Schramms - Black Agnes (b1-b6 vertical)

Black Agnes is a black currant mead by Schramm's Mead.  If you are unfamiliar with this mead then you should find a bottle and drink it asap.  As of January 2017 there have been 6 batches of Black Agnes released.  All in the same 375mL bottles, all at 14% ABV.  The release dates, prices, and release methods have been all over the place over the years because of variations like batch size and the explosion of this mead's popularity as of late.  In general these meads are released at Schramms tap room to-go for around $30-34.  There have been instances where a small amount has also gone into regular distribution around the Detroit area.

Disclaimer: I'm a big fan of Black Agnes (BA) since I first tasted it a few years ago back in 2013 (b1).  More on why I love it so much in a minute.

First let's start by saying I was fortunate enough to be able to open all six batches side by side.  It was quiet the sensory experience, and an educational one at that.

L to R: Batch 1 - 6

Before I get into my thoughts on individual batches I'd like to start with my overarching general thoughts on Black Agnes.  It is one of my favorite meads because of its big, bold flavors done ever so perfectly in balance. The Black Currants lend this in your face, bold berry flavor; tart, tannic, and juicy.  But it's nicely balanced with a honey and berry juice sweetness.  If you're unfamiliar with currants the closest thing I can draw a comparison to is that BA is like a big red dessert wine.  Almost like a hybrid port/cab/merlot.  Aside from the taste, this mead is very opaque and stains the glass a deep red.  There's some alcohol legs but the big bold flavors mask any booziness.  It's an extremely drinkable liquid for such a massively flavorful mead.  Everything about this mead is bursting at the seams; yet beautifully balanced and artfully made.

Now that we got that out of the way let's get down to why you're really here.  What did I think of the batches side-by-side?!?  To preface: all 6 batches were very well made, very tasty beverages. But tasting side by side you can really pick out the subtle differences.  Differences in age, recipe, storage conditions, etc. I'm sure all played a role.

In order of preference is as follows: B1>B4>B2>B5>B6>B3

Batch 1 was the winner for me, although Batch 4 was close behind.  B1 was sublime, which I attribute to the age as it was the oldest at almost 3 years old.  A big melomel like BA in theory should age beautifully for year and Batch 1 BA is a great testament to that.

Batch 4 was close behind Batch 1.  Ever since it's release (I think early 2016) I've always thought this was a phenomenal mead.  Whatever was done in the production of batch 4 is absolutely spot on.

After that the batches were all very similar with a slight edge given to B2, which I would attribute to just having more of an opportunity to ages a little longer than B5 or B6. (B2 was released 2014 and B5 and B6 released in Mid-2016).  The only anomaly was Batch 3.  I found it interesting that this batch was last at it had something not quite as fantastic as the other batches.  Again, it wasn't anything but world-class, but there was something not as magical with it.  The flavors were a little more muted.  I'm not sure if age didn't treat this one as well or if there was a difference in that year's black currant or honey crop.

All in all this was a very educational experience and really highlights how much of an agricultural product mead is.  More so than beer.  Mead is so simple; water, honey, and maybe some fruits/spices. The ingredients play the utmost importance in a well crafted mead.  I highly suggest challenging your senses by doing these fun tasting exercises.  You'll learn a lot, and walk away with a better appreciation for the liquid in your glass.


If anyone else has done anything fun or exciting, or would just like to share their opinion; leave a comment below.

RELEASE: Misbeehavin - Berry the Dead

On Friday, January 27th Misbeehavin Meads will be releasing 

Berry the Dead- a black raspberry mead aged on french oak.

$35/ 750 mL bottle. Limit 2.

Misbeehavin' - Pineapple & Chile

 

Pineapple & Chile is, as you can guess, a mead made with pineapples and chiles by Misbeehavin' Meads, specifically Chiles de Arbol.  Pineapple & Chile was released at their meadery in 750mL bottles for $28 around late July 2016.  It is 12.5% ABV.
This is an interestingly beautiful mead that combines fruit and spices.  Do you call it a capsimel? a melomel?  Who knows, and who cares.  When a mead has such beautifully melded flavors categorization is irrelevant.

The color on this mead is a nearly crystal yellow.  There's a very subtle layer of sediment on the bottom that if the bottle is agitated will create a very subtle haze.  Not a distracting feature by any means.

