Beverage style guidelines are used with the permission of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). BJCP Style Guidelines Copyright © BJCP, Inc. The most current guidelines are available at www.bjcp.org.
Overall impression
Similar in balance and intensity to a dessert wine (e.g., Sauternes), with pronounced honey character, residual sweetness, soft esters, and clean alcohol. Complexity and balance prevent cloying.
Aroma
Honey aroma dominates, often moderately to strongly sweet, expressing floral nectar. Varietal honey (if declared) may be subtle to very noticeable.
Appearance
Standard mead appearance: clear to brilliant; color varies with honey.
Flavor
Moderate to significant honey character; varietal notes (if declared) moderate to prominent. Residual sweetness moderate to high; sweet, full finish without cloying, supported by balancing acidity and/or tannin. No sulfury, harsh, or yeasty notes.
Mouthfeel
Medium-full to full body; stronger meads feel fuller. Many examples resemble dessert wine; body must not be raw/cloying sweetness.
Comments
Balance of sweetness with acidity/tannin is key to avoid heaviness.
Characteristic ingredients
Traditional, varietal, or show mead honey choices.
Style comparison
Richer, sweeter, and fuller than Semi-Sweet and Dry; akin to dessert wines with honey-forward profile.
Entry instructions
Specify carbonation level and strength. Sweetness is assumed SWEET. May specify honey varieties.
Commercial examples
Moonlight Sensual, Lurgashall Christmas Mead, Chaucer’s Mead, Rabbit’s Foot Sweet Wildflower Honey Mead, Intermiel Benoîte