Shady Grove Meadery Reviews

alexsdad06	3.5 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead 375 ml bottle via trade shared with the Nine Giant crew. Pours a clear pale golden color with no head. The aroma and flavor have sweet honey, floral, mild phenolic, not bad for being at least 10 years old. Thursday, December 2, 2021
KYBrewer	4 Shady Grove Touch-Me-Not Orange-Clove Metheglin Saturday, December 27, 2014
KYBrewer	3 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead Saturday, December 27, 2014
KYBrewer	2 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Sparkling Dry Mead Saturday, December 27, 2014
KYBrewer	3 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Saturday, December 27, 2014
KYBrewer	3 Shady Grove Pineapple Honey Wine Saturday, December 27, 2014
robnights	2.8 Shady Grove Musky Mountain Grape Plenty of fizz, with something similar to a dry white wine going on. Light head that dissipates quickly, and looks like a stout but with a very different palette (light etc). --- Rated! Thursday, August 15, 2013
BeerHawk	3.6 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Bottle. Poured golden. Aroma of floral, light berry, light earthy, spice, and alcohol. The flavor found berry and honey with light alcohol. Medium body, sweet, berry aftertaste and warming. Friday, October 1, 2010
Beerlando	3.1 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Bottle, courtesy kp. The still body sports a lightly hazy, medium golden tinted body. Thin sheeting and legging shows on the glass, indicating relatively low viscosity. The nose is moderately sweet and very herbal, as floral honey notes are cut with fruity acidity, and notes of oregano and other dried green herbs show prominently. Wildflower and lemon make for interesting, surprisingly compatible bedfellows. Flavors follow suit, showing sweet honey and bright green herbs, hinting at mild citric acidity and a generally indiscernible fruitiness. Thin in body, lacking viscosity and liveliness, the fruit acids have clearly cut much of the heft out of this hybrid mead. Odd stuff. Not terribly exciting. Wednesday, September 29, 2010
decaturstevo	3.6 Shady Grove Apple Cyser Gold yellow pour. Medium sour apple aroma. Sweet apple and caramel. Medium bodied and smooth. Wednesday, September 1, 2010
lithy	3.4 Shady Grove Apple Cyser Sample at the Hawai’i Admission Day tasting from a bottle shared by me. Apple juice color, spotty bubbles. Apple honey aroma. Taste is solid honey, floral, apple juice. Wednesday, September 1, 2010
tronraner	3.7 Shady Grove Apple Cyser Sampled at the Hawai’i Admission Day tasting. Pours light green-gold and still, though there is a touch of petillance from my pour. A swirl gives even, lasting legs. The aroma is green apple, alcohol, a good floral note, and honey sweetness. The flavor is light floral honey, subtle apple, and a distant earthiness. The finish is smooth and somewhat herbal. Not bad at all. Tuesday, August 24, 2010
redlight	3.1 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Light honey notes with hints of berries and an herbal notes. Pours very light blonde. Light honey, hints of cinnamon and nutmeg with some citrus notes. Not bad. Friday, June 18, 2010
kp	2.9 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Name: Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Date: March 13, 2010 Mode: Bottle Source: Tasting, RBWG 2010 Appearance: hazy pale yellow, viscous with legs Aroma: light sweet honey aroma, light spicyness Flavor: sweet honey flavor, light spicyness, touch of alcohol Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20 Rating: 2.9/5.0 Drinkability: 7/10 Score: ** /4 Saturday, March 27, 2010
jcwattsrugger	3.3 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Traditional Sweet Wildflower/Blackberry-750ml bottle-thanks kp-pours no head and straw color. Aroma is soft (relatively) dark berry. Taste is dark berry, some spice. Saturday, March 20, 2010
GodOfThunder	3.2 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead I think this is the one I had, thank to jcwattsrugger. Pours a thin straw color. Aroma and flavor are packed with cinnamon and clove, to the point where it bites. I enjoy this. No offensive astringent notes. Not bad for a lighter mead, and could be better if the cinnamon was toned down a bit. Friday, March 19, 2010
BeerHawk	3.7 Shady Grove Musky Mountain Grape Bottle. Poured golden with a fizzy, thin head that settle quickly. Aroma of muscadine grapes, sweet honey, and light alcohol. The flavor was much the same with a slight earthiness to it also. Medium body, sweet throughout, dry, and a muscadine grape aftertaste. Sunday, January 3, 2010
