6 replies to this topic

[wengared]

we finally had a chance to try Redstones Blackberry mead at the st. louis microfest, my question is this an example of how a mead should be? To be honest, it reminded me of flavored soda pop. Olivers is the only other commercial mead we've tried and it retains more of the honey flavor, which is how mine is.

[MtnBrewer]

we finally had a chance to try Redstones Blackberry mead at the st. louis microfest, my question is this an example of how a mead should be? To be honest, it reminded me of flavored soda pop. Olivers is the only other commercial mead we've tried and it retains more of the honey flavor, which is how mine is.

Redstone's "Nectar" line is targeted as an entry-level mead. It's low gravity and carbonated so it's pretty hard to take it seriously.

[wengared]

Redstone's "Nectar" line is targeted as an entry-level mead. It's low gravity and carbonated so it's pretty hard to take it seriously.

what is your defination of entry level mead? I mean is this to get the average person use to it or? pop wine, boones farm stuff?

[ScottS]

Redstone's "Nectar" line is targeted as an entry-level mead. It's low gravity and carbonated so it's pretty hard to take it seriously.

Absolutely right. It's more of a wine cooler type drink than a traditional mead.

what is your defination of entry level mead? I mean is this to get the average person use to it or? pop wine, boones farm stuff?

Low alcohol, fizzy, sweet, little complexity, etc.In contrast to something like a cyser, where it's a full 14%, well aged, still, complex.... fascinating and wonderful.

[strangebrewer]

what is your defination of entry level mead? I mean is this to get the average person use to it or? pop wine, boones farm stuff?

I'd call Boones farm entry into the world of splitting headaches more than anything else.Redstones nectar's are melomels, lower ABV, higher residual sugar, and lightly carbed. So they are a little spritzer like but don't have the cloying sweetness that I associate with something like a wine cooler. I think medium sweet would be the accurate description. All in all they are very easy to drink so I'd agree they make a nice intro into the world of honey fermented beverages.

[wengared]

I'd call Boones farm entry into the world of splitting headaches more than anything else.Redstones nectar's are melomels, lower ABV, higher residual sugar, and lightly carbed. So they are a little spritzer like but don't have the cloying sweetness that I associate with something like a wine cooler. I think medium sweet would be the accurate description. All in all they are very easy to drink so I'd agree they make a nice intro into the world of honey fermented beverages.

Well SWMBO liked it a lot, better then what i've given her in the way of meads, she's not a big fan of honey taste, so where would i find a recipe to make mead this way?

[strangebrewer]

Well SWMBO liked it a lot, better then what i've given her in the way of meads, she's not a big fan of honey taste, so where would i find a recipe to make mead this way?

Redstone is pretty liberal with information so you can find a bit on their site. Strait from their site for the Black Raspberry Nectar it says 5 parts clover to 1 part wildflower, 8% ABV, and medium sweetness. I haven't had it in a while but I'd presume it's got a FG around 1.010 to 1.015. Do the math backwards and it should put you in the ball park.Only part they don't disclose is how much blackberry they add. That's personal preference but with an acidic fruit finding the balance between the tart acidity of the fruit and residual sweetness of the honey is the trick.