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First time poster looking for suggestions

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BernaysCafe

NewBee
Registered Member
Mar 18, 2013
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Hi all. First time poster here and new to mead as well :)

I've been reading a few topics here about different types of mead and i've always wanted to try it. I was hoping for a few suggestions for my first purchase.

If you were to buy mead for a someone who has never tried, which would you purchase and why? I was considering Bunratty but i've read mixed reviews and some have said on several reviews sites that it's not a real mead?

Thank you all for helping me out on this. I appreciate helping a noob out with his first purchase :)
 
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If I were you I'd be trying as many different types as I could. Probably the cheapest I could find first, and if I didn't like it I'd try something a bit more expensive (keep in mind though that price and quality don't always go hand-in-hand)

Actually, no, I take that back. I'd make my own. I made a gallon of JOAM for like $25 or something. Much more cost-effective. Only downside is the 2 months it takes to brew ...
 
It helps to know your taste in wines, do you prefer drier or sweeter in wines? That will be a good place to start... Oh, and your location (check your user CP to include it on your profile) would be helpful too, presuming you're in the 'States somewhere, someone nearby will be able to make better suggestions, ie, stuff you might actually find.
 
I'm a newbee, and I am trying every type that I can. My first batches are still aging, so I'm getting every brand I can find to help me see what I like. I do like sweet wines, and it's the same for meads. I really like the Chaucer's, the Wild Flower Mead (local Chicago meadery) was so-so, and the Viking's Blod was great (from overseas) - all purchased at various Whole Foods markets.

You're reading different reviews because every single person has different tastes. I know a lot of people think my favorites are too much, I think their favorites are a bit dull . . . . go with what you like, but, like Grimm312 said, at least start your first batch of JOA. You can taste while you brew . . .

And welcome to the forums.
 
Rabbit's foot makes some terrific mead- their sweet mead is a fine example without being overly sweet. Bnektar also makes some excellent products.

Bunratty's is really a honey- sweetened white wine rather than a fermented honey beverage.

If you check the mazer cup site they should be posting the winners of the commercial competition tonight. Any of those that you can track down will be worth trying.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
To augment what Medsen Fey said, the Mazer Cup International website page where the results will be posted is:
http://www.mazercup.com/mcm_results.htm

Even though this year's results aren't yet up (they will be soon), you can also be sure that any award winners from any previous year are also great examples of meads in their respective categories. Although not every mead is yet widely available, more and more meaderies are now able to fulfill online orders. You should check out several samples of different styles of mead and determine what you like for yourself. Let your taste in wine be a starting point - pick sweeter meads if you are a fan of sweet German Rieslings, or choose something from one of the dry categories if your tastes run toward drier California style wines.
 
Thank you for your replies. I'll be sure to ceck out the Mazer Cup site when the results are posted.

I like a sweeter wine, but not overly so. Something that can complement a meal as well as dessert. I live in the States but i have several wine retailers in my area that will provide special orders, so acquiring a label shouldn't be too much of a problem.

With the reviews, i usually take them with a grain of salt. As xopher425 correctly pointed out, all tastes are different. However, the reviews i did see on Bunratty weren't overly positive. I mentioned it as Bunratty is inexpensive and always stocked at the retailer i usually buy from.
 
I'd advise steering clear of Bunratty since as others have noted, it really isn't a true mead - instead it is a white wine that has been sweetened with honey. Additionally, it is in what I would call the "dessert sweet" range -- way too sweet to be complementary to food at a meal.

The MCI results for the commercial meaderies has just been posted, so check it out and based on your stated preference, consider those described as "semi-sweet" first.
 
Redstone meadery would be a good start. I can find there mead in my area and they make different types of meads too.
 
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