tronraner	3.8 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Bottle. Pours a still yellow, a little more boldy-colored than I was expecting. The aroma is musty and floral with some notes of oak, distant pie-crust, and a subtle honey sweetness. The flavor is a lovely, nuanced honey with some very interesting floral hints. Oak is obvious but subdued, which gives a slight vanilla character. I don’t get the cherry the description suggests, but I do get notes of mango, papaya, dried pineapple, and maybe even kiwi. But the fruitiness is very well balanced against the other elements. The sweet finish lingers for a little while, but doesn’t give the slightest hint of alcohol. I’m very impressed with this one. Definitely my favorite of the Shady Grove meads so far. Thursday, October 15, 2009
nearbeer	3.3 Shady Grove Wolf Valley Pear Mead 750ml. Lightly hazy topaz with some gentle bubbling in the glass. Aroma of pear, musty grape, vanilla, honey and earthy beeswax. Flavors are similar plus some vinous alcohol notes. Light-medium body is tingly, warming and lightly dry on the finish. Saturday, September 12, 2009
nqualls	3.5 Shady Grove Touch-Me-Not Orange-Clove Metheglin Source:Tasting at the Meadery. Glass:Taster. Appearance:Straw yellow with no head. Aroma:Orange peel and clove with a sweet honey note. Flavor:Very flavorful honey, clove and a hint of orange peel Palate:Medium body. Overall:Second favorite. Monday, August 24, 2009
nqualls	3.1 Shady Grove Sparkling Apricot Mead Source:Tasting at the Meadery. Glass:Taster. Appearance:Pale straw yellow with no head. Aroma:Hint of apricot, flowers and alcohol. Flavor:Flowers with spice and apricots with a boozy finish Palate:Medium body. Overall:Another offering that is just a little to light bodied and boozy. Monday, August 24, 2009
nqualls	3.4 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead Source:Tasting at the Meadery. Glass:Taster. Appearance:Straw yellow with no head. Aroma:Flowers and honey with an apparent alcohol note. Flavor:Vanilla and oak are present, with a floral and boozy finish. Palate:Medium body. Overall:A good offering, but a little boozy. Monday, August 24, 2009
nqualls	3 Shady Grove Pineapple Honey Wine Source:Tasting at the Meadery. Glass:Taster. Appearance:Gold pour with no head. Aroma:Very much pineapple and sweet honey. Flavor:Very sweet honey and a pineapple finish. High residual sugar. Warming alcohol effect as well. Palate:Medium body. Overall:A little sweet and boozy for me. Monday, August 24, 2009
nqualls	3.7 Shady Grove Musky Mountain Grape Source:Tasting at the Meadery. Glass:Taster. Appearance:Straw yellow with no head. Aroma:Muscadine grapes. Flavor:Muscadine grapes with a floral note. Palate:Light body with bubbly carbonation. Overall:I thought this was very good. Not too sweet. Monday, August 24, 2009
nqualls	3.6 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Source:Tasting at the Meadery. Glass:Taster. Appearance:Straw yellow with no head. Aroma:blackberry, honey, oak and a floral note. Flavor:Sweet honey and blackberry with a slightly hot finish. Palate:Medium body. Overall:My favorite of their offerings. Sunday, August 23, 2009
tronraner	3.6 Shady Grove Touch-Me-Not Orange-Clove Metheglin Bottle, poured into a glass to view, then into a horn. Pours a pale, still straw yellow; a swirl leaves high, staying legs. The aroma is quite floral with some orange blossom hints and a nice, even honey sweetness. The flavor is rather mellow; honey of course, but a mild floral tone dominates. The orange is noticeable only if I think about it. It takes on a little bit of spiciness as the temperature rises. I like this one quite a bit, actually. Friday, August 14, 2009
lithy	3.7 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead A still pale yellow with a steady ring of splashed up bubbles. A potent dry and floral aroma of honey, lightly spicy from the alcohol, with a possible oakiness. Taste is much the same, a light vanilla hint of oak, subdued honey, floral notes, a finish of light alcohol and spiciness. Wednesday, July 15, 2009
lithy	3.3 Shady Grove Wolf Valley Pear Mead Clear effervescent yellow with a quick white fizz. Aroma is lightly flora, quite vinuous, with alcohol hints, pears peek over all of that. Taste is dry, big florals, some sweet pear is there in the finish but muddled with the alcohol bite. Tuesday, July 14, 2009
lithy	3.7 Shady Grove Pineapple Honey Wine Darkish yellow, still. Aroma is ripe pineapple flesh, sweet honey, alcohol. Taste is sweet honey again, faint alcohol and then a rush of pineapple into the finish. Very sweet but very good. Thursday, July 2, 2009
lithy	3.5 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin Pale yellow, still. Aroma is light berry florals, soft honey, a bit of spicing and oak woodiness. Taste is sweet honey, florals, berries, vanilla, lingering sweetness. Thursday, July 2, 2009
