RiceReport – Page 16 – Rice's Blog Site

Stella Blu: BlueBerry Mead

https://advancedmixology.com/blogs/art-of-mixology/how-to-make-blueberry-mead#recipe

Ingredients

1-gallon Water (non-chlorinated or filtered)
2-3 lbs. Honey (depending on how sweet you want your mead)
1 to 2 lbs. Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
½ packet Champagne yeast or other wine yeast
1/8 cup Raisins or yeast nutrient
1 Vanilla bean sliced lengthwise (optional)
1 Cinnamon stick (optional)

Directions

Put the blueberries into the carboy. Make sure to choose the ripe blueberries and discard low quality and moldy ones. As a general rule of thumb, don’t put it in your mead if you would not eat it. Remove all stems and leafy parts, then clean the fruits.
Put the cinnamon and vanilla into the glass carboy for added flavors (optional)
Then, add the raisins. Homebrewers use raisins as a natural yeast nutrient. They provide the yeast’s additional nutrient requirement without leaving any flavor.
Using the funnel, carefully pour the warm honey-and-water mixture into the glass jug.
Pour the remaining ½ gallon of the non-chlorinated or filtered water into the jug. Make sure to leave extra headspace of at least two inches to make room for degassing.
Then, put the lid on the jug and lightly mix everything around.
To help you determine the mead’s alcohol percentage, take a gravity reading using the hydrometer and a sample from the bucket. This step is optional, so it is fine even if you do not have a hydrometer.
Prepare the yeast by rehydrating it according to the package instructions.
Once you have achieved the desired temperature, put half of the packet’s contents into the must and shake (or stir if you are using a fermenting bucket) to distribute the yeast evenly.
Put the lid back on, add the airlock, and let the fermentation begin. Usually, it takes 12 to 24 hours for the bubbles to appear, meaning the fermentation is a success.
Set the mixture aside to ferment. Keep the jug in a cool, dark place without direct sunlight.

12/27/22

Putting together this mead today. Recipe below. Starting gravity 1.080 with a potential of 10.7 % ABV. Not to shabby.

1lb Frozen Blueberries
2oz Chopped raisins (yes I measured)
1 Cinnamon stick
2.5 lbs honey
1 cup Hot earl Grey tea
2 tsp Fleishmans bread yest
I did NOT use the vanilla……

1/13

Still some activity in the airlock. On Tuesday 1/17 I’m going to take a reading and rack off the berries.

1/21
I racked off Stella from the berries today. It wasn’t clear at all but it tasted very good. It was a bit sweet with a hint of blueberry flavor. Still very alcoholic flavor though. I took a reading and got 1.020. If it doesn’t ferment any more that is 8.44% ABV. I will take one more reading before bottling of course.
There is still some activity in the airlock and there is a weird floating substance on top. I’m not to worried, everything was sanitized. 2/11 will be 3 weeks racked and may be ready for bottling.

2/4/23

Final Gravity 1.014. Bottling day. OMG this thing tastes soooo good. It’s got that nice sweet blueberry taste with the hit of the alcohol up front. It smells delicious and the clarity is just OK. It’s not great but not terrible either. I’m sure that once in the bottle for a while it will clear even more. I got 5 full bottles and about 1/2 of another. It wasn’t a complete FULL gallon.

SG = 1.080
FG = 1.014

ABV = 9.75%

NOT TO BAD!!!!!!!

Rachel Caine ~ Stillhouse Lake

I’ve actually read this book before but I’m reading it again to start the series. I have books 1,2,3 and 5 in the series and would like to read them all through. Starting on 1/30/23. Finished on 2/8/23. 9 days.

Gina Royal has to go on the run with her kids because of her “demon” husband. She uses a hacker to get new ID’s when she needs them. Her hacker friend turns out is NOT a good person and is communicating with her ex-husband who is behind bars for the rest of his life.

Melvin Royal has “fan” followers who will do whatever he asks. Someone on Stillhouse Lake is doing just that.

This book is very intense. I know I have read it before but a lot of it I didn’t remember and I’m very glad I read it again. I’m pretty sure I’ve read the next one too but going to read that one again too. Killman Creek is next.

I’m giving this book a 9/10. The only reason it’s not a 10/10 is because the chapters are so dang long. Characters are well written and not overpowering. Very memorable actually. Details that matter are in the book to make you remember who each person is.

Someone Else’s Life ~ Lyn Liao Butler

This is an Amazon First Read book. I actually got 2 books in December for some reason. I just finished Billy Boyle today but will start this book later. Starting day 1/18/23. I finished the book last night. I did NOT like this book. The writing was way to frilly for me. There was a lot of story that didn’t need to be there. The characters were well written, but there was way to much between the two main characters.

Annie has what seems to be the perfect life. She lives in Hawaii with her husband and son. Serena, the lady who has been stalking Annie claims that Annie’s son is her son. A “once in a lifetime” storm is going on and Serena wants her son back.

I finished the book on 1/29/23. 11 days. I just didn’t like the writing. Giving this book a 6/10

James R. Benn ~ A Mortal Terror Billy Boyle Book 6

I started this book on 1/2/23. I’m about 25% done with it. Billy just met up with Kaz in Italy. He’s there investigating 2 murders. The 10 of hearts and the jack of hearts. So far he doesn’t know much. Let you know later….1/18/23 I finished the book today. Another great BB read. Billy’s brother was sent to Italy to fight, being pulled out of college, and of course Billy was worried. Luckily they met up and Billy was able to get him sent home….the hard way. Big Mike got hurt and was sent to London on a medical ship. No word on how he’s doing just yet.

