It's been ages since posting on this wonderful forum. Having a kid will do that to you...But I've been lurking around and meaning to post sooner or later.
Fortunately I have found the time to keep making mead. And drinking it...
So, I've rounded up some of my tasting notes and thought I'd do a review or two. I'll start off with a meadery that is local to me: Smokehouse in Sperryville, VA.
When first popping open the cyser, I noticed that the expected apple aroma was a bit muted. Most cysers I've had are heavy apple on the nose. This one is much more faint. That's not a complete surprise. All the non-traditional Smokehouse meads are light on the "extra" item - be it spice or fruit.
In the taste, the perception is the same. The apple is there, but it doesn't overwhelm you. That's fine. I could go for perhaps a little more intensity, but this has a delicate quality that works in its own way.
The mead is semi-sweet. Honey flavor and aroma are very prominent and enjoyable. There's no off-flavor that I could detect. It's a very clean mead; the vinous flavors present in so many meads is absent here.
The cyser is not very acidic, not dry, and is not aged in oak (I asked). You might think it's boring or one-dimensional, but it has some complexity. There's not as much depth there as some meads, but it is one of the most drinkable and pleasant meads I have ever had.
Cheers,
Jay
Fortunately I have found the time to keep making mead. And drinking it...
So, I've rounded up some of my tasting notes and thought I'd do a review or two. I'll start off with a meadery that is local to me: Smokehouse in Sperryville, VA.
When first popping open the cyser, I noticed that the expected apple aroma was a bit muted. Most cysers I've had are heavy apple on the nose. This one is much more faint. That's not a complete surprise. All the non-traditional Smokehouse meads are light on the "extra" item - be it spice or fruit.
In the taste, the perception is the same. The apple is there, but it doesn't overwhelm you. That's fine. I could go for perhaps a little more intensity, but this has a delicate quality that works in its own way.
The mead is semi-sweet. Honey flavor and aroma are very prominent and enjoyable. There's no off-flavor that I could detect. It's a very clean mead; the vinous flavors present in so many meads is absent here.
The cyser is not very acidic, not dry, and is not aged in oak (I asked). You might think it's boring or one-dimensional, but it has some complexity. There's not as much depth there as some meads, but it is one of the most drinkable and pleasant meads I have ever had.
Cheers,
Jay
