Denard Brewing

This mead is for the hardcore beer drinker. Everything about this mead is designed to mimic beer, but still be 100% mead. I’m designing this mead to win over these folks to a new world of mead!

If I were to attribute a style to this, it would be a MeadPA. It would fool any IPA drinker if you didn’t tell them it was mead. (Yes, I know technically it’s a metheglin, but what hardcore beer drinker knows what a metheglin is?)

Why does this work? First, the Black Mangrove honey has a back end bitterness that compliments the hops. Second, I’m using US-05 yeast as this yeast will make even a traditional mead taste very beer-like. Lastly, I’m using FT Soft Blanc to add body to the mead. This is to mimic the unfermentable sugars normally present in beer that provide body. Together, it yields an IPA-like mead that can fool even the most devoted beer drinker. 

Gateway Drug - 2 gallons

1. Bring 2 gallons of Ozarka spring water to a boil. 
2. Add 1 lb of Black Mangrove honey. Chosen because it has a natural bitterness that compliments the hops. I imagine grapefruit or lemon honey would work here as well. 
3. Bring back to a boil and hop according to the following schedule:

      -0.33 oz Centennial for 1 hour (for a less hoppy version, reduce this to 15 minutes)

      -0.33 oz Citra for 10 minutes

      -0.33 oz Cascade for 1 minute

4. At flameout, add the following:

      -1 gram FT Soft Blanc (adds body)

      -2.3 lbs Black Mangrove honey

      -3.5 grams Fermaid O

5. Allow to cool in an ice bath while preparing yeast. Transfer through a mesh strainer to a carboy when cool. 
6. For 11.5 grams US-05, heat 230 ml of water to off boil. 
7. Add 14.375 grams GoFerm Evolution and mix thoroughly. 
8. Allow GoFerm mixture to cool to 100 F. 
9. Sprinkle US-05 on top. 
10. Allow to stand 5 minutes, then stir. 
11. Allow to equilibrate to Must temperature; Pitch yeast. 
12. Allow to ferment dry. 
13. Keg and carbonate to 2.5 ATM. 

Specs

SG 1.067

FG 1.000

8.8% ABV

38 IBU