Lietuviskas Midus

Ingredients

 * 10 k (20 lbs) honey
 * 10 l (10 qts) water
 * 1 cup dried hops
 * 1 tablespoon dried juniper berries
 * 8 teaspoons wine yeast

Directions

 * 1) Pour honey into stainless steel or enameled pot, cover with spring water, mix well and bring to a boil on low heat.
 * 2) Place hops and juniper berries into a linen bag and drop into boiling honey-water solution.
 * 3) Skim off scum and continue to boil until no more scum forms, about ½ hour.
 * 4) Cool solution to 85°F / 30°C, add yeast, mix well and pour mixture into a glass carboy.
 * 5) Close bottle with cork, run a small hose or glass tube through the cork, one end of which is placed in a jar with water.
 * 6) This will allow the release of fermentation gases. Keep the fermenting carboy in a warm spot for about 3 weeks. As fermentation comes to an end, a deposit will form at the bottom of the carboy, decant mead into another carboy, stopper and keep at same warm temperature for about 3 months.
 * 7) Decant again and pour into an oak barrel. Close barrel and set in a cool spot. To obtain strong mead, age up to 5 years.