Mead.

[highlandsflyer]

Witch festivals seem to attract lots of light pagan folks, and things like re-enactments, medieval lute duos and pirates.

Not normally my cup of tea, but once you are on your third pint of Virgin's Blood and have summoned the Demons of Devilment, a bunch of crazies dressing in joker garb and playing ancient acoustic instruments can help you wind down enough to tolerate the all night interruption of "arrrrhhhh" and "Jimladddddd".

 

[cyfa2809]

Im intrigued in a way, it sounds kind of erm traditional?

Like living in another era.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Moniack do beautiful sloe wine and liqueurs too. One of my first experiences of alcoholic matters thanks to dipping into my dad's extensive cabinet.

 

[cyfa2809]

I now know what sloe is!

Just gets better.

People on stella and the like really annoy me. There are many drinks that are nice to drink!

Savour the flavour. This mead is good stuff.

What is the moniack like? (the wine or the mead).

 

[silverclaws]

I dislike Sloe gin, it is the only alcohol that lasts in my place and I make it every years for Xmas presents, the Sloes I collect up at Jenny Cliff. it is a very easy brew and makes a nasty sweet liquer traditionally drunk after dinner on Xmas day, but for that I prefer Glogg a swedish brew made from warmed vodka and red wine.

But alcohol, given it's cost, it is fun to make your own and with that I have hobo wine on the go at the moment, that is the cheapest nastiest quickest stuff to make, a bit like scrumpy in that it has to be mixed with something to make it palatable.

Pagan's aren't bad people, every pagan do I have attended, they have been very positive events, good cheer, good music, new experiences and very helpful and friendly people.

 

[cyfa2809]

Hmm if you make some oak leaf wine, could i buy some from you?

I know pagans are friendly people its just the only thing you tend to hear about pagans is devil this devil that etc.

 

[IDB1]

Never tried gin, let alone sloe gin. I just have the recipe

 

[cyfa2809]

Still need to make elderflower wine!

All said and done, when i was making the ginger beer i just wanted it to hurry up!

 

[silverclaws]

I think you can make gin from Juniper and I believe it grows out on Dartmoor and the less industrialised parts of Devon and Plymouth has it's own gin, the distillery down on the Barbican, where I was told by the oldies they used to collect the juniper for the distillery when they were younger, it provided a bit extra income, that was until the distillery starting importing it from elsewhere.

Het the ginger beer plant is not to be scoffed at, that thing makes about 2 % alcohol in a very short time, I made it years ago, didn't like it so gave it to the local kids, boy was I in trouble, didn't realise it was slightly alcoholic. but cayenne in ginger beer, I might have to give it a go again, as cayenne is fab for circulation issues as is ginger.

What did you use for yeast, a commercial yeast of did you do it the traditional way and just bung a slice of bread in a bucket of the makings ?

 

[cyfa2809]

Isnt plymouth gin closing or something?