The Hopped Blueberry Mead from Sap House Meadery is one of their well-developed standards. It won a gold medal in the 2012 Mazer Cup and silver medal in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition so its no wonder they made it a standard offering. Sap House describes the mead:
The art of mead making demands that there is a perfect balance between all ingredients stated. This mead does not fall short. Local Wildflower Honey and Native, low bush blueberries are in the forefront of this Summertime favorite. We use 100% whole fruit. Notes and aromas of grapefruit come aline from the while Willamette Hops creating balance between the sweetness of the honey, NH Maple Syrup and the tartness of the blueberry skins.
It pours a translucent light ruby color with no carbonation. Aroma isn’t super strong, but floral honey some vanilla notes and light blueberry are present.
It comes in at 14.6% alcohol, but it is incredibly balanced and drinkable. It’s a dry mead, but initial taste is sweet. It then finishes very tart and tannic. The skins of the whole blueberries along with the hops provide the tartness to balance out the honey and the maple syrup. The berry flavor some through in the taste, but the hops are only slightly present. I would’ve liked a little more hops in the flavor and especially in the aroma. I also don’t get much maple flavor in this. I’d expect a little more since its in the name of the mead.
Overall its a well developed mead that would be great on a warm summer day. I can even imagine it on the rocks…*gasp, did I really say that? I guess I’ll need to get another bottle when the snow melts!
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