lithy	3.6 Shady Grove Touch-Me-Not Orange-Clove Metheglin Still yellow-white. Aroma has clove, light orange peel, heavy honey. The taste is big clove, big sticky honey, finishes with a light orange note. Thursday, July 2, 2009
lithy	3.7 Shady Grove Musky Mountain Grape Pale yellow-white, floral, crisp carbonation. Aroma is muscat grape, with a singing bite from the effervescence. Taste is more muscat which has a crisp finish that doesn’t linger from the carbonation. Pleasant like a dry sparkling white wine. Thursday, July 2, 2009
lithy	3.4 Shady Grove Sparkling Apricot Mead Pale white, sparkling carbonation. Aroma is floral, light apricot, mixed tropical fruits. Taste is floral, lightly spicy, fruity, with a drying finish. Thursday, July 2, 2009
decaturstevo	3.5 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead The pour is the color of green apple juice. Aroma is dominated by abv and honey. A semi dry with a hint of cask like abv. Solid mouthfeel that really seems like a honey/green apple toddy like drink. pretty nice. Good abv warmth a really nice flavor what more can you ask for? Monday, May 18, 2009
lithy	3.4 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead My Million Beer March Tasting. Sample from a bottle thanks to Suttree. Light pale yellow with a slight green tint, very pale and still. Aroma is alcohol, honey. Taste is mild honey, sweet florals, some apples, white wine. Re-rate at the meadery. White-barely yellow. Aroma is big honey, soft florals, delicate. Taste is dry, very floral honey, nice warmth and light but lingering finish. Original rating 7:3:7:3:14 Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Suttree	3.7 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead Thin, almost clear. Surprisingly understated honey aroma, but still very nice. Honey mixes with white wine and apple, plus some vanilla notes. Surprisingly dry finish. Not bad. Monday, March 23, 2009
nearbeer	3.8 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead 375 ml. Clear with a white wine look. Aroma of vanilla, earthy honeycomb and spicy-sugary beeswax. Flavors of leaf and light fruit, honeycomb, vanilla and hints of peppery oak and mesquite on the finish. Medium body is thinned well by the alcohol, which also provides some dryness on the finish without being too evident. Sunday, December 7, 2008
Cletus	3.7 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead Bottle courtesy of tronraner. Pours gold. Smells of wildflower honey and boozy. Tastes dry and floral with a nice sweet finish. Lacking in body for a mead this high in alcohol. Saturday, November 29, 2008
nearbeer	3.7 Shady Grove Blackberry/Wildflower Metheglin 375 ml. Lightly hazy yellow-golden and still. Aromas of musty grapes, spicy wood and maybe a hint of berries. Flavor is fresh white grape juice with some unidentified earth spices - must be the nutmeg, but I never would have known without the commercial description. There is a pleasant finish of sweet-spicy white grape, nutty-rice, rich and earthy vanilla, wood, and slight citrus. The light body is well-dried on the finish and has a nice little chest-warming to it, though the alcohol is well-hidden in the flavors. This is definitely (as intended) a dessert drink and was a pleasant surprise. Wednesday, October 1, 2008
tronraner	3.6 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead Bottle split with NachlamSie and muenster. It pours a still, pale, straw yellow with quick legs. The aroma is subtle and complex; it contains light honey and wood with lots of floral and vinous nuances. I can actually get a whiff of sourwood leaves, too (if you’ve never chewed sourwood leaves, they are very tart and kind of lemony and planty at the same time). The flavor is a pleasant woody sweetness, not cloying at all. This is much mellower and drier than their Traditional Sweet Mead. A light vinous fruitiness shows up, too. There is a subtle, clean acidity in the finish, and leaves a smooth aftertaste. This mead is very well done. Saturday, August 30, 2008
NachlamSie	3.5 Shady Grove Sourwood/Clover Traditional Mead Bottle split with Tronraner and Muenster. Judging from the pour, I was expecting a thin and watery mead. It’s not very viscous in the snifter and extremely fluid. The aroma is very tasteful. Hints of cork, honeycomb, and flowers are apparent. Taking a sip eased my concerns as a nicely oily palate was found. The 13.5% abv is very well masked on this one. The honey character is very natural and not overbearingly sweet. Everything is tastefully in check. The finish is papery and woody with light vinous character. This is dangerously drinkable. Thursday, August 28, 2008
astrofrk	4 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead Cloudy Gold. No head. Aroma: Honey, yeast. Flavor: Sweet honey, apple, well balanced to a honey-floral finish. Smooth. I would like to try this with crab or Lobster. A very good Mead and not to be underestimated! Sunday, August 24, 2008
