Merry Meadmas (or is that Meadmust?)! In Episode 25, we celebrate the holidays with audio from the multitude of mead masters we’ve had the fortunate opportunity to interview this year. You’ll hear from Ken Schramm, Brad Dahlhofer, Paul Zimmerman, Michael Fairbrother, Sergio Moutela, and Jeff Herbert. Topics include agave meads to make margaritas; the historical mead figures of Eva Crane, Roger Morse, and Keith Steinkraus; the acidity of honey and using acids for modifications; and using teas and hot peppers in making your mead.
There’s a lot here so get out your pen and paper to take notes! And don’t forget your AleHorn! Tysen tries his out in the episode, and has nothing but praise, well, except that he needs the extra large tankard for his fancy ice.
Right click here to download the mp3 directly.
Content in this Episode
To help guide you through this episode, we’re providing a breakout of the audio segments so you can jump to the part you want on your second listen.
6:20 – MeadMakr’s Big Ask
8:55 – B Nektar talks Agave and Margarita Meads
16:02 – Superstition Meadery Spotlight and their Barrel Exchange Project
22:15 – Eva Crane and Acidity in Honey with Ken Schramm
28:18 – The perfect mead recipe balancing acidity in honey with Sergio Moutela
30:10 – Acids and acid blends with Sergio
37:48 – Teas in Mead with B Nektar
48:02 – Capsimels with Michael Fairbrother (Capsicumel = 5,540, Capsumel = 1,090, Capsimel = 3,710)
51:55 – Ken takes us home discussing Roger Morse and Keith Steinkraus
Drinks in this Episode
- Allen: Wildflower Session Mead (Charm City)
- Tysen: Big Southern Hunter, inspired by Meadist’s Old Southern Hunter, but with 2 oz Big Game Hunter (Orchid Cellar) and 2 oz of rye whiskey
Links in this Episode
- Support the MeadMakr Podcast!
- The MeadMakr’s Toolbox
- Find out more about the Mead Masters
- Ken Schramm, The Compleat Meadmaker and Schramm’s Mead
- Brad Dahlhofer and Paul Zimmerman, B Nektar Meadery
- Michael Fairbrother, Moonlight Meadery
- Sergio Moutela, Melovino Meadery and Mead Made Right
- Jeff Herbert, Superstition Meadery
- Want to learn more about ChristmaChrist?
- Jess from AleHorn wrote an article for us on Mead Drinking Vessels
- Mead Day
- The Colchester Mead Hall
- Eva Crane’s Work
- Roger Morse’s Making Mead
- Keith Steinkraus’s Handbook of Indigenous Fermented Foods