iGulu Beyond Beer: Explore Wine, Mead, and More with the S1

Most people see the iGulu S1 as just a home beer brewer. And while the machine does a great job at making beer, that’s far from all it can do. Think wine, mead, cider, kombucha, and even non-alcoholic creations–you can make all of these with the S1.

The idea behind S1 is simple: the brewer is designed for anyone who loves experimenting without needing a full lab setup in their kitchen. With Master Mode, you can tweak fermentation settings like temperature, pressure, and time. This gives you the freedom to try out traditional recipes, put a modern spin on classics, or completely invent a drink of your own.

And why limit yourself to one category? The S1 opens the door to a whole lineup of drinks that fit any season, mood, or occasion.

What Fermented Drinks Can You Brew with the S1?

The iGulu S1 shines when it comes to craft beer, but that’s not all it can do! Thanks to its wide temperature range, recipe support, and customizable programs, you can make a wide range of fermented drinks at home, like: 

Mead

Mead is often called “honey wine,” and that’s all for good reason; the drink is made by fermenting honey, water, and yeast. Depending on how you brew it, it can be sweet, semi-sweet, or dry. But what’s truly amazing about mead is that there are different styles to try from:

• Traditional Mead: Made with just honey, water, and yeast

• Melomel: Mead with fruit added (such as raspberry, blackberry, or strawberry)

• Metheglin: Spiced mead made with spices such as cloves, cinnamon, or nutmeg, or herbs like meadowsweet, hops, or even lavender or chamomile

You can easily try these variations with your S1 by adding fruit juices or spices to your keg before fermentation. 

Cider

Prefer crisp, refreshing drinks? In that case, you might be more of a cider person. At its core, cider is just apple juice fermented with yeast. But that’s just the starting point. With the S1, you can brew:

• Classic Apple Cider: Brewing hard apple cider at home is easy with the iGulu Apple Hard Cider Brewing Ingredient Kit

• Flavored Ciders: Add pear, cherry, or cranberry juice to create unique blends

• Sparkling Ciders: Use the S1’s pressure control to give more fizz to your cider

With S1's automated fermentation, even a beginner can make great cider without worrying about temperature swings or yeast stress.

Kombucha

More into non-alcoholic options? Kombucha may be a better choice, then. Slightly tart, this fizzy fermented tea that’s packed with probiotics has become a health trend that everyone’s hopping on around the world. Brewing kombucha requires steady temperatures, which can be tricky in a standard kitchen–but not with S1, as this home brew machine does all that for you.

You can brew:

• Classic Kombucha: This is just black tea + sugar + SCOBY combined

• Flavored Kombucha: You can add ginger, citrus peel, or berries after the first fermentation to give your kombucha more flavor

Wine

Yes, you can even brew wine with iGulu S1! Sure, traditional winemaking requires specific conditions and equipment. However, the S1’s wide temperature range allows you to play around at home with different types of wine:

• White Wines: Fermented at cooler temps (around 54–59°F), white wines have that fresh, clean taste
  
  

• Fruit Wines: You can try fermenting grape juice, peach nectar, or even tropical fruit blends
  
  

• Rosé or Light Reds: By using slightly warmer temps,  more body and aroma can be developed

Because you can adjust fermentation with Master Mode, feel free to experiment with different profiles, like producing a drier white or a sweeter fruit-forward wine.

How the S1 Handles Diverse Beverages

How can one small device handle so many different drinks? 

Good question! The answer is in the tech. Brewing different types of drinks usually requires multiple tools, lots of monitoring, and a fair bit of trial and error. But with the S1, you have all of that under one lid! That makes the process much simpler while still giving you pro-level control when you want it. Here’s how it works:

• Temperature Control – With a precise range of 37.4–86°F, the S1 covers almost every fermentation style you can imagine. Cooler temperatures are for white wines or lagers, mid-range for meads and kombucha, and warmer settings for reds, spiced meads, or experimental drinks.
  
  

• Pressure Range (0–24 psi) – Pressure isn’t just for beer, but for sparkling drinks too. With a 0–24 psi range, you can control carbonation levels from gentle fizz to champagne-like bubbles, depending on your preference.
  
  

• Built-in Recipes – Not everyone wants to start from scratch every time. That’s why the S1 includes guided program settings for beer, cider, kombucha, and non-alcoholic brews. It’s great for beginners who just want to follow a step-by-step program.
  
  

• RFID + App Interface – Each brewing kit comes with an RFID tag. Just scan it, and the S1 sets everything up for you. You can monitor progress right from your phone.
  
