch #57 - Chocolate Banana Sack Mead Experiment
Ingredients: 15 GM, 4 g. Water, 6 Fleishman's Bread Yeast (1/4 oz pkgs) Began: 02/27/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: ?, 08/29/06, 11/20/06, 01/28/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes: Took off very quickly. After second racking (08/29/06) added 1 banana extract and 2 chocolate extracts.  The chocolate made the mead almost black.  Ought to be interesting. Added a little of the leftover B56.
01/24/07:  Too dry and the banana and chocolate flavor is not distinct enough so added a pound or so of honey and +1 more banana
11/13/09 - Sweet and Awesome
Batch #58 - Lithuanian mead (Lietuviskas Midus)
Ingredients: 10# local, 7.5# GM, 4 g. water, 4 RSPrCu, 1 cup dried hops, 1 tblspn dried juniper berries Began: 04/26/06
Racked: 05/27/06, 08/30/06, 11/20/06, 01/27/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes: Very heady aroma of hops.
11/13/09 - Sweet & Great
Batch #59 - Sack Cyser Methlegin
Ingredients: 12# HB, 5# GB, 4 g. MAC, 3 RSPrCu, + 1 Chaucer's and 2 similar spice packages Began: 10/28/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/19/06, 01/27/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes:  07/28/07 - Sweet & Great at Bottling
11/13/09 - Sweet and Great
Batch #60 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 12# HB, 5# GM, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 10/29/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/19/06, 01/27/07 Bottled: 02/17/07
Notes: 02/17/07 - Sour - too early to tell
11/13/09 - Sweet and good
Batch #61 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 12# HB, 5# SB, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 12/30/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 01/27/07 Bottled: 03/10/07
Notes: 03/10/07 - Sweet but too early to tell
01/10/10 - Sweet and good, extreme honey aftertaste
Batch #62 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HB, 7.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 04/09/07 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/04/07 Bottled: 07/29/07
Notes: 01/10/10 - Sweet & Great
Batch #63 -  Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HB, 7.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 04/09/07 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/04/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes: 01/11/10 - Sweet & Great
Batch #64 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB, 7.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 05/02/07 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/04/07 Bottled: 07/27/07
Notes: 01/15/10 - Sweet & OK
Batch #65 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB, 7# BW, 4 g. LAC, 3 RSPC, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 07/12/08 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 08/02/08, 10/01/08 Bottled: 11/14/08
Notes: 01/15/10 - Sweet, OK
Batch #66 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB, 7# BW, 4 g. LAC, 3 RSPrCu Began: 07/12/08 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 08/02/08, 10/01/08 Bottled: 11/14/08
Notes: 01/20/10 - Sweet and OK
Batch #67 - Lithuanian Mead 2
Ingredients: 17.5# Sams, 4 g. H2O, 4 EC1118, 1 cup dried hops, 1 tblspn dried juniper berries Began: 08/05/08
Racked: 09/09/08 Bottled: 11/14/08
Notes: 11/03/09 - Dry, not so good
01/21/09 - Mark Abbott liked it
Batch #68 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 EC1118 Began: 10/01/08
Racked: 11/14/08 Bottled: 01/03/09
Notes: 01/221/10 - Sweet, OK
Batch #69 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 EC1118 Began: 10/01/08
Racked: 11/14/08 Bottled: 01/03/09
Notes: Sweet, OK
Batch #70 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 EC1118 Began: 10/01/08
Racked: 11/14/08 Bottled: 01/03/09
Notes: Sweet, OK
Batch #71 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 12.5# Sams, 5# buckwheat, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPC Began: 10/04/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 09/01/09
Notes: Sweet, OK
Batch #72 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 12.5# Sams, 5# BW, 4 g. DRAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 10/04/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 08/31/09
Notes: Sweet, Great
Batch #73 - Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# Sams, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 10/05/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 08/31/09
Notes: Sweet, Awesome
Batch #74 - Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# Sams (?), 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 10/04/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 09/01/09
Notes: Sweet, Awesome
Batch #75 - Sack Cyser
Batch #76 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# SB, 5 g. Water, 4 YN, 4 RSPC Began:  - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Batch #77 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# SB, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began:  - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Batch #78 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 09/24/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 10/23/05 +Bentonite, 05/02/06 Bottled: 03/27/06
Batch #79 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB & 5# GM, 4 g. AC, 4 RSPC Began: 09/25/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 10/23/05, +Bentonite, 01/29/06 Bottled: 02/24/06
Batch #80 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15# GM, 4 g. MAJ, 3 RSPC Began: 10/23/05 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/29/05, 01/29/06 Bottled: 02/20/06
Notes: NFM2®
Batch #81 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: B46, B47, B49, B50, B51 Began: N/A
Racked: 02/23/06 Bottled: 08/18/06
Batch #82 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 15 GM, 4 g. Water, 6 Fleishman's Bread Yeast (1/4 oz pkgs) Began: 02/27/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: ?, 08/29/06, 11/20/06, 01/28/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Batch #823 - Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 10# local, 7.5# GM, 4 g. water, 4 RSPrCu, 1 cup dried hops, 1 tblspn dried juniper berries Began: 04/26/06
Racked: 05/27/06, 08/30/06, 11/20/06, 01/27/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes: Very heady aroma of hops.