wetherel	3.6 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead Bottle from tonraner on 3/24/08. Thanks! Surprizingly clear, with a small hint of yellow. Very subtle flavor. Not as sweet as their pineapple wine. Easy to drink, even though it is a sipper. Taste a little bit of apple, which might be a small bit of citric acid and the light sweetness. Very nice. Probably great with fish or lightly flavored foods. Saturday, April 12, 2008
wetherel	3.8 Shady Grove Pineapple Honey Wine tonraner sent me this beauty on 3/24/08. I really appreciate this Joe! I love meads. A still mead with recorkable cap. Slight yeasty aroma when popped open. A light yellow color. Subtle pineapple aroma. Strong alcohol burn, even with the very high sweetness level. Definitely a sipper and perfect with cheese. Oh how i wish I had some now. Very good, but then I’m a sweet freak, and a high alcohol beer freak, and mead freak. Tuesday, April 8, 2008
tronraner	3.4 Shady Grove Pineapple Honey Wine Bottle, split with NachlamSie. Pours hazy still yellow with fast-falling legs. The aroma is a woody honey sweetness with a little bit of alcohol and a distant hint of pineapple. The flavor, though, has a nice, strong, fruity pineapple kick to it. There are plenty of smooth honey notes in there, too, with quite a bit of residual sweetness. There are more subtle floral and woody notes, especially toward the finish where there is a slight tannic bitterness. The alcohol is assertive, but not overwhelming; it does leave a lingering, warm aftertaste, though. Definitely one of the better ones from Shady Grove. Tuesday, March 11, 2008
NachlamSie	3.4 Shady Grove Pineapple Honey Wine Bottle, thanks to Tronraner. This is a still mead with just a bit of haziness. The pineapple is not really noticed in the aroma. It’s woody, honey sweet, and just a touch earthy. Upon sipping, I find the pineapple to be quite apparent as an initial fruity sensation but quickly melds away to the tastefully done honey flavor. I get a little bit of wooden character on the palate as well. This is pretty nice, one of my favorite fruit meads from Shady Grove thus far. Tuesday, March 11, 2008
NachlamSie	3.3 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead bottle split with Tronraner. Pours still with a yellow hue and a considerably cloudiness. Lacing is quick. Shady Grove isn’t known for their intensity and this is another subtle offering from them, though probably the most robust mead thus far. The nose is quite vinous with the strongest suggestions leaning in the direction of grapes and light oak. Geez, at 16.5%, there is not a lot of burn or viscosity here. Alcohol is very well hidden and this is a medium-thin mead. This is definitely not a dry mead like so many of their others, but it’s not over sweet either. Just a nice little honey kick in the finish with the focus being on wood tones and vinous flavors. Not bad, strangely refreshing for what it is. Sunday, October 14, 2007
tronraner	3.3 Shady Grove Poplar/Clover Traditional Sweet Mead 375 mL bottle, split with NachlamSie. Pours a very light, hazy greenish yellow. This one is still, with fast legs. The aroma is much like beeswax and plenty vinous, with some yeast and mineral notes under it. The flavor isn’t as sweet as I was expecting, but still has a smooth honey quality. There are some faint floral notes and quite a bit of soft woodiness (cork?), especially toward the finish. Not nearly as heavy as, say, Polish sweet meads, but that adds a certain crispness to it. I can pick up some sulfur here and there, but it just makes it seem more like a white wine. Not bad. Sunday, October 14, 2007
NachlamSie	2.9 Shady Grove Sparkling Peach Mead bottle shared with Tronraner and co. I get the impression that Shady Grove intends for these meads to be very distinctive from each other. I suppose that’s relative. Basically, after having three of their offerings my mindset is that they will all taste basically the same with just faint hints of whatever fruit they decide to include in the recipe. This fits that description to a t. The mead is sparkling, slightly dry, and light on the palate with just a medium level of sweetness. The peach flavor is natural and works quite well with the light honey notes. I found it was much more noticeable in the flavor than in the aroma. Saturday, January 6, 2007
tronraner	3 Shady Grove Sparkling Peach Mead 750 mL bottle, thanks to NachlamSie. Pours cloudy pale yellow with white effervescence. The aroma is light honey, some acid, peach Jolly Rancher, and a hint of sulfites. The flavor is dry peach fuzz and is quite floral. The aftertaste dries out. Some aspects of the flavor seem a bit artificial, but among their better meads. Friday, January 5, 2007