RE: Mead – A Sparkling Sweet and Sour Refreshment
Oh yes, please do! I'm happy to help out with any questions you may have. But please notice how this drink (following MY brewing method) makes a rather light, spritzy, bubbly, summer-drink. One to enjoy on a hot day, but not really strong. If you want more alcohol, check out the other methods. For those you'll need more infrastructure, but time is an important factor in any case. If you start today, your mead will be ready by mid-to-late August. Still in time for grill-party season, though maybe not for the hot days any more.
As for adding alcohol.... sure you could do that. Why not? As in a mixed drink. I've never done that, but the world is your oyster: tequila could work, or vodka, maybe Strohrum(!) Just kidding! Beer, however, is something I've tried and liked. My intention was to mix a Radler (I don't know what they call it in your region. Alsterwasser?) a beer-lemonade quite popular in Germany, and my mead was a tasty option, just like ginger tibicos.
Ok, I will just experiement a little then. Time is no problem, I made apple vinegar once, took three months. We call it both, Radler or Alsterwasser. One is with lemon soda and the other with orange soda. We also have a special Berliner way with Fassbrause. Very tasty on a hot summer day. Cheers!
Oh yeah, I remember Fassbrause! Mit Brombeer oder Waldmeister Geschmack, wa? You know, I was actually gonna recommend it to a friend who was in Berlin just last week. (She spoke at the Brandenburg Gate about migrant and refugee issues.) I explained the drink to her, but couldn't remember its name! We agreed on the challenge that she should try to find it nevertheless.
You are talking about Berliner Weiße! A real specialty and very popular in summer.