A Practical Guide for tasting honey wine

Jester Goldman

What is mead?• Simple answer: honey wine• But a world of creative variation:– Varietal honeys or blends– Sweet to dry– Still to sparkling– Light alcohol to moderate strength– Can also incorporate other ingredients:

herbs and spices, fruit, oak aging, etc

Mead evaluation• Think of it as conscious tasting• Identify technical flaws and assess

the balance of qualities

But I already know what I like…• But why do you like it?• The more you understand, the more

you can enjoy what you’re drinking• You can apply these ideas to food,

wine, beer

Using your senses• Appearance• Aroma• Flavor• Mouth feel

Common characteristics• Honey character• Sweetness• Acidity• Tannins• Alcohol• Fruitiness• Special ingredients

Common off-flavors• Oxidation• Sourness• Solvent character• Phenols• Diacetyl• Autolysis

Mead #1

• Redstone Traditional Mountain Honey Wine–Mostly orange blossom honey–Medium sweetness– Traditional mead (no added flavors)

Mead #2

• Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar–Mix of clover and wildflower honey–Medium sweetness– Black raspberries

Mead #3

• Hunter’s Moon, Kim’s Clove– Colorado wildflower honey–Medium sweetness– Spiced with whole cloves

Learn more:• GotMead.com• Beer Judge Certification Program

(BJCP.org)• Make friends with homebrewers and

commercial meadmakers

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