What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Moderate floral honey, some sweetness, slight dark fruit esters, black pepper phenol, white-wine grape esters, coconut, very light sherry notes, touch of bourbon, light chocolate, some alcohol warming. Honey slow to build but blends nicely with the caramel-oak.”
Flavor: “Nice honey up front, semi-sweet with strong oak, moderate vanilla, touch of smoky mesquite-like phenols, light chocolate, big coconut, some tannins, some astringency, moderate alcohol. Medium body. Drying finish. Phenols linger. Smooth with a soft finish that is spiked with the peppery alcohol notes rather than tartness.”
Overall: “This is a fairly complex mead that one should sit and enjoy slowly. It does have a bit of an alcohol bite, but the complexity shines through with varied barrel characteristics. Honey takes too long to present itself.”
What the Brewers Say
“We aged and fermented this mead in hand-selected, Samuel Adams Utopias casks from the Boston Beer Company. This flavorful, slightly fruity mead has a sweet, complex flavor that is reminiscent of a deep, rich vintage port, fine cognac or aged sherry.”