Mead Stampede scores are in!
I'm pleased with how I did.
My hōjicha tea mead scored well overall, but based on the judge's feedback I think it would have worked better as a semi-sweet mead instead of a completely dry mead, to help balance the acid/tannins.
Notes for "Tujku" hōjicha tea wildflower mead:
Bouquet - Honey, very slight Alcohol Tea comes through. 8/10
Appearance - No complaints! 6/6
Flavor - Acidic, slightly hot. Tea comes through, Sour. 18/24
Feedback - A bit acidic. Very slightly hot. Smoke comes through as well as the tea. A bit unbalanced. I would pull back on the acid a bit.
Bouquet - Nice nose, honey, curious smoke/grass 8/10
Appearance - amber brown, clear 5/6
Flavor - a bit tannic and tart, but nails the described flavors 20/24
Feedback - Interesting mead. Each ingredient choice shines through. A bit tart, dry. Could be better balanced
The mead I used for my experimental rice wine "braggot" lost a lot a lot of points due to the fact that the mead I used in it had a flawed ferment. I didn't add enough nutrients. Aging helped some, but not enough.
Notes for "The Empress" 60/50 cactus mead/forbidden rice wine blend:
Bouquet - chalky, fruity, heavy mineral presence 10/10
Flavor - interesting blend of flavors, presenting as acidic fruit mixed with gently floral honey. Faint bitter aftertaste lingers. 10/24
Feedback - An interesting blend, there's a heavy mineral presence amongst a bright, zesty, fruity honey character. But a lingering bitterness keeps this mead from landing a world class score. Please keep experimenting! This was fun to try!
Bouquet - prickly pear - mineral notes, clean & interesting med alcohol, inviting 9/10
Appearance - very clear, small bubbles around the rim 6/6
Flavor - low honey, lower acid and soft lingering tannin smooth alcohol for a sack. I get a tuna fishy off-flavor in the taste. maybe sulpher 10/24
Feedback - This is well-executed in the aroma. It is very inviting & mineral. There is an off-note that may be from frementation temp, or yeast nutrition. Tweaking this could bring something really delicious.