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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