White Winter Traditional Brackett

First time mead, sharing with my bro. Thanks to my co-worker for picking this up from the brewery. Pours an amber color with a thin bubbly off-white head. Aroma is caramel malts, aged wood, and some earthy peat. Taste is much like a barley wine with some peat and earthy characteristics. Quite enjoyable.

First time with a mead. Pours a clear, dark ruddish-brown. Aroma is somewhat like a barley wine but with some vinuous aspects. Taste is some caramel, wood flavors, light vinuous flavors. Pretty close to barley wine with more wine aspects. Pretty drinkable and enjoyable.

I didn’t really get the honey aspect of this, but if someone had raved about this as a great dopplebock, I would agree with them. Pours a deep clear red-brown, with a little bit of sediment and an ongoing effervescence. A large, rocky tan head deposits ring after ring of lace. Aroma is decidedly vinous, with port-wine elements. Cider and caramel also present. Flavor is rich and malty, raisins dominate. Gets spicy and slightly fusel in the middle, but here that’s somehow not a flaw. Cloves, citrus zest detectable. Finishes somewhat dry. Medium bodied, very lively mouthfeel.

Bottle. Dark amber with a large off white head. Lots of lacing. Sweet aroma of carmalized barley and hops. Thick palate. Flavor is a nice sweet start with a malty middle and a bitter sweet finish. This is by far the best mead I’ve ever had.

Name: Traditional Brackett
Date: 02/01/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

clear amber, whispy off white head, spicy sweet honey aroma, huge dry honey flavor followed by an assult of bitter floral hops, tons of spicy character,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

The first beverage sampled at the RBSG ’07 Grand Tasting. From 12-oz bottle, pours a clear burnt amber colro beverage with no head or lacing. Aroma of dry wood, caramel malt and some dark cherries. Taste is light carbonated, dry with a slight sour aftertaste. Not much honey in flavor or scent.

RBSG 06. This was a mead I was looking forward too. Unfortunately it was bad. Dry and chalky. No honey or other sweetness at all. Orange color. it was still, like a mead should be.

Sampled at the RBSG 07 Grand Tasting. This is my first Brackett and I can’t say it’s my favorite mead style. Honey and malt in the aroma but and the malt flavor, while not overpowering, did seem to dominate the honey.