A Wood-Aged Mead is a mead with a noticeable amount of wood character, greater than a background level. Meads aged on a wood other than oak can be entered here, if there is a noticeable varietal wood character to the mead. Any prior mead style in the guidelines may be used as a base style.
Overall Impression
Any style of mead that uses wood at a noticeable