🔥 Pineapple Habanero Mead – Can You Handle The HEAT? 🍍

This one was personal.

After a stalled jalapeño batch and a “just okay” mango habanero experiment, we went back to what we knew we’d love — and built it exactly the way we wanted it.

In this episode from City Steading Brews, we craft a pineapple habanero capsicumel, troubleshoot a mid-fermentation stall, then reverse-fortify with overproof rum to lock it in at 18.3% ABV.

The result?

Spicy pineapple upside-down cake… in a glass.

👉 Watch the full step-by-step build here:

What Is a Capsicumel?

A capsicumel is a mead fermented with chili peppers.

Unlike simply adding spice at bottling, fermenting with peppers integrates:

• Capsaicin heat
• Pepper aromatics
• Subtle vegetal complexity

This one uses fresh habaneros for bright heat and fruit-forward spice.

---

Ingredients

2 Habanero Chilies

3.5 lbs Wildflower Honey

96 oz Water

3 grams Fermaid O: https://amzn.to/43q3rEe

Lalvin 71B yeast: https://amzn.to/3oElzvp

Additions

1 teaspoon Yeast Hulls (if you feel like your brew stalled): https://amzn.to/43vdbwZ

1 quart Pineapple Juice: https://amzn.to/3IHVan6

30 oz 63% Over-proofed White Rum Racking: https://youtu.be/-X00d3C14z0

Ulele (the restaurant Derica referenced) https://ulele.com/

Tools We Use

Star San: https://amzn.to/43b9tc2

Little Big Mouth Fermenter: https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/little-big-mouth-bubbler

Our Favorite Pitcher: https://amzn.to/3BXzeAK

Stirring Paddle: https://amzn.to/43xzBO3

Hydrometer Kit: https://amzn.to/3oElXtR

Baster: https://amzn.to/3q9sGw9

Tongs: https://amzn.to/3qiWre0

Auto Siphon: https://amzn.to/3qhz2Kc

Belgian Tasting Glasses: https://amzn.to/43sBrQr

Glencairn Glasses: https://amzn.to/43vdoAh

Fun T-shirts: https://city-steading.com/product-category/t-shirts/

Did the magical combination of Pineapple, Habanero and Honey improve after a year of aging? Find out!