Make your own Mead at home
2,000 Years of Irish Heritage in Every Batch
1. INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES
The Ingredients:
- 850g–1.2kg certified local Irish honey (ideally from native Apis mellifera mellifera bees)
- 4.5L water
- Yeast (Lalvin D47 or Mangrove Jack’s)
- Yeast Nutrient
The Setup:
- 5L Demijohn
- Airlock & bung
- Hydrometer
- Siphon tube
- Steriliser
Suppliers in Ireland:
- Home Brew West (Galway)
- The Homebrew Company (Laois)
- Homebrew.ie
2. MIXING THE MUST
Prepare:
Sterilise everything. Pour honey into the demijohn (warm the jar first if thick).
Oxygenate:
Add half the water (lukewarm). Cap and shake vigorously for 3 minutes.
Nutrients:
Add yeast nutrient.
Pitch:
Top up with water (leave 2–3 inches headspace). Ensure mix is ~18°C. Add yeast and fit airlock.
3. FERMENTATION & TIMING
- Days 1–5: Active fermentation, bubbling
- Weeks 2–3: Slows down
- Week 4+: Clearing begins
- Racking: Transfer off sediment when clear
4. SG READINGS & ALCOHOL STRENGTH
- Starting SG (OG): 1.080 – 1.110
- Final SG (FG): 0.990 – 1.010
Quick Guide:
- 1.080 → ~10% ABV
- 1.100 → ~13% ABV
Formula:
(OG – FG) × 131 = Approx ABV
Example:
1.100 → 1.000 = ~13% ABV
5. RACKING & BOTTLING
- Rack when bubbling stops and mead clears
- Siphon into clean vessel (leave sediment behind)
- Bottle when stable
6. COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
- Poor cleaning (biggest issue)
- Adding yeast to hot liquid
- Opening too often (contamination risk)
- Impatience — mead rewards time
7. FLAVOURS & EXPERIMENTING
- Start with a traditional Irish mead first
- Then try elderflower, berries, spices, citrus
- YouTube is full of great recipe ideas
8. ESTIMATED COSTS (2026)
- Initial Gear: €29.00 – €44.50
- Ingredients (5L): €18.50 – €29.50
- First Batch Total: €47.50 – €74.00
- Later Batches: ~€3.00 – €5.00 per bottle
Supporting the Inishturk Native Irish Bee Sanctuary
Protecting Ireland’s native bees and reviving 2,000 years of Irish heritage.
Take your time, keep it simple, and enjoy.