The aroma is very tropical.  I immediately get thoughts of vacations in Mexico.  There's a wonderful crisp pineapple smell, like a tropical drink.  But at the end there's a bit of heat tingle in the nose, and you can get a little bit of spicy fresh vegetable pepper.
Easiest way to describe the taste is honey drenched pineapples up front with some spicy on the back end.  At first you taste this juicy ripe pineapple that's been drizzled in honey.  Then after you swallow the heat creeps up.  I'm a big fan of spicy heat, so I thought the heat on this mead was very enjoyable.  However I will warn if you're not a fan of spicy things this might be a bit over powering.  Another way to describe Pineapple & Chile is that it's almost reminiscent of a grilled pineapple minus the smoke.  Like a tropical dessert.

Overall I loved this mead.  It is probably the best representation of a capsimel I've tasted to this point.  The balance of sweetness and heat are in perfect harmony and the depth of this mead is really impressive.  It's everything I look for in a mead.  If I had to be overly critical of it I would say the presented format is not ideal.  A 750mL of a spicy capsimel, even with the fruit, is a bit much.  A 375mL format, probably shared between a friend or two, is an ideal serving size for this mead.  However $28 for 750mL of a mead this good is a steal of a deal any way you package it.

Brothers Drake - Peach Rush

Peach Rush by Brothers Drake Meadery is a semi dry mead made with peaches.  The mead is sold in 375mL bottles and clocks in at 13% ABV.

First impression of this mead is the clear, pale yellow color.  It's a nice still looking mead with some alcohol legs.  The aroma is a bit boozy, some peach, a bit of nutty peach pit.  It also has some white wine notes, almost a bit buttery like a chardonnay.

The taste followed with nose pretty closely, there was a nice subtle peach, dry honey sweetness, some chardonnay notes that probably due to the booziness. There was some peach skin tannins as well.

Overall this was a pretty nice semi-dry peach, although not one of my favorites peach or from Drake but it's a solid mead.

RELEASE: Superstition - PB&J Crime

On Saturday, January 14th Superstition Meadery in Prescott AZ will be releasing batch 2 of PB&J Crime, PB&J Crime is a mead aged on peanuts and blueberry juice and gives the sense of eating a peanut butter and jelly.  No limit release at the meadery in 750mL swingtop bottles for $36.  There also may be a very small amount (2 cases) available online through their webstore.

RELEASE: Misbeehavin: Tulepo & One-Shot Kill

Misbeehavin' Meads in Valparaiso, IN will release 2 new meads Friday, January 13th.  

The first is a traditional with one of everyone's favorite honey varieties, Tulepo!  Tupelo Blossom will be available in 375mL bottles at $14 a piece, limit 2.

The second mead is One-Shot Kill, and apricot mead also in 375mL bottles at $11 with a limit of 1.

Kuhnhenn - Dry Apricot Sack

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co makes beers, wines, and meads out of Warren Michigan.  Dry Apricot Sack is a dry, still mead released in 375mL bottles in the fall of 2016.  It was for sale at their taproom only and I want to say it was  either $18 or $28.

Dry refers to the sweetness of the mead, there are 3 categories of sweetness: dry, semi-sweet, and sweet.  A dry mead doesn't have to be bone dry just a like a sweet doesn't have to be cloyingly sweet, there's can be some blurring of the lines sometimes.  This mead finished fairly dry and definitely falls into the dry sweetness category, but there is a bit of sweetness underneath.

It is also a sack, which refers to the strength of the mead, i.e. alcohol content.  The 3 categories for strength is hydromel, standard, and sack,  Sack being on the higher end, usually considered 14% or greater.  This Dry Apricot Sack is 15% ABV.

Kuhnhenn's description: Apricot is a stone fruit that is known for it's subtle flavor and aroma.  Both are captured nicely in this crisp and delectable mead.  The finish is long, dry, earthy, and warm.

My thoughts:  This is an interesting mead.  The nose is fruity and floral.  There's a nice bouquet of fresh stone fruit, apples, and honey sweetness.  Very reminiscent of a cyser.  The color is a decisively clear, pale yellow.  Like a watered down apple juice (in a good way).  A very nice looking mead, and well filtered (it says on the label Sulfites used),  The taste is dry with a little sweetness, unripe apricots, and a bit our granny smith apple skin tartness. It may be the dryness that adds to that tartness, but there's also an interesting secondary interplay of a slight sweetness complimenting with a slightly sweet earthiness of a King Oyster mushroom.  It's a unique flavor profile that at first is a bit jarring but as you sip it became more enjoyable.  There's also some fusal flavors and heat, which might be expected with a dryer, 15% mead.

Overall I enjoyed this mead, although in about a 6 oz quantity slowly sipped over the course of about 30 minutes.  It's definitely a unique mead and not a style of mead that's as prevalent in mead these days.  It's a welcome change of pace from sweet melomels and an interesting use of apricot.