Meridian Hive Huajilla Mead Review

[loveofrose]

Style: A 13.2% ABV traditional mead made from Huajilla varietal honey.

Found - Total Wine, Plano, TX.

Tasting Environment - Home in a glencairn glass.

Appearance - Golden, crystal clear.

Aroma - Grape notes (definitely Vierka yeast) with Huajilla notes. Sorry, it's too unique to describe further.

Flavor - Off dry with a grape like flavor. It has a nice tartness on the finish. Very nice!

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with a nice velvety feel.

Overall - This is a really nice mead. The only thing that stops me from buying a case in the price ($22/500 ml); however, I can understand the price based on the rare varietal and mead quality. Definitely pick up a bottle if you see it!


Better brewing through science!

See my brewing site at www.denardbrewing.com

See my Current Mead Making Techniques article here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/current-mead-making-techniques.html

 

[pokerfacepablo]

This one of my personal faves at last year's mazer cup. I wonder if they do vino shipper?

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[58limited]

This is a great mead and the Meridian Hive crew are awesome and knowledgeable, they have given me quite a bit of good advice.

 

[Ooga Booga]

I have a gallon of Huajillo on the way. Never used it before, but this made me very excited.

 

[loveofrose]

It's a delicate flavor. Be sure to pick an extremely neutral yeast.


Better brewing through science!

See my brewing site at www.denardbrewing.com

See my Current Mead Making Techniques article here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/current-mead-making-techniques.html

 

[Farmboyc]

What is considered a neutral yeast?

I use mostly KV1116 and EC1118 with clover honey and I have very little retained honey taste.
I thought that was par for the course

 

[loveofrose]

"Neutral" is actually a description of the yeast ester profile. Some yeast are ester producing machines (KIV) while others produce very few esters (EC1118, Wyeast 1388). When dealing with delicate flavors, I prefer neutral yeast. Otherwise, you spent a bunch of money on special honey just to taste your yeast!


Better brewing through science!

See my brewing site at www.denardbrewing.com

See my Current Mead Making Techniques article here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/current-mead-making-techniques.html

 

[stilts1007]

Not much activity on this board, but I figured I'd ask since I just got a shipment of stuff from Meridian Hive. I really liked everything I've tried so far but was especially impressed by their lower-ABV carbonated "Draft" meads (especially Discovery). I also had a good dry-hopped carbonated mead on tap at Misbeehavin' Meads in Valparaiso, IN a couple weeks ago. Anyone have any recommendations of other places that do carbonated meads that are more sessionable like this? Preferably ones that ship to IL...