Redstone Meadery

They've won several awards over that last couple of years, and from what I've heard they make a very nice mead.

I'd rely on Joe Mattioli, Dan McFeely, Vicky, Jab for firsthand opinions.

Here's a link to their website with some of their press.

http://www.redstonemeadery.com/daily2.htm

Cheers,

Oskaar

I've had quite a few of their meads. To be quite honest, I wasn't all that impressed with all but the high end.

The show mead was so overpowered with sulfites that I couldn't finish the bottle. The nectars had an odd flavor that I couldn't quite place - somewhere between too young and oversulfited. I'm sorry to say that I wouldn't by a second bottle of any of these.

The Reserve, however, is to die for. ;D $50 a bottle, and worth every last penny just to inhale the vapors from the bottle.

Yes, if you have access to the tasting room, by all means try before you buy.

Sorry Guys,
Like ScottS, I'm spoiled too now. I have tasted some really fine meads at the meadfest both commercial and some homemade. One homemade even had heather honey in it and the aroma from the glass was so strong even from 12" away that there was no need to drink it. Now the mediocre has lost its appeal. You might as well buy the reserve of Redstone and enjoy the best and then you can strive to recreate it in your own house.

I'm not paying $12-16 for mead when I can make as good or better quality myself. The only less expensive one I tasted at the Meadfest that I would buy is Spruce Mountain Meadery's Traditional Mead made from Clover honey. It had the most wonderful aroma and floral notes for a Clover Mead that I ever tasted. This was their first year and they won a Bronze at the Meadfest. I was impressed so much I drank a half a bottle in samples. They are located in Larkspur , Colorado but cannot ship to KY.

Best of luck in your quest for perfection. I have created some I like but I have not yet arrived. I am at batch 36 and still trying to find it.
Cheers,
Joe

I quite enjoy Redstone's traditional mead and the mead spiced with juniper berries. They both have a fairly complex honey flavor and aroma, with good body and mouthfeel. I do not recommend the nectars - too light and watery for my tastes.

And I agree with all previous comments on making your own and learning this great craft. But enjoying an occasional bottle of Redstone mead while aging your own batches is good.

Cheers!

I have to agree on the Necters, not my bag.

I rather liked the Vanilla/Cinnamon when I went on the tour so I bought a bottle. I had another taste of it at the MeadFest and still liked the taste. I am planning on cracking the bottle I bought at Xmas time to give it a more thourough inspection.

Also from the tasting/tour:

Traditional Mountain Honey Wine: This is the first Redstone I had. I bought a bottle a couple of years ago. Up to that point I had only had Chaucers (which I don't care for at all) so I thought I had hit the gold mine. I am much more 'experienced' now. It's not bad mead, but for my personal tastes it's not great mead either.

Boyesnberry & Plum: I rather liked these two, especially the plum. Again, I had no melomel's prior to tasting these. After some of the ones I tried at the MeadFest I would consider them middle of the road. Probably worth the money if you like either of those flavors.

The others I can honestly say that I tried but don't remeber any longer.

Reserve: This is the candy baby! I got a sample at the tour/tasting ($3.00 for about an ounce or two) and spent about 15 minutes just breathing the vapors! Worth every penny. If I could manage this (and I will someday as Joe pointed out earler) I would be done. I would figure out a way to retire and spend my day drinking it, cooking with it, bathing in it, errr. Alright, lets just say I think it is good.

I would give Redstone 3-4 stars out of 5 in an overall review of their products. I think the thing that is really tough for them (and for Rabbit's Foot, or any of the other meaderies out there) is that they are in an akward position of being 'first'. They have the awesome burden of 1) getting people to try mead, 2) getting people to 'like' mead, 3) keep people wanting mead, and 4) turning a profit. Any one of those is a tall order.

These companies are pioneers of a sort and while I am sure David Myers, Julia Herz, Mike Faul, and all of the other meadery owners would love to crank out gallons and gallons of their respective 'reserves' they all have a bottom line that needs to get met. To move product they have to be able to cater to the public's taste which is a varied as the wind. For some people that will be Redstone's Traditional, for others it will be RabbitFoots's Cyser.

The point is, while it is good get get an opinion there is no substitute for tasting it yourself and making your own decision. I would highly suggest taking the tour/tasting.

And now that I have rambled on for an eternity...what was the question again?

-jb

I'll be driving through Denver on my way through tomorrow, but unfortunately won't hav time to make the side trip to Redstone.

I'm helping move my brother from Orange, CA to Michigan so we are loaded heavy and trying to get there as soon as possible.

Wish I could stop.


David