Meadlennium V competition report
By Mark Tumarkin

Saturday, January 26, I went down to judge at the Meadlennium in Orlando. This is one of just two annual mead-only competitions. The other one is the Mazer Cup, which is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Meadlennium was held in the classroom space of Tim's Wine Shop. Actually, we did a lot of the judging in the courtyard, a brick patio filled with sub-tropical vegetation. There were some very old espaliered bougainvilleas that climbed the walls and then met overhead. A truly beautiful location and the weather was perfect. I don't think you could sit out side enjoying a glass of mead in Michigan's January weather!

There were approximately 75 entries, up from about 50 last year. However, there were fewer judges than last year, due to the unfortunate scheduling of the Florida Brewer's Guild Beer Fest in Tampa on the same day. Hogtown Brewers were well represented since Robert and Jamie were there as well. We toughed it out and managed to get through all the judging despite the small number of judges. I'd hoped to win a first place with one of my entries. This didn't happen, though my Rose Hip Metheglin did take a third place.

Both Robert and I were asked to judge the Best of Show round. Best of Show is one of the most enjoyable aspects of judging. This is especially true for meads, and even more so for Meadlennium since we were judging in crystal wine glasses, on loan from the Wine Sommelier's Club. Looking at a table full of rows of mead-filled wine glasses, in a wide a array of sparkling colors, is truly a beauteous thing. It's hard to choose first, second and third from among a selection of excellent meads. Hard, but enjoyable. We finally arrived at a consensus, choosing an Ice Mead as first place.

This was a very well made traditional mead (only water, honey, and yeast) that had been frozen. The alcohol doesn't freeze, but some of the water and impurities are removed, leaving a much higher level of alcohol. This is a process of concentration and cold filtering. But you have to have a well made, clean mead to begin with or you end up concentrating undesirable characteristics as well. The process yielded a high alcohol, clean yet complex beverage that left us all wanting more.

The Central Florida Home Brewers put on a very well run competition. It is a small competition, but is still one of the largest collections of meads to be found at any homebrew competition. Keep it in mind for next year - either to enter or come on down and judge or steward, you'll have a great time.

Back to February 2002 front page