Barrel full of "mead" anyone?

[HeyWayne]

A while ago I decided to try my hand at home brewing (ale). Made a bit of a pigs ear out of it, and ended up with a barrel full that has just sat in the utility room since (a few months now).

I've tried it a few times and it hasn't got better - I poured a glass of the flat, cloudy beverage tonight, but though it smells quite nice, and tastes ok it's just flat and 'orrible.

Well, LadyWayne is having a kind of do type thing at work - it's theme this year is Medievel so they've ordered in some big old cheeses and each person is tasked with taking in some king of food to represent an area or time. LadyWayne has not been very well today so I've been baking and generally running around like a loon all day making stuff for her.

I've baked 100 "ship biscuits" (that's "ship" with a "p") and two rustic/artisan loaves of bread.

Then I had a genius idea.

MEAD!!

Ok, it's not strictly the same, but my "ale" has a caramel background and has a bit of a clove taste to it.

Well, it looks bladdy medievel.

I've bottled up a few for her to take in but can't persuade her to take the full barrel with her on the train for some reason.

So, anyone having an historic type event in the near future and in need of som liquid refreshment?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Could it be used as a disnfectant for a chook house?
Only joking mate! Honest

[SarzWix]

Sounds like you need a CO2 canister on your barrel Or, a small yeast starter and a an ounce or two of sugar.

[geoff]

You could try mulling it. Add spices, sugar and possibly some cheap sherry, sultanas, grated apple, then heat it till it just boils. Try a small amount first
The traditional way of heating mulled ale is to put a poker in the fire till it's red hot then plunge it into a pint pot of the spiced ale

[bubblewrap]

Go out & buy a four pack of Carling Black Label & drink it after that you beer will tast fine Piglet.

[HeyWayne]

Go out & buy a four pack of Carling Black Label & drink it after that you beer will tast fine Piglet.

Piglet?

He'd not make the mistooks I made.

[bubblewrap]

Piglet?

He'd not make the mistooks I made.

OOps BB goofs Me not looked well enough.

[HeyWayne]

OOps BB goofs Me not looked well enough.

Or maybe you snaffled the Carling yourself.

[bubblewrap]

Or maybe you snaffled the Carling yourself.

I wouldn't use Carling as slug bait(even slugs have taste.)

[HeyWayne]

LadyWayne's still listening to her Dire Straits/Chris Rea compilation, so I baked/cooked all that stuff for nothing anyhoo.

Who wants two loaves of bread, 100 ship biscuits and several bottles of "mead"?

[bobleponge]

Send it this way big fella, the alcoholic stuff anyway.
Christmas is a coming, sure I can palm it off somewhere on some unsuspecting Frenchies and tell them its a local delicacy around Luton in Englandshire.
It may confirm their already well entrenched beliefs that we dont like to eat or drink, but who cares.

[SarzWix]

Sounds like you need a CO2 canister on your barrel Or, a small yeast starter and a an ounce or two of sugar.

Good Life Homebrew: Wine Kits|Beer Kits|Home Brew Beer Making|Home Brew Wine Making
There's a Co2 injector for £20 on this page Might make it worth brewing your own again?

[HeyWayne]

Good Life Homebrew: Wine Kits|Beer Kits|Home Brew Beer Making|Home Brew Wine Making
There's a Co2 injector for £20 on this page Might make it worth brewing your own again?

Thanks for the link Sarz. Only trouble is, the bottom of the barrel's full of crud and the charger'd swirl it all up. When I open the tap to pour out of the barrel, the bubble that it creates churns it up anyway.

Also, we don't have the room now - what with all Bean's paraphernalia.