What Does Mead Taste Like? If you are looking for authentic answer to this question, you should not look around. Instead, you should read this post carefully as it will give you all the details about it.
Mead is fast gaining its position among the selection of cider and beers in taprooms around the world. The drink has a lengthy and lengthy history that includes evidence of its consumption going back to the era of 4,000 years. The movement to break away from the bland mass-produced alcohol in favor of distinctive and intriguing flavor profiles has brought back the honey-fueled drink back to its past splendor.
The most basic versions have floral notes, with subtle vanilla notes, and notes of citrus. The higher the quality of honey used in the brewing process, the richer the flavor! Certain meads are dry, while others tend to be on the sweeter side.
What is Mead?
Although mead is typically seen in cider and beer but it’s actually a type of wine. It makes use of honey for its sugar sources than grapes, and this contributes to its golden hue and silky mouthfeel.
Some mead makers diverge away from the traditional method and include spices and fruits in their honey mixture. Fruit meads are technically known as “melomels”, and spiced meads are known as “metheglins”.
What Does Mead Taste Like?
I’ve been told that mead is “sunshine in a glass.” It’s pretty in line with simple, semi-sweet varieties. It’s refreshing to the palate without being too astringent.
It has a subtle flavor that shines out like honey. And it stays on the tongue for a sufficient time to make the experience fresh without overpowering the taste buds.
Simple recipes make the perfect base for many other ingredients. Fruity, jammy meads made with berries can be a fantastic start for those who enjoy sweet red wines.
Stout drinkers can appreciate the more pronounced taste and mouthfeel that come with meads with a darker, more spiced flavor.
If you’re an IPA lover then you’re likely to prefer a more traditional, dry mead or one made with lighter fruit like citrus or melons.
Mead may come with varying carbonation levels, and these can affect the flavor. Certain varieties have a taste that is “still” with no carbonation and others are bubbly and taste as beer.
What Affects the Taste of Mead?
There are many factors that could affect the flavor of mead. The most important factor is it’s the grade of honey used in the primary fermentation. Drinks made from inferior quality honey are lacking in dimension and result in a disappointing drinking tasting experience.
If you’re hoping to create mead at home just for the sake of fun but you’ll probably be left with an alcohol-free product particularly if you make another fermentation that includes additional ingredients. However, to have a “true” mead experience out in a tasting bar, make sure to pick the brewer that begins with the best honey.
The Aging Process
The process of aging could determine the quality of mead when it’s finished. Similar to the case of wine made of grapes, the more time it is aged, the smoother it will emerge.
Aging plays a crucial part in the development of flavor and providing subtle flavors with an opportunity to develop. Meads that have more alcohol usually require longer aging periods as opposed to “lighter” meads to reach their maximum potential.
You can also find meads that have been aged in barrels, if you’re looking for something like that!
Storage
Nothing is more disappointing than opening a badly stored dark, skunky beverage. Similar to mead, it could “turn” and become unenjoyable to drink if kept in poor temperatures for too long a time.
The standard rule of thumb is that it must be kept away from the sun and in a dry, cool area. The majority of bars and tap houses are able to go through their inventory in a short time and storage generally does not pose a threat to the quality of drink when customers purchase mead for home consumption.
Mead tasting does not have to be difficult. The exper
How to Taste Mead
ience can be had like you would drink any other beverage that is new. But, there are a few points you might want to keep in mind in order to fully indulge and enjoy the fullest taste!
Appearance
Mead is available in a variety of shades, starting with pale, light yellows that range all up to dark ambers. Like beer, the clarity of mead is determined by the racking process and the filtration process utilized by the beer maker. Being aware of the physical characteristics of your mead can help you determine which mead you’re most likely to enjoy in the near future.
Aroma
According to the old saying, we are able to taste by looking at your nose, first. The smell of your drink as you lift the glass to your face will have an enormous influence on how you perceive the taste. By taking the time to sniff the mead prior to passing it through your lips can open your palate to a wider spectrum of flavorful flavors and aromas that may otherwise be overlooked.
Flavor
If you’d like to experience the full range of flavors that the beverage has to offer then you’ll have to allow it time to show it. Give your mead for a few seconds to sit on your tongue prior to gulping it down. Watch the taste change as you move from front to side of your mouth. Every time you drink it’s likely that you’ll taste something completely new!
Mouthfeel
Certain meads are light, and can be enjoyed quickly. Some are denser and have a smoother texture. The lighter the color, the less viscosity meads have however, that’s not always the case. Some meads can give you a surprise with their flavor and consistency.
Overall Impression
Be aware of these four aspects will allow you develop and refine your personal preferences. The more mead you try, the more you’ll see what characteristics are appealing to you. Being aware of what you enjoy will help you save cash in the future!
Our Favorite Meads
The meads below can be used as excellent places to start, whether you’re searching for something basic or more complex. Redstone Meadery and B.Nektar are quite easy to locate!
Traditional
Schramms – Heather Traditional
B.Nektar – Miel de Garde #1
Superstition – Honey Highway
Fruity
Red Stone Meadery – Black Raspberry
- Nektar – Zombie Killer
Medovina Mead – Paonia Peach
Redstone Meadery – Vanilla bean and Cinnamon Stick
Feisty Brood Meadery – Spiced Sensation Mead
B.Nektar – Spiced Date Mead Aged in Maple Barrels
Frequently Asked Questions
Although mead technically is a type of wine why is it sold in conjunction with beer?
It’s mostly due to the fact that craft beer drinkers are more open to innovative and exciting flavors. Mead is more popular among beer drinkers than among traditional wine drinkers.
Honey is sweet, but, then why does mead become dry?
The process of fermentation is when the sugar that makes honey sweet is absorbed by the yeast, and is replaced by alcohol. This is the reason why sweet meads tend to be lower in alcohol than dry meads but this isn’t always the case, especially when fruits are added during the second fermentation.
How much alcohol is there in mead?
Like beer, the flavor of mead can vary considerably based on the brewer as well as the style that the mead is served. It is also possible to find “session meads”, which tend to be lighter-colored and can have an ABV that ranges from 3 to 6%. The majority of “average” meads sit somewhere between 8 and 15%, however some can also be found in the 20 percent range. They can sneak in fast!
Wrapping up
What Does Mead Taste Like?
As mead gains the popularity it once enjoyed, it’s possible that we’ll see more flavors come to light. If you’re going to have the first experience with mead it’s recommended to start by drinking a traditional mead, before making one that is fermented with fruits. Meads that are traditional, when made using top-quality ingredients, should be a great choice for beginners!
