Fireball Mead

Recipe Name:

Fireball Mead - NHC 2008 Conference Mead

Style:

Metheglin - 26A

Still/Petillant/Sparkling:

Still

Dry/Semi-Sweet/Sweet:

Sweet

Hydromel/Standard/Sack (Strength):

Sack

Volume:

5 gallons

OG:

1.140+

FG:

1.030+

% Alc:

Varies based on OG/FG- 13+%

Description of this Mead

A sweet, hot cinnamon mead.  Original recipe by Chuck Boyce, Bloatarian Brewing League.  This was the Conference Mead for the 2008 Conference in Cincinnati.

Addicting!  For added affect - add an Atomic Fireball candy to the glass just before pouring!

Note:  Cinnamon Oil can be found at candy supply stores.  Check with the people there - there are 2 types of cinnamon oil - one will disperse into alcohol, the other will NOT.  Ask them for the type that can be used to flavor alcohol.

Fermentables

Amount     Type of Fementable (honey, fruit, grain, extract, sugar, etc.)

Clover Honey - 18-20 lb

Other Ingredients

Amount     Type (herbs, spices, wood, finings, etc.), When/Where Added

2 tsp yeast nutrient

2 tsp yeast energizer

5 tsp potassium sorbate - added when mead has reached target final gravity

0.5 - 1.0 ounces Cinnamon Oil  - added after fermentation finished and mead has been racked off yeast sediment.

Sparkalloid - optional - about 1 week prior to bottling or kegging.

Yeast

Type of Yeast (e.g. Lalvin 71B)

Amount Pitched

Lalvin 71B

2 packets

Directions

Mix honey and filtered water to make 5 gallons of must.

Add yeast nutrient and energizer.

Make sure temperature is ~65-75F, add yeast.

Ferment at ~65-72 until final gravity reaches target.

Rack and add potassium sorbate.

Allow to settle at least 2 additional weeks.

Rack and add cinnamon oil to taste (1/2 ounce for the cautious, 1 ounce for the adventurous).  Stir several times a day for 1-2 weeks until cinnamon oil has fully dispersed.  It will take time for it to disperse into the mead.

Let settle 2 weeks.

If desired, use Sparkalloid to clear.  If FG is over 1.050, clearing is highly recommended.