Pumpkin Spice Mead Recipe

As autumn arrives and leaves start changing, it’s time to break out the cozy sweaters, crackling fires, and comforting fall flavors. One way to capture the season’s essence in a glass is with a batch of homemade pumpkin spice mead. By fermenting honey with pumpkin puree, warm spices, and a special fall yeast, you can create a sweet, heady elixir perfect for crisp evenings. Sip a steaming mug of this pumpkin spice mead while watching the leaves drift by the window, and you’ll be transported right into the heart of autumn. Let’s dive into the recipe for creating this autumnal treat in your kitchen.

Snapshot Summary

Try creating a batch of homemade pumpkin spice mead for those seeking a cozy, autumnal drink to sip throughout the fall season. This unique fermented beverage brings together the sweetness of honey with the comforting flavors of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other warm spices. After allowing the mixture to ferment with a special mead yeast, you’ll end up with a deliciously spiced, semi-sweet mead that practically tastes like autumn in a glass. The result pairs perfectly with fantastic weather and makes a special treat for sharing with friends at your next bonfire gathering. Below is a simple recipe to brew your pumpkin spice mead this fall.

Ingredients

Creating a pumpkin spice mead with bold, balanced flavor starts with choosing quality ingredients. Here are some of the key components that give this mead its signature fall taste:

Pumpkin Puree

Naturally, pumpkin puree provides the base flavor and body for pumpkin mead. Look for canned puree without added sugars or seasonings. You can also roast and puree fresh pumpkin flesh. Use at least 1 pound of pumpkin per gallon of mead.

Spices

Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove give pumpkin mead its signature spicy-sweet flavor. During fermentation, add whole spices like cinnamon sticks and ginger root for the best flavor extraction.

Sweetener

Honey and brown sugar complement the pumpkin and warm spices. Use raw, unprocessed honey for the fermentable sugars. Dark brown sugar also contributes more molasses notes.

Yeast

A quality wine or mead yeast converts sugars into alcohol while preserving delicate flavors. Go for a strain suited for meads and sweet wines.

Using top-notch, fresh ingredients gives your pumpkin mead the best chance of having a well-balanced, nuanced flavor profile. When selecting your pumpkin puree, spices, sweeteners, and yeast, pay attention. Your tastebuds will thank you!

Equipment

When you’re ready to brew a batch of pumpkin spice mead at home, having the right equipment will set you up for success. Below are the essential items you’ll need for making this fall-flavored beverage.

Fermentation Vessel

The most essential piece of equipment for homebrew mead is the fermenting vessel. This food-grade plastic, glass, or stainless steel container holds the mead during initial fermentation. For a 5-gallon batch of pumpkin spice mead, look for a 6-7-gallon fermenting bucket or carboy. The extra headspace allows for foam and activity during the first weeks of fermentation. Be sure to get a vessel designed specifically for brewing, with markings that indicate the volume level.

Airlock

Once your mead is in the fermentation vessel, you need an airlock to seal it. This curved plastic or glass allows carbon dioxide to escape without letting air or contaminants in. Fill the airlock with sanitizer or vodka and fit it into the drilled stopper or lid designed to seal your fermenter. The bubbling action lets you know fermentation is happening!

Racking Equipment

After primary fermentation, you’ll need to transfer the mead to a secondary vessel for clearing, called racking. A plastic siphon or auto-siphon makes this easy. You’ll also need food-grade plastic tubing from the siphon to the destination carboy.

Bottling Bucket & Bottles

Once your pumpkin spice mead has clarified, it’s time to bottle! Use a bottling bucket – a vessel with a stopper to fill bottles quickly. You’ll need 750 mL glass bottles with corks or caps to hold your whole batch.

With this essential equipment, you’ll be on your way to brewing your pumpkin spice mead this fall!

Recipe

Crafting Pumpkin Perfection: Spiced Mead Recipe

This pumpkin spice mead recipe will have you brewing up the perfect batch just in time for autumn. Follow the steps closely to balance pumpkin richness with honey sweetness and a blend of fall spices.

Making mead at home is very rewarding. This recipe produces a semi-sweet, pumpkin-infused mead with classic pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Pay close attention to sanitation, temperature control, and fermentation activity for best results. Take gravity readings throughout the process to track fermentation. With some patience, you’ll have a spiced mead that encapsulates fall flavors!

Ingredients

• 3 lbs wildflower honey
• Two cans (29 oz each) of pure pumpkin purée
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1⁄2 tsp cinnamon
• 1⁄4 tsp ground cloves
• Zest from 1 orange
• One packet of wine yeast (Lalvin 71B)
• Water to make 5 gallons

Prepare the Pumpkin Purée

Start by preparing the pumpkin purée if using fresh pumpkin. Cut pumpkin into chunks, roast at 350°F until soft, then blend or food process into a smooth purée. Add water if needed to achieve a thick consistency.

Sanitize Equipment

Thoroughly clean and sanitize your fermenting vessel, airlock, spoon, and any other equipment that will contact the mead with a sanitizing solution.

Mix Must

Add 3 gallons of water to your fermentation vessel. Add the honey and stir vigorously until fully dissolved. Take a hydrometer reading to obtain your original gravity.

Add Pumpkin and Spices

Mix in the canned or prepared pumpkin purée until well blended. Mix the pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest.

