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Which honey should I buy


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#1 japh

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 09:23 AM

Looking at a supplier I have (www.azurestandard.com), they have 5-gallon buckets of honey available. I'm looking for something to be a base for a couple of different things in the straight mead and melomel categories. Which variety would you get? Are these good prices (they include shipping)?Berry/Wildflower: $108.20Clover: $108.20Orange Blossom: $130.50Raspberry Blossom: $108.20I think I can get Orange Blossom cheaper at the local store (and I know the brand there is glorybee).edit: punctuation.

Edited by japhmi, 27 March 2009 - 09:27 AM.


#2 brewhead

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 09:51 AM

Looking at a supplier I have (www.azurestandard.com), they have 5-gallon buckets of honey available. I'm looking for something to be a base for a couple of different things in the straight mead and melomel categories. Which variety would you get? Are these good prices (they include shipping)?Berry/Wildflower: $108.20Clover: $108.20Orange Blossom: $130.50Raspberry Blossom: $108.20I think I can get Orange Blossom cheaper at the local store (and I know the brand there is glorybee).edit: punctuation.

my pick would be OBH

#3 Wayne B

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 10:19 AM

I tend to use either the wildflower that I get around here (Northeastern Colorado), or Orange Blossom... but I've used raspberry blossom as a base for melomels in the past, and I really like it. It adds a slightly spicy note that works real well with red berries.

#4 MtnBrewer

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 10:20 AM

My personal pick would be raspberry, with OB a pretty close second. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. I tend to use neutral honeys like clover and alfalfa in melomels because the subtle flavors in the honey don't come through the fruit as well as say a show mead.

#5 ScottS

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 10:28 AM

My personal pick would be raspberry, with OB a pretty close second. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. I tend to use neutral honeys like clover and alfalfa in melomels because the subtle flavors in the honey don't come through the fruit as well as say a show mead.

This is my opinion as well. Though before dropping that kind of money on honey, I'd prefer to do a small order and taste it first. Call me paranoid, but I'd want to know what I'm getting.

#6 japh

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 11:15 AM

This is my opinion as well. Though before dropping that kind of money on honey, I'd prefer to do a small order and taste it first. Call me paranoid, but I'd want to know what I'm getting.

Yeah, that is a concern. I'll email them and see if they'll tell me who they get their honey from. I can get Glorybee plain clover at the local grocery store for slightly more cash, and I know what I'm getting there.

#7 VolFan

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 02:34 PM

Looking at a supplier I have (www.azurestandard.com), they have 5-gallon buckets of honey available. I'm looking for something to be a base for a couple of different things in the straight mead and melomel categories. Which variety would you get? Are these good prices (they include shipping)?Berry/Wildflower: $108.20Clover: $108.20Orange Blossom: $130.50Raspberry Blossom: $108.20I think I can get Orange Blossom cheaper at the local store (and I know the brand there is glorybee).edit: punctuation.

Do these prices seem average? I thought one of the local apiarists was selling honey for $40 gallon. I would rather support these people but I don't want to overpay by a large margin just to do so.

#8 ScottS

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 02:43 PM

$40 a gallon is pretty high. Depends on the varietal though, some fetch that kinds of premium.I buy direct from the apiary for $97/5 gals, or $12/ 1/2 gal. It's "wildflower" honey, meaning no specific varietal, but it's very high quality.

#9 brewhead

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 03:55 PM

guess i'm not used to buying honey by the gallon. but normally i can get it around here for $2 a lb

#10 VolFan

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 04:16 PM

From what I've read it weighs about ~12lbs/gl. I'm going to look around this week at some other suppliers and hit the farmers market next Sunday.

#11 realbeerguy

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 05:59 PM

$108/5 gal is good. OBH or Wildflower is my preference.Isn't Glorybee a processed honey?

#12 HarvInSTL

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 10:20 PM

Isn't Glorybee a processed honey?

To my knowledge it is. I called them last year and asked if they pasteurized their honey. The guy I spoke with told me no they don't. He told me that they heat it to 160-170 for up to 30 minutes while they filter it.I just shook my head, thanked him for his time and hung up.

Edited by HarvInSTL, 29 March 2009 - 10:20 PM.


#13 japh

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Posted 30 March 2009 - 11:50 AM

To my knowledge it is. I called them last year and asked if they pasteurized their honey. The guy I spoke with told me no they don't. He told me that they heat it to 160-170 for up to 30 minutes while they filter it.I just shook my head, thanked him for his time and hung up.

I just sent an email to them to see what they say.Otherwise, I know that the azure standard one is raw, so I may just go out on a limb and get that without a taste.

#14 trimpy

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Posted 01 April 2009 - 09:46 AM

$40 a gallon is pretty high. Depends on the varietal though, some fetch that kinds of premium.

I also agree. Couple local guys near me charge outrageous prices because they think they can get the same $/lb they get when selling those 4oz bears. Just look around and it shouldn't be too hard to get 12# jugs for ~$25.Most I have ever spent on 1gal of honey was $48 for tupelo from https://www.floridatupelohoney.com/... what a wonderful tasting honey.

#15 japh

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Posted 01 April 2009 - 12:11 PM

I just sent an email to them to see what they say.Otherwise, I know that the azure standard one is raw, so I may just go out on a limb and get that without a taste.

Glorybee got back to me, and they sell both raw (under 115*) and processed (165*-180*) honey. I'm thinking of going out on a limb, and getting the basic clover honey from azure standard to use as a base for melomels and maybe some other flavored meads. I have some good sources of local honey that I can reach out too for my show meads.

#16 BeesNBrews

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Posted 07 April 2009 - 06:19 AM

60# for $130 is a great price.I am one of those "local guys [that] charge outrageous prices because they think they can get the same $/lb they get when selling those 4oz bears." :blush: With less than 10 hives I don't have any economies of scale that the large producers do. I produce enough to sell small quantities all year long and at $4.50 a pound I make enough to stay in business. I do discount large quantities, but can't sell at $2 a pound without losing money. I do have pollination contracts and actually do make money from those (one is partially barter for blueberries). Some of my local competitors are up to $6 a pound.I do taste store bought and restaurant honey when I get the chance and I can't stand the flavor compared to that of the 'raw' I bottle.

#17 Bearphin

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Posted 07 April 2009 - 07:23 PM

The last time I bought honer, I was able to get 18 lbs of Blackberry honey for about $24 at the big farmers market in Denver. Made a great mead!

#18 Wayne B

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Posted 08 April 2009 - 10:46 AM

The last time I bought honer, I was able to get 18 lbs of Blackberry honey for about $24 at the big farmers market in Denver. Made a great mead!

Which "Big Farmer's Market?" And how long ago was that? Inquiring minds want to know! :cussing:

#19 MtnBrewer

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Posted 08 April 2009 - 03:39 PM

The last thing I need right now is more honey but I'd cut off a toe (one of Guest's) for some blackberry honey.And Guest...you can't tease us like this

Latest Earthquake M5+*M 5.3, off the east coast of the North Island of

That ain't right...


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