Mead, often referred to as honey wine, has a rich history dating back centuries. It is a fermented beverage made from honey, water, and sometimes fruits, herbs, or spices. One such variation is cherry mead, which adds the delightful flavors of sour cherries to the mix. This unique combination creates a mead that is both sweet and tangy, making it a truly delightful drink for mead enthusiasts.
One of the key characteristics of cherry mead is its delicate blend of flavors. The sweetness of the honey is complemented by the tartness of the cherries, resulting in a well-balanced taste that is both refreshing and satisfying. This balance is essential to creating a high-quality cherry mead, as it ensures that neither the sweetness nor the tartness overwhelms the palate.
When properly brewed, cherry mead exhibits a range of enticing aromas. The scent of cherry brandy is prominent, giving the mead a rich and fruity aroma. Additionally, hints of rose and almond can be detected, adding depth and complexity to the overall fragrance. These enticing aromas make cherry mead a delight to smell before even taking the first sip.
Upon tasting cherry mead, the palate is greeted with a burst of flavors. The tartness of the cherries mingles with the warmth of wildflower honey, creating a harmonious blend that dances on the taste buds. The tartness adds a refreshing element, while the honey provides a smooth and velvety texture. This combination of flavors and textures makes cherry mead a truly enjoyable drink.
One common complaint some people have about cherry mead is that it can taste like cough syrup. However, this is often a result of the mead being out of balance and overly sweet. To counteract this issue, tart cherries can be added to the mead during the brewing process. The addition of tart cherries helps to balance out the sweetness and create a more well-rounded flavor profile.
For those looking to make their own cherry mead, a recipe using 2 gallons (8 L) of tart cherry juice is recommended. This quantity will result in a mead with a 15.5% ABV, providing a nice level of alcohol content without overpowering the flavor. It is important to follow the brewing process carefully and allow the mead to ferment and age properly to achieve the best results.
Cherry mead is a delightful fruited variation of traditional mead. Its unique blend of sweet and tangy flavors, accompanied by enticing aromas, make it a truly enjoyable beverage. By ensuring the balance of sweetness and tartness, and using quality ingredients such as tart cherries, cherry mead can be crafted to perfection. So why not give this delicious mead a try and experience the delightful combination of cherries and honey for yourself? Cheers!
What Is A Cherry Mead?
Cherry mead, also known as melomel, is a type of mead that is made by fermenting honey with sour cherries. It is a delightful and flavorful beverage that combines the sweetness of honey with the tanginess of cherries.
Here are some key points about cherry mead:
1. Ingredients: Cherry mead is made using a combination of sour cherries and honey. The sour cherries provide a tart flavor profile, while the honey adds sweetness and depth.
2. Fermentation process: The fermentation process for cherry mead is similar to that of traditional mead. The honey and cherries are mixed together and yeast is added to initiate the fermentation process. The yeast consumes the sugars in the honey and cherries, converting them into alcohol.
3. Aroma: Cherry mead has a distinct aroma that combines the fruity notes of cherry with hints of brandy, rose, and almond. This aromatic blend adds complexity to the overall flavor profile.
4. Palate: When it comes to taste, cherry mead offers a balanced combination of tartness from the cherries and sweetness from the honey. The flavors of tart cherry and wildflower honey blend harmoniously, creating a unique and enjoyable drinking experience.
5. Finish: Cherry mead typically has a crisp and refreshing finish. The tartness of the cherries and the warmth of the honey linger on the palate, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
Cherry mead is a delicious and versatile beverage that can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for cocktails. Its unique blend of flavors and aromas make it a popular choice among mead enthusiasts and those looking to explore different types of alcoholic beverages.
What Is The ABV Of Cherry Mead?
The ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of cherry mead depends on the specific recipe and brewing process used. In general, mead is a type of alcoholic beverage made from fermenting honey with water and sometimes additional fruits or spices.
Cherry mead, as the name suggests, includes the addition of tart cherry juice to the fermentation process. The ABV can vary depending on factors such as the amount of honey used, the yeast strain used for fermentation, and the duration of fermentation.
In the case of the specific recipe mentioned, which uses 2 gallons (8 L) of tart cherry juice, the final ABV is stated to be 15.5%. This means that the alcohol content in the cherry mead is 15.5% of the total volume of the beverage.
It is important to note that the ABV can be adjusted by altering the amount of honey or fruit juice used, as well as by using specific yeast strains that have different alcohol tolerance levels. Therefore, the ABV of cherry mead can vary depending on the recipe and brewing techniques employed.
Conclusion
Cherry mead is a delightful and unique beverage that combines the sweetness of honey with the tanginess of sour cherries. This fruited mead offers a complex flavor profile, with notes of cherry brandy, rose, and almond adding depth to the overall taste. While the mead may initially come across as overly sweet, adding tart cherries can help to balance out the flavor and create a more enjoyable drinking experience.
The use of 2 gallons of tart cherry juice in this particular recipe results in a mead that finishes at a robust 15.5% ABV. This higher alcohol content adds a warmth to the palate, complementing the tart cherry and wildflower honey flavors. Despite its sweetness, the mead still manages to leave a crisp finish, making it a refreshing choice for those looking for a unique and flavorful beverage.
Cherry mead is a wonderful option for mead enthusiasts and those looking to try something different. With its delicate blend of flavors and aroma, it offers a truly enjoyable drinking experience. Just be sure to balance out the sweetness with tart cherries if desired, to avoid any cough syrup-like taste.
