Gallberry Mead - Any Recipe Tips?

[Amadeo38]

Our homebrew club’s annual mead day is this coming weekend and I reserved a gallon of gallberry honey. Not much on the web in terms of recipes that accentuate or compliment the natural flavors of this honey. I know which yeasts will allow the natural flavors to come through, but does anyone have any tips on additions/herbs/other ingredients that might go well with it?

 

[bernardsmith]

Apologies if this looks like a hijack but what are the flavor notes of gallberry honey?

 

[Amadeo38]

I wish I knew. I’ve searched for some time now and all I can see is that it’s “mild” and “perfumey when on the comb.”

 

[Amadeo38]

Anybody?

 

[loveofrose]

Taste the honey and tell us the underlying flavor beyond sweet. Without knowing that, no one can help you.

 

[Amadeo38]

Alright. I won’t have the honey until the day we mix up the must as a club, this Saturday. So, by then I’m guessing any flavor additions will have to come in secondary.

I’ll report back when I know more.

 

[Amadeo38]

Just an update for the sake of people searching for info on gallberry mead in the future. Mine was acquired from a local apiary in High Springs, Fl. I’m not super evolved in my “honey tasting palate”, but it just tastes like straight up honey to me. Very clean and mild and rounded. Better than clover but not quite as good as Orange Blossom. I think it’s just a great base for whatever fruit or spice you intend to use.