We have an updated version of this Winter Warmer Mead recipe that you can check out right here!
Winter Warmer Mead is our very popular winter seasonal; it's based on an 18th-century wassail recipe. It takes a little longer to age than most of our other meads, so plan ahead, but it's very well worth the wait.
5 Gallon/19L
OG = NA
FG = NA
ABV = 10.2% abv.
First thing's first: Make Valkyrie's Choice. You can find the recipe at that link and portion it out to your own preferences. Fun Fact: most of our meads begin with a Valkyrie's Choice base.
Winter Warmer Mead Recipe
Once you have brewed Valkyrie's Choice, you are going to need to add the following to your 5-gallon batch:
- 1 tsp. Potassium Metabisulfite
- 2 tsp. Potassium Sorbate (together with sulfites, this keeps the OJ from refermenting)
- 1 lb. Chopped Raisins
- 8 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1/2 cup Orange Juice Concentrate
- 4 cups VSOP Brandy of your choice
- 4 cups of tea made by boiling the following for an hour:
- 20 Cloves
- 8 Cardamom Pods
- 2 whole Nutmeg, crushed (not grated)
To get this carbonated, unfortunately, you have to use kegs or some other pressure carbonation system. For small batches, we recommend using something like a Soda Stream (read about why in this article). But, fear not: It's equally good uncarbonated, and it tastes great served warm! You can mull it without adding any mulling spices since it's already so spicy, but we suggest heating it on low to mid heat until it starts boiling, then drop it to a mere simmer for about thirty minutes. You can also warm it up without losing the alcohol content using a crockpot on a low setting for several hours. Perfect for a cold, winter day (and it will make your house smell AMAZING).
For general brewing principles and practices please visit our article: How We Brew Everything We Brew
