[AmandaK]

It has been decided that we are getting into mead. (Thaaaaanks NHC 2015) After listening to Schramm, Piatz, Curt Stock, and Fairbrother... well we are just too excited to not try it out.

I've already burned through Piatz's book and I'm most of the way through Schramm's. I have all of the equipment, the supplies, and basically everything except for the honey. There are too many choices as to what to buy and where/who to buy it from.

We are doing two batches right off the bat - a riff on Curt & Kathy's triple berry melomel and an orange blossom traditional. I believe we are going to just get the honey for the melomel from Costco as they sell clover honey. The orange blossom is where I'm curious as to where other people find their honey. So far I've seen a wide variety from Dutch Gold (which I think is not raw) to Bee Folks (which is raw), with a $60+ difference in price for 5 gallon pails. I don't know enough to figure out if there really is a difference between the two.

So anyway - recommendations would be awesome. I trust you guys and your experience, so fire away.

[morticaixavier]

Look around. There are bee keepers everywhere and you can find some honey with local character. Not to mention helping support a vital local craft.

that said, raw honey is going to have better flavor and aroma as it hasn't been heated.

[AmandaK]

Look around. There are bee keepers everywhere and you can find some honey with local character. Not to mention helping support a vital local craft.

that said, raw honey is going to have better flavor and aroma as it hasn't been heated.

I found two beekeepers/honey vendors in my area. They are asking ~$15 for an 8 ounce jar of wildflower honey. Yowza.

[Stevie]

I've heard great stuff about the company below. May have been here or on another forum. Sure, shipping can be a hassle, costly, and not local. I plan on making lots of mead when I move out that way.

http://www.honeypacifica.com

[jimmykx250]

Local is great if you can afford it. However iv'e had great experiences with  https://www.dutchgoldhoney.com/.
Orange blossom is tasty.

[morticaixavier]

Look around. There are bee keepers everywhere and you can find some honey with local character. Not to mention helping support a vital local craft.

that said, raw honey is going to have better flavor and aroma as it hasn't been heated.

I found two beekeepers/honey vendors in my area. They are asking ~$15 for an 8 ounce jar of wildflower honey. Yowza.

yikes! they don't have bulk pricing?

Do you have a health food/coop type store in your area? that's often a good source for local bulk honey.

[kmccaf]

When I do not buy local, I like to use these folks:

http://www.flyingbeeranch.net/

The carrot blossom is my favorite. I also really like the baby's breath. Meadowfoam makes a great braggot.

[theDarkSide]

Local is great if you can afford it. However iv'e had great experiences with  https://www.dutchgoldhoney.com/.
Orange blossom is tasty.

This is what I have used and I love it.  I also believe Michael Fairbrother sources a lot of his honey form them (and McClure's in NH, which they also own).  I can get a 60 lb pail of wildflower from them for about $168 shipped, which works out to about $2.81 per lb.  Not a bad price.  Other local options for me end up being closer to $4-5 /lb.

[jeffy]

We have bee farmer in Florida who is also a homebrewer and mead maker.  Look for David Webb of Webb's Honey in Orlando.  I believe he will give you a very good price.

[Stevie]

We have bee farmer in Florida who is also a homebrewer and mead maker.  Look for David Webb of Webb's Honey in Orlando.  I believe he will give you a very good price.

Bee keeper seems like a cover for a secret agent if you ask me.

[pete b]

I go directly with a local guy, raw 5 gallon buckets are about $200.  It makes me happy when my own hives produce enough but its often not the case. If you get into it you can get a hive or two for your back yard, your orchard and veggies will benefit.

[Tim Thomssen]

Believe it or not, we have access to some wonderful local honey that makes pretty good mead, right here in Lincoln Nebraska.  Actually just outside of Lincoln anyway.  If I remember right it was around $30 for a 1 gallon jug, about 12 pounds.  I decided to give it a try after learning that the BOS mead in the Sowers Cup last year was made with that honey.

[narcout]

I also am newly interested in mead after the NHC.

I've already burned through Piatz's book and I'm most of the way through Schramm's.

Does one of those books seem noticeably better than the other?  I am trying to decide which one to read first.

[hopfenundmalz]

I also am newly interested in mead after the NHC.

I've already burned through Piatz's book and I'm most of the way through Schramm's.

Does one of those books seem noticeably better than the other?  I am trying to decide which one to read first.

Ken's book has been out since 2003. It went to press before the staged nutrient additions were worked out and proven. There is a Zymurgy article by him a year or 2 later that outlines the nutrient additions. Styles, honey, recipes are well covered, as are techniques.

The Piatz book is newer, so more up to date. I have not seen it, so no rating from me. There is a Zymurgy article by him in the last several years that was pretty good.

[udubdawg]

Believe it or not, we have access to some wonderful local honey that makes pretty good mead, right here in Lincoln Nebraska.  Actually just outside of Lincoln anyway.  If I remember right it was around $30 for a 1 gallon jug, about 12 pounds.  I decided to give it a try after learning that the BOS mead in the Sowers Cup last year was made with that honey.

Side note, that was a damn fine batch of tupelo mead you entered a few places this year. Been predicting NHC glory for it. Well done.