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Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser
Ferndale, MI
BJCP Category: 25C Other Fruit Melomel
B. Nektar <visit site>
39
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[expand]Total Score: 44/50
Low, balanced honey and cherry aroma take a back seat to the alcohol. Apple esters are not as readily recognizable. more >
[close]Total Score: 44/50
Bouquet/Aroma: Low, balanced honey and cherry aroma take a back seat to the alcohol. Apple esters are not as readily recognizable. Overall, a light aroma that is proper for a hydromel. Clean fermentation. (8/10)
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Appearance: Lightly carbonated (petillant). Bright clarity with a pink color. Long-lived legs with noticeable meniscus. Looks very much like a big, white zinfandel. (6/6)
Flavor: Big tart cherry flavor up front adds the acidity that keeps the sweetness balanced. Apple esters are evident. Fresh, bright flavors. Finishes fairly dry but not austere, with some lingering sweetness that embraces the cherry and apple esters. Very well balanced. Honey expression, however, is quite light with a touch of tannins to help with overall balance, flavor, and mouthfeel. There’s a bit of almond nuttiness. Alcohol is there but subtle. (21/24)
Overall Impression: A very drinkable mead full of flavor and balanced sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and tannins. The alcohol is there but subtle; it goes down deceptively easy. The aroma is not nearly as bold as the flavor and I’d like to see more honey notes, but that would be nit-picking. Anyone who likes mead or white zinfandel wine would enjoy this mead. Great accompaniment to a brie en croute appetizer. (9/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 38/50
Subdued honey aromas, with some apple present. Cherry is present, but in wisps—very subtle at first, but more pronounced, as black cherry, on rousing. more >
[close]Total Score: 38/50
Bouquet/Aroma: Subdued honey aromas, with some apple present. Cherry is present, but in wisps—very subtle at first, but more pronounced, as black cherry, on rousing. Apple character is spicy, dominates the aroma, with honey as a background note. (6/10)
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Appearance: Delicate salmon pink color, with brilliant clarity. No head formation. No legs on sides of the glass. Tiny bubbles continually rise to the surface. (6/6)
Flavor: Honey expression is overpowered by a crisp, spicy apple flavor that dominates initially, but gives way mid-palate to cherry flavor like cherry soda (Shasta is the brand—not sure if that was ever available nationally, and not sure it’s still made at all). Sweet and moderately tart, like a Granny Smith apple. Honey plays in the background, with a light spiciness. Very clean fermentation. Balance is in components rather than a blend of characteristics. Carbonation is present, but soft. Finish is crisp, dry, and clean with a moderate cherry note. (19/24)
Overall Impression: Easy drinking, but more like a cherry cider than a mead/cyser. The fruit character, both apple and cherry, is more pronounced than the honey character. At 6 percent ABV, the alcohol was not really evident in the flavor, and is therefore rather sneaky. It is quite refreshing on a very warm evening, but too easy drinking to be a session beverage for this judge. Quite yummy, with notes of cherry pie. I would score this higher if it were presented as a cider, since the honey is so far in the background. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Sour cherry pie as the mead is poured. In the glass, the honey is a little more prominent than the apple, but I do pick up the earthy, corky notes common in many traditional ciders. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Bouquet/Aroma: Sour cherry pie as the mead is poured. In the glass, the honey is a little more prominent than the apple, but I do pick up the earthy, corky notes common in many traditional ciders. Light alcohol notes but otherwise has a neutral fermentation character. Light sulfite notes emerge as it warms. (7/10)
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Appearance: Similar to a rosé wine, but with a sheen from suspended yeast or proteins. The modest carbonation leaves a crown of bubbles around the rim. This sample should have had time to settle after shipping, but perhaps I should have been more patient. (4/6)
Flavor: Lots of complexity from start to finish. It starts softly, with sweet honey notes, then the sourness from both apples and cherries crescendos toward a somewhat tart, dry finish. I pick up some tannins and almond notes, along with some woody notes. Low alcohol warmth, with some tingle from carbonation. The light-medium body makes this a refreshing beverage. While perhaps not a classic mead, it should appeal to fans of Belgian sour ales. (20/24)
Overall Impression: This is a pleasant creation, especially for quenching one’s thirst on a hot summer afternoon or after a zombie hunting expedition. The honey provides a good supporting structure for the apples and sour cherries, but a little more honey character and sweetness would help balance the acidity, add complexity, and emphasize the mead character. I will seek out a second sample and see if a clear pour enhances the flavor as well as the appearance. (8/10) -
[close]Total Score: 38/50
Bouquet/Aroma: Smells like a cider. Sweet-tart aroma, mostly of apples. Yeasty, nutty quality with a hint of sulfur—almost like champagne. Malic acid notes. More apple than honey or cherry. Cherry does add some complexity, but not a big “pop.” Apple is strong and clean, and has quite a bit of complexity. Not really getting honey at all. Nothing is off; it just lacks in cherry and honey in relation to the apple character. (7/10)
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Appearance: Crystal clear. Pinkish blush color, strawberry-like. A few tiny bubbles in a ring. (6/6)
Flavor: Sweet and tart, with apple in the palate and cherry emerging toward the finish. Petillant. Full bodied, full finish, somewhat heavy but not syrupy. Clean flavors, well-blended. Honey mostly gives body and support—not getting much flavor character from it. Cider/apple qualities dominate. Lightly spicy, as from some cherry varieties. Fruit seems fresh. Apples are fairly complex and interesting and provide considerable acidity and some tannin. (18/24)
Overall Impression: Reads a bit more like a cider to me than a mead. The honey qualities are subtle and the apple flavors dominate. Likewise, the cherry is in the background. It adds a nice accent but it doesn’t seem to be an equal partner. Very drinkable, but has more of a “wine cooler” taste than I’d expect in a mead. But as a 6 percent ABV beverage, that’s somewhat understandable—that’s a very small mead. Clean and well-made, just small and unbalanced. (7/10)