11/13/09 - Sweet & Great
Batch #59 - Sack Cyser Methlegin
Ingredients: 12# HB, 5# GB, 4 g. MAC, 3 RSPrCu, + 1 Chaucer's and 2 similar spice packages Began: 10/28/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/19/06, 01/27/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes:  07/28/07 - Sweet & Great at Bottling
11/13/09 - Sweet and Great
Batch #60 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 12# HB, 5# GM, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 10/29/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 11/19/06, 01/27/07 Bottled: 02/17/07
Notes: 02/17/07 - Sour - too early to tell
11/13/09 - Sweet and good
Batch #61 - Cinnamon Sack Cyser
Ingredients: 12# HB, 5# SB, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 12/30/06 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 01/27/07 Bottled: 03/10/07
Notes: 03/10/07 - Sweet but too early to tell
01/10/10 - Sweet and good, extreme honey aftertaste
Batch #62 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HB, 7.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 04/09/07 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/04/07 Bottled: 07/29/07
Notes: 01/10/10 - Sweet & Great
Batch #63 -  Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# HB, 7.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 04/09/07 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/04/07 Bottled: 07/28/07
Notes: 01/11/10 - Sweet & Great
Batch #64 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB, 7.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 05/02/07 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 06/04/07 Bottled: 07/27/07
Notes: 01/15/10 - Sweet & OK
Batch #65 - Cinnamon Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB, 7# BW, 4 g. LAC, 3 RSPC, 8 cinnamon sticks Began: 07/12/08 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 08/02/08, 10/01/08 Bottled: 11/14/08
Notes: 01/15/10 - Sweet, OK
Batch #66 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 10# SB, 7# BW, 4 g. LAC, 3 RSPrCu Began: 07/12/08 - Primary: 6 g. carboy
Racked: 08/02/08, 10/01/08 Bottled: 11/14/08
Notes: 01/20/10 - Sweet and OK
Batch #67 - Lithuanian Mead 2
Ingredients: 17.5# Sams, 4 g. H2O, 4 EC1118, 1 cup dried hops, 1 tblspn dried juniper berries Began: 08/05/08
Racked: 09/09/08 Bottled: 11/14/08
Notes: 11/03/09 - Dry, not so good
01/21/09 - Mark Abbott liked it
Batch #68 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 EC1118 Began: 10/01/08
Racked: 11/14/08 Bottled: 01/03/09
Notes: 01/221/10 - Sweet, OK
Batch #69 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 EC1118 Began: 10/01/08
Racked: 11/14/08 Bottled: 01/03/09
Notes: Sweet, OK
Batch #70 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# BW, 4 g. MAC, 4 EC1118 Began: 10/01/08
Racked: 11/14/08 Bottled: 01/03/09
Notes: Sweet, OK
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Batch #71 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 12.5# Sams, 5# buckwheat, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPC Began: 10/04/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 09/01/09
Notes: Sweet, OK

Status: Bottled
Batch #72 - Buckwheat Cyser
Ingredients: 12.5# Sams, 5# BW, 4 g. DRAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 10/04/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 08/31/09
Notes: Sweet, Great
Batch #73 - Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# Sams, 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 10/05/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 08/31/09
Notes: Sweet, Awesome
Batch #74 - Cyser
Ingredients: 17.5# Sams (?), 4 g. MAC, 4 RSPrCu Began: 10/04/08
Racked: 01/04/09 Bottled: 09/01/09
Notes: Sweet, Awesome

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January 22, 2010