Billy never did catch the “Red Heart Killer” but he didn’t get away. All in all I’m giving this BB book an 8/10 rating. There were times where all the names just got to be a bit much to remember who was who.

Appetite for Innocence – Lucinda Berry

Damn! I purchased this book on sale. I LOVE this author. She is amazing. I’m only abut 20% done with this book but man I can’t put it down. I started on 12/26/22 and plan on finishing before the end of the year. Chapters are short, characters (there’s really only 3 characters) are very well written and you really start to feel for them early in the book. Sara, Elle and Paige are girls who have been kidnapped and held hostage in the basement of Johns house. That’s all I’m going to say for now. Well I finished this book on 12/30/22. It’s a good thing I finished when I did cause we got sick and I wouldn’t have been able to reach my goal of finishing it before the end of the year.

She (Lucinda) is a freaking rockstar. I don’t know how but I literally couldn’t put this book down. The pain the girls experienced came through so vividly. I’m not giving anything away about the ending so I’ll just say I give this book a 10/10. I absolutely loved it. 5 days to read it.

The House Guest – Mark Edwards

I believe this was an Amazon first read, either that or I purchased this book. I really like the author and his writing style.

I started this book on 12/13/22 and finished on 12/23/22. 10 days. I blew through this book quick. I really like the writing style, chapters were short and characters were very well written. Eden, a mysterious stranger knocks on the door and Adam answers the door. He and Ruth invite the stranger in and the fun begins. It took a very serious turn in part 2 where Ruth gets “kidnapped” and Adam has to search for her and Eden. Part 3 is the true kicker cause this book takes a serious turn. Not going to spoil anything. I give this book a 9/10.

Jeneva Rose – The Perfect Marriage

Started this on 12/7/22. This was a TikTok must read. I’m about 10% done. I like the chapters, character based and they are short. We shall see….

So I finished this book on 12/13/22. 8 days. Sarah, the lawyer has to defend her husband for murdering his mistress. Well did he do it or not? There’s too much evidence that says he didn’t do it. He goes off the rails and gets into even more trouble. Then it goes down hill from here, that’s where the twists come in. I really really enjoyed this book. Chapters were short, characters were very well written with no trouble keeping track of all of them. Giving a 9/10. I really recommend this book. This is her first novel and I will be reading more from her when it comes out.

Earls Pearl – Honey Mead

11/19/22

Recipe:

3 lbs honey
1 Cup hot black tea (I used Earl Grey tea….hence the name of the mead)
1/2 orange peel (I used fresh orange and peeler)
1 Tblspn Fleischmans Yeast (Yup bread yeast)
2 oz chopped raisins

I sanitized everything prior. I chopped the raisins and added them to the 1 Gallon jar. I poured in the honey. I didn’t use a funnel or anything. I added the hot tea to the honey pot to melt the remaining honey and get it out. I poured that into the gallon jug. I added the orange peel and then filled jug 1/2 way with water. I shook and shook until it was mixed well. I then added the rest of the water (not all the way to the neck!!!) and added the yeast. Put the stopper on with water in the airlock. I did not have a hydrometer so I couldn’t take an initial reading for ABV. I will get one before I make the next batch though.

The yeast started working almost immediately. I could see the airlock activity within an hour.

11/30/22
Earl has been setting under my desk in the office for a little over a week. Haven’t touched it. There is still activity in the airlock. It will be time to swirl it on Saturday. Can’t wait!

12/3/22

I swirled Earl today. There is still a fair amount of activity in the airlock. Not gangbusters but still going. Next step is to swirl again in a week. Then let it rest and rack.

12/12/22

I swirled Earl again today. Airlock activity is slowing considerably. I’d say about every 30 seconds. It will be time to rack it soon. I’m going to give it another week or so but that will be Christmas time so we’ll see…..

12/21/22

I racked Earl today into the 3 Liter plastic container that I have. Didn’t quite get 3L out of it. I left to much head space on the gallon. Tasted pretty good but very alcoholic. It will mellow and clear over time. Should let it rest for 4 more weeks…..

1/17/23

I’m bottling Earl today.

I of course “tested” the mead also and it tastes amazing!!! I could really taste the orange. Not over powering but it imparted a great flavor. I didn’t get much raisin or tea flavor. It was still pretty cloudy as you can see in the photos but very (and I mean very) drinkable. Now all there is to do is try not to drink in all to soon.

1/23 I poured a small amount for consumption last night. It is clearing very nicely in the bottle. The bottle that I tried was cold from being refrigerated. 60 Days

Kathleen Willett – Mother of all Secrets

This is an Amazon first read. I started this book on 11/26/22. I’m almost 50% done with it in just a few days. I like it (I think..). Kendra read it first so she knows how it ends. Moms group for new babies meets. One of the moms goes missing. One mom goes crazy trying to figure it out but some of the clues point to her as the villain. We shall see.

I finished on 12/6/22. 10 days.

The book is called “Mother” of all secrets. Seems there’s one more mother that everyone forgot about. She is the one who saves the other moms. Good read, chapters not to long but characters are not that memorable. Not to many characters and the husband….Ugh.

I give this on an 7/10. Didn’t not like it.

Sudden Prey (book 8) – John Sandford

I’m starting this book the same day I just finished another one. 11/9/2022. I’m looking forward to getting back to the story. Lucas’s cops gun down three bank robbers. LaChaise escapes from jail to avenge his wife getting gunned down. He kidnaps Sandy Darling and LaChaise and Dick along with Sandy try and go after Lucas and some other cops. Weather won’t hold up in the hotel and LaChaise gets to her in the hospital where she works. It didn’t end well for him. Lucas gets his man in the end. I finished this book on 11/25/2022. 16 days to read. Give it a 8/10. Characters were memorable and easy to keep straight.