  

• Master Mode – Want total control over every aspect of the brewing? Master Mode allows you to customize every stage of fermentation, adjusting temperature curves, timing, and carbonation profiles.
  
  

The S1 is like a brewer, a lab technician, and a safety monitor, all packed into a single device.

Safety and Preservation for Spirits and Sparkling Beverages

Proper fermentation isn’t just about the fizz. Things like over-pressurization or improper storage can cause leaks, spoilage, or, in worst cases, dangerous vessel bursts. Luckily, with the iGulu S1, you don’t have to worry about that. With built-in safeguards and smart preservation systems, the brewer makes bubbly drinks without the risks that come with DIY setups.

• Sparkling Drinks – With its 0–24 psi adjustable pressure control, the S1 allows you to fine-tune carbonation safely. Thanks to pressure-release mechanisms that automatically regulate levels if things get too intense, you can forget about such a thing as over-carbonation.
  
  

• Long-Term Preservation – High alcohol content drinks like wine or stronger meads benefit from the CO₂ cylinder attachment, which prevents oxidation, keeps your batch fresher for longer, and helps with natural carbonation.
  
  

• Pour Quality – Using CO₂ also allows you to pour your cider or sparkling mead with the right fizz every time, just like a professional tap system.

In other words: more sparkle, less stress.

Mead Brewing Step-By-Step with S1

Mead is probably one of the oldest fermented drinks known to humanity. Evidence of its consumption dates back to the 7th millennium BC in China, though it probably existed even before that.

Traditionally, it was made from just honey, water, and yeast. But as that usually goes, countless variations appeared over the centuries.

With the iGulu S1 mead brewer, you can recreate this beverage, as well as its historical variations, in your kitchen. 

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Honey – This is the main source of sugar and flavor. The type of honey you use (wildflower, clover, orange blossom) will subtly affect how your mead tastes in the end.

• Water – You’ll need about 116 oz to make a full keg.

• Yeast – Roughly 1.5–2 grams of mead yeast.

• Optional flavorings – Fruits, spices, herbs, or even flowers.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to brew mead using iGulu S1:

1. Mix Ingredients in the Keg: Combine the honey and water in your S1 keg. Stir gently to ensure the honey fully dissolves. Add your yeast.

2. Set the Fermenter in the S1: Place the filled keg into the S1 fermenter. 

3. Select the Mead Program: Using the S1 touchscreen or app, choose the mead fermentation program. Typically, this runs at around 68 °F) for about 10 days.

4. Monitor and Adjust (Optional): If you’re feeling adventurous, Master Mode allows you to tweak the fermentation profile. For instance, you can slow it down for a drier finish or add a brief warm period to enhance certain flavor notes.

5. Finish and Enjoy: After the program completes, your mead will be lightly fermented and ready for bottling or further aging. You can enjoy it immediately or let it mature for a few weeks to make it even richer.

Creative Tips for Wine, Mead, and More

Mastered the basics of brewing with the iGulu S1? Now it’s time to let your creativity out.

The great thing about mead, wine, cider, and even kombucha is that they’re so customizable. The only thing that limits your flavor combinations is your imagination–and maybe a lack of access to certain ingredients. 

So, what can you do with your fermented drinks? You can:

1. Infuse Them with Fruits

By adding fresh fruit or fruit juice to your mead or wine, you can transform it into something extraordinary:

• Melomel (Fruit Mead): Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or tropical fruits like mango and passionfruit all have a natural sweetness and complexity that complements the flavor of honey. You can add a handful of fresh or frozen berries during fermentation to give your brew a slight change in hue as well.
  
  

• Fruit Wines: Adding fruit can balance acidity or add that subtle tartness to your wine. Consider pear, apple, or peach for white wines, or cherries, blackberries, or cranberries for reds.

2. Spice Things Up

Adding spices to your fermented beverages gives another layer of flavor:

• Metheglin (Spiced Mead): Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom are classic options. You can add them whole or ground.
  
  

• Wine Enhancements: Just a pinch of vanilla or star anise in white wine, or a hint of allspice in red wine, can make your wine more complex in flavor.

3. Experiment with Hops and Botanicals

Hops are typically added to beer, but who’s to stop you from adding them to your mead or cider? They can add interesting aromas and subtle bitterness. Consider adding:

• A small amount during fermentation to complement the sweetness.
  
  

• Botanicals like lavender, hibiscus, chamomile, or rose petals which add a layer of floral or herbal notes.

