Looking for few kg of good honey preferably from Dublin area bee keeper.
Any contacts lads?
Contact Ciderhead,he's a bee man too. :)
Quote from: Jacob on August 09, 2013, 04:42:26 PM
Looking for few kg of good honey preferably from Dublin area bee keeper.
Any contacts lads?
Kg! Choke!
If you are looking for the best of Irish honey, Dublin honey show Sat, Nov 2, 2013 10:30 AM 4:00 PM Christ Church Rathgar €6 per lb last year, it will cost you €2 in as well, come early its usually gone by mid afternoon.
They also sell heather honey, which is a lot darker and stronger and would be great for beer, more expensive though.
Honey is a terrible waste in beer :( excessive heat exposure over 70 increases the level of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and reduces enzymes (e.g. diastase) activity. Heat also affects appearance (darkens the natural honey color), taste, and fragrance. Mine is only used on toast.
Jacob, are you planning to make some mead?
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 09, 2013, 08:44:25 PM
Honey is a terrible waste in beer :(
Totally agree, would only use artificial or buckwheat honey with beer.
Quote from: alealex on August 09, 2013, 09:16:40 PM
Jacob, are you planning to make some mead?
Yes, that's why I'm looking for quality honey :)
Is forest honey any good to you? How many kilos? I'm planning to brew some mead again this year and have it ready for christmas.. 2015
Quote from: alealex on August 09, 2013, 09:38:32 PM
Is forest honey any good to you? How many kilos? I'm planning to brew some mead again this year and have it ready for christmas.. 2015
Is it any good? Never tried it. Looking for 6-6.5kg to make ~10l of mead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeydew_(secretion) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeydew_(secretion))
Its quite strong in flavour and almost jet black
Its bad enough that my kids think honey is bee sick, they would never touch it knowing it came from an aphids arse :D
[EDIT:Fixed Link]
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 09, 2013, 09:48:00 PM
Its bad enough that my kids think honey is bee sick, they would never touch it knowing it came from an aphids arse :D
Can you recommend 'proper stuff' then? :P
Actually I am being very unkind to it and its very popular across the continent, it probably would be good for mead as it would have a carry over taste after 2-3 years which is harder to obtain from standard honey, I just have a preference for lighter floral honey.
My misses is not into beers so would like to treat her with something smooth and lovely.
From what you're saying forest honey maybe be really specific and not to her likings.
Would prefer to start with something more neutral ...
Do you/anyone have any experience with mead and can recommend some honey?
It's a long term project.. I can say that much. Forest honey is not going to give mead any sharp edges or anything heavier than floral honey,
I like greek thyme honey the most, but only done mead twice, so I'm not an expert in this matter.
http://www.irishbeekeeping.ie/articles/mead.html
Quote from: Jacob on August 09, 2013, 10:01:46 PM
My misses is not into beers so would like to treat her with something smooth and lovely.
:-[ :o
6 euro a pound seems a bit steep for honey? For the purposes of producing mead anyway whats the difference between that and supermarket good stuff?
I love mead but have only used boyne valley honey for any meads I've made before. Would love to get some high quality honey and see how much of a difference it makes.
Mead really is a commitment both in terms of time and price of ingredients but when it comes good it so good.
I have a bottle I can bring next week for sampling and you can take the rest of the bottle for you wife. Let her try it out before you make a batch. It's about 8 months old only so still a bit fresh.
Quote from: deadman1972 on August 09, 2013, 10:31:02 PM
6 euro a pound seems a bit steep for honey? For the purposes of producing mead anyway whats the difference between that and supermarket good stuff?
'Homemade' is a key word in that case :P Just want to prove that I can make something 'drinkable' at home to her, if you know what I mean 8)
Quote from: Jacob on August 09, 2013, 10:34:14 PM
Quote from: deadman1972 on August 09, 2013, 10:31:02 PM
6 euro a pound seems a bit steep for honey? For the purposes of producing mead anyway whats the difference between that and supermarket good stuff?
'Homemade' is a key word in that case :P Just want to prove that I can make something 'drinkable' at home to her, if you know what I mean 8)
Sorry m8 i meant what's the difference between good supermarket honey and the la di dah 6 euro stuff when it comes to making mead?
Quote from: deadman1972 on August 09, 2013, 10:35:55 PM
Quote from: Jacob on August 09, 2013, 10:34:14 PM
Quote from: deadman1972 on August 09, 2013, 10:31:02 PM
6 euro a pound seems a bit steep for honey? For the purposes of producing mead anyway whats the difference between that and supermarket good stuff?
'Homemade' is a key word in that case :P Just want to prove that I can make something 'drinkable' at home to her, if you know what I mean 8)
Sorry m8 i meant what's the difference between good supermarket honey and the la di dah 6 euro stuff when it comes to making mead?
There is no such thing as good supermarket honey..
Quote from: nigel_c on August 09, 2013, 10:32:43 PM
I love mead but have only used boyne valley honey for any meads I've made before.
Nigel, I've had a chance to try your mead some time ago.
It was lovely so I figured out that it's about time to make it myself :P
I was talking to will about looking for honey a while back in the cash and carry when he does the shop for the rugby club. Will reming him.
Cough cough.... Will price honey in the cash and carry.
Next time you are in the supermarket read the label on 'Irish Honey'
"A blend of EU and non EU sources", which means that 5% comes from the largest producing nations in Europe which now includes Bulgaria and the balance from other sources, namely Argentina and other countries in South America.
The biggest source is from China and in practical terms they mix up sugar in water place beside the hive and all the bees do pass it through their honey stomachs into the hive :(
which unfortunately is just their attitude to foodstuffs, no natural flora in it at all.
The issue we have here is that unlike in the early 1900's when we were exporting to our neighbours demand for Irish Honey has outstripped supply by 50 fold, why, because its the same quality as Manuka Honey, something you pay a massive premium for from New Zealand.
Perhaps the way to go would be make 1 gallon from each and establish the difference. I did it 4 years ago but lost the will to live waiting, now its just on my toast, greek-yoghurt, cereal and ice-cream.
Sneaky turkeys.
Must keep and eye on the labels from now on.
Ps sneaky turkey link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HePQnzc-Vto
"pig" is mine and my 8 year olds favourite
"awful sad" is my old mans, who is from Cork :)
I love how something so simple came make its way into everyday use.
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 10, 2013, 01:28:29 AM
...demand for Irish Honey has outstripped demand by 50 fold
Demand has outstripped demand again, I hate that.
How long would a jar of proper honey last once opened?
Love honey in porridge ;D
Ages ...
@nigel_c: Will check out Musgraves prices
I am also thinking long term mead project here!
Quote from: johnrm on August 10, 2013, 12:19:55 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on August 10, 2013, 01:28:29 AM
...demand for Irish Honey has outstripped supply by 50 fold
Demand has outstripped supply again, I hate that.
Oh you think you are a right funny man darcy
Quote from: delzep on August 10, 2013, 12:58:33 PM
How long would a jar of proper honey last once opened?
Love honey in porridge ;D
Found in Pyramids, ages!