Pitch the Yeast

Rehydrate the yeast pack in warm water for 15 minutes before pitching into the must. Seal the fermenter with an airlock filled with sanitizer solution.

Ferment

Allow the mead to ferment for 4-6 weeks at room temperature, 65-75°F is ideal. Take gravity readings periodically to monitor progress. When gravity is stable, fermentation is complete.

Rack, Clarify, and Age

Rack the mead into a secondary vessel, leaving sediment behind. Add clarifying agents if desired. Allow it to age for at least two months for the flavors to further mature and meld.

Package

Rack the clear mead into a bottling bucket. Dissolve priming sugar, then siphon into bottles, cork, and cap. Condition bottles for two weeks before enjoying your homebrew pumpkin spice mead!

With attention to detail, this recipe will give you a smoothly spiced pumpkin mead to savor for holidays and fall gatherings to come. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

As the leaves start to change and the air becomes crisp, pumpkin spice everything starts to emerge. Pumpkin spice lattes, muffins, candles – you name it. One underrated fall treat that deserves more attention is pumpkin spice mead. Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey, and pumpkin spice mead offers a unique way to sip on fall flavors. Here are some tips for enjoying this autumnal drink:

Pairing Pumpkin Spice Mead with Food

Pumpkin spice mead pairs deliciously with many classic fall dishes. The sweetness of the mead balances out the savory and salty flavors of hearty autumn meals.
Some excellent options for food pairings include:

• Roasted turkey or chicken – The herbal notes of sage and rosemary in poultry stuffing resonate with the spice flavors of the mead.
• Pumpkin ravioli or butternut squash pasta – The natural sweetness of the pumpkin, squash, or other fall veggies complements the honey notes in mead.
• Pork chops or bacon-wrapped dates – The smoky flavors of pork pair well with mead’s subtle spiciness.
• Pecan pie or carrot cake – For dessert, pumpkin mead makes an incredible pairing for nutty or spiced sweets.

When hosting friends and family this season, consider offering a glass of pumpkin mead with your main courses or desserts for a unique fall treat.

Serving Pumpkin Spice Mead as Dessert Wine

While mead has historically been consumed as an alcoholic beverage, pumpkin spice mead can also be served as a dessert wine. Its natural sweetness and fall spice flavors make it an excellent end-of-meal accompaniment to desserts.

Some tasty ways to enjoy pumpkin mead as a dessert drink include:

• They served it alongside apple pie, pumpkin pie, or bread pudding. The cinnamon and clove notes in the mead mirror the warming spices in classic fall desserts.
• I was drizzling it over vanilla ice cream or cheesecake for added fall flavor. The creaminess pairs perfectly with the sweet, smooth mead.
• Enjoy it with fancy autumnal cookies or pastries, like ginger snaps, sugar cookies, or maple-leaf-shaped shortbread.
• I am sipping it by a fireplace or next to a candle for the ultimate cozy, dessert-like experience. The mead’s indulgent flavor makes it feel like a special treat.

Pumpkin spice mead delivers the perfect finishing touch to your favorite fall desserts. Keep a bottle in your pantry for sweet seasonal sipping.

Garnishes & Serving Recommendations

When serving pumpkin spice mead, consider adding garnishes or toppings to enhance the flavor and create a festive look:

• Float a cinnamon stick in each glass of mead before pouring for a decorative touch.
• Rim each glass with a mix of cinnamon sugar to complement the flavor profile.
• Garnish drinks with star anise for a seasonal flair.
• Top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg for a dessert-like feel.
• Skewer orange slices or brandished cherries on cocktail picks for a pop of color.
• Add a few pumpkin seeds or roasted pecans as an autumnal crunch.

With its robust fall flavors, pumpkin spice mead offers a delicious new way to ring in the season. Follow these serving tips to make the most of each glass. Your tastebuds will thank you!

FAQ

What yeast should be used when brewing pumpkin spice mead?

Look for a yeast suited to higher alcohol brews with some flavor tolerance. Good strains include Lalvin 71B, Lalvin D47, or Red Star Premier Rouge. These let the honey and pumpkin shine while giving a clean fermentation. Avoid champagne yeasts, as they ferment too dry and strip away flavor.

What’s the ideal way to serve pumpkin spice mead?

Pumpkin spice mead can be enjoyed chilled or warmed. For relaxation, refrigerate and serve around 55°F, like a white wine. For warm, gently heat to 110-120°F. Avoid boiling temperatures. Serve warmed in Irish coffee mugs or mulled wine glasses. It pairs well with fall flavors like apple pie, roasted nuts, and savory roasted vegetable dishes. Use creatively in autumn-inspired cocktails, too.

Related Video: Pumpkin Pie Mead in Pottsfield

Conclusion

Whipping up a batch of pumpkin spice mead is the perfect way to celebrate the fall season. You can create a sweet, complex elixir reminiscent of autumn by fermenting honey and pumpkin puree with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. As the mead ferments, tangy apple cider notes blend with the pumpkin and spices. Finally, enjoy this honey-based beverage chilled or heated, on its own, or mixed into cocktails. With this simple mead recipe, you can craft a delicious potion that conjures all the fall flavors in one sip. So stay cozy this season with a steaming mug of pumpkin spice mead straight from your homebrew. Cheers!