4. Adjust Your Fermentation Profile Using Master Mode

The S1’s Master Mode allows you to fine-tune temperature, pressure, and timing for each stage of fermentation:

• Temperature Control: Slow, cooler fermentations often produce cleaner, more delicate notes, while warmer ferments can intensify aromas and flavor.
  
  

• Timing Tweaks: Extend or shorten primary fermentation to adjust the sweetness or dryness of your brew.
  
  

• Carbonation & Pressure: Experiment with natural carbonation for sparkling meads or ciders, or keep a gentle pressure to get a subtle fizz.

5. Flavor Pairing Inspiration

Some flavors are like a match made in heaven. Here are some great pairings to try:

• Fruity + Spiced: Apple cider with cinnamon and nutmeg
  
  

• Floral + Citrus: Hibiscus or lavender mead with orange peel
  
  

• Herbal + Berry: Black currant wine with rosemary or thyme
  
  

The world is your oyster. Try something unorthodox and see where it will take you!

Batch Scaling and Serving Tips

With its 1-gallon capacity, the S1 is perfect for sampling multiple styles without ending up with leftover brew. Instead of making gallons of one drink, you can experiment with smaller batches until you find what you like.

Here’s a fun idea: host a tasting night. For example, you can brew three different meads (say, a traditional, a fruit-forward melomel, and a spiced metheglin), then serve them in small (3–4 oz) pours. This way, everyone can try a variety of flavors without wasting any product, and it keeps each batch fresh until you’re ready to bottle or serve the next one.

It’s also perfect for themed nights. Organize a “medieval mead evening” with traditional meads and spiced variants, or a “summer fruit flight” with different melomels and fruity ciders.

Encourage guests to take tasting notes, like the brew’s sweetness, aroma, mouthfeel, and finish. Over time, their observations will help refine your recipes to different flavor preferences.

Small batches make it easy to pair drinks with food. A light, floral mead goes well with cheese, while a sparkling apple cider is best served with roasted dishes.

Why Choose the S1

What makes S1 so great is its convenience, safety, and creativity, all packed in one system. Brewers who have shared their experiences on YouTube highlight how the S1 takes the guesswork out of fermentation while keeping the creative part in.

You can watch Brian from Benham Brewing invite his friend Danny, who has no brewing experience, over to attempt to brew on the iGulu. Spoiler alert–he says it's pretty plug-and-play.

If you want to see how it compares to the F1 model, 5 Minute Brewery does a great explanation of S1’s features compared to its big brother.

And if you simply want to see what it can do before committing to it, check out Flying Wombat TV’s in-depth review from box to glass.

One Device, Infinite Drinks

Why settle for just brewing beer when the iGulu S1 lets you master other drinks? Mead, wine, cider, kombucha, you name it. If it’s fermented, it can be made. 

So take control, get creative, and impress yourself (and your friends) with every batch. Maybe your next signature brew is just a few tries away.

Grab the S1 now and expand your home brewing horizons. Your kitchen, your rules!

FAQs

1. What else can I brew with the iGulu S1 besides beer?

Besides beer, you can also brew kombucha, cider, wine, mead, and even non-alcoholic craft drinks. 

2. How do I brew mead using iGulu?

Follow our step-by-step mead brewing guide to mix honey, water, yeast, and optional flavors, then ferment in the S1 using the mead program.

3. Is the S1 suitable for fermenting wine or honey wine?

Yes! Thanks to precise temperature control and Master Mode, you can make both wine and mead with the S1.

4. What is Master Mode, and does it support advanced drinks?

Master Mode gives you complete control over temperature, timing, and pressure so that you can customize complex drinks like spiced meads, fruit wines, or sparkling ciders.

5. What temperature range does the S1 support for non-beer beverages?

The S1 operates between 37.4°F and 86°F, which is perfect for mead, cider, kombucha, and wine fermentation.

6. How long does mead fermentation take?

Typical mead fermentation takes around 10 days in the S1 at ~68 °F.

7. Can I customize drink recipes using the app?

Absolutely! The app and Master Mode let you change temperature, fermentation time, and carbonation of your brew.

8. Are there pre-programmed options for cider and kombucha?

Yes, the S1 includes built-in programs for beer, cider, kombucha, and even non-alcoholic craft beverages.

9. How does the S1 maintain pressure for sparkling beverages?

With 0–24 psi adjustable pressure control and safety valves, the S1 maintains pressure and regulates carbonation for your sparkling drinks.