TandemTails
Well-Known Member
Did anyone enter the 2016 Mead Free or Die competition? This was the first competition I entered meads into and I submitted a dry hopped tart cherry hydromel (M2E) and a spiced cyser (M3A)
The tart cherry melomel scored 30.5. The main feedback was that it needed more tart cherry flavor and tannins. One of the judges noted a 'soapy' flavor and suggested making sure my yeast is healthy which is strange because I was on top of aerating, SNA and temp control. Perhaps they were getting some of the hops?
The spiced cyser (the first mead I ever made) scored 33.5. The main feedback was there was a little too much going on (I used cinnamon, ginger, cloves, vanilla and nutmeg). One of the judges mentioned it was more sweet than semi-sweet, but it finished at 1.012 which falls within the semi-sweet category. At 19% ABV, the FG doesn't seem too sweet to me.
I didn't place but I'm pretty happy with the results. I'm kinda shocked that the cyser scored higher than the tart cherry. The cyser was literally the 3rd thing i'd ever brewed (after two cider tests) and I had no clue what I was doing. A few gallons of apple cider, a ton of honey, some spices thrown into primary with no temperature control, SNA or aeration and then just letting 1118 run wild.
How'd you do if you entered the competition?
http://www.meadfreeordie.com/
The tart cherry melomel scored 30.5. The main feedback was that it needed more tart cherry flavor and tannins. One of the judges noted a 'soapy' flavor and suggested making sure my yeast is healthy which is strange because I was on top of aerating, SNA and temp control. Perhaps they were getting some of the hops?
The spiced cyser (the first mead I ever made) scored 33.5. The main feedback was there was a little too much going on (I used cinnamon, ginger, cloves, vanilla and nutmeg). One of the judges mentioned it was more sweet than semi-sweet, but it finished at 1.012 which falls within the semi-sweet category. At 19% ABV, the FG doesn't seem too sweet to me.
I didn't place but I'm pretty happy with the results. I'm kinda shocked that the cyser scored higher than the tart cherry. The cyser was literally the 3rd thing i'd ever brewed (after two cider tests) and I had no clue what I was doing. A few gallons of apple cider, a ton of honey, some spices thrown into primary with no temperature control, SNA or aeration and then just letting 1118 run wild.
How'd you do if you entered the competition?
http://www.meadfreeordie.com/