Tepache Mead

Ingredients
1

I made my first batch of this stuff (as laid out in Zymurgy May/June). The recipe is very simple and replaces honey with 8lbs of sugar cane (piloncillo).

I’ve never really used pure sugar in my beer/meads before, does anyone have an idea what sort of flavor profile I should expect and/or problems I may encounter along the way?

3 gal. batch
8 lbs Piloncillo sugar, water, cinnamon and Pasteur Champagne yeast…that’s it.
Other spices will be added in secondary

2

doesn’t tepache have pineapple in it? anyway with pure sugar you would get cidery rocket fuel. but I don’t know what you might get with piloncillo. Let me know!

3

I thought it  was a pineapple drink as well - I’m guessing there are other meanings to the word “Tepache” in rural Mexico.
(Zymurgy May/June 2011, pg. 40) I’ll let you know how it turns out in 8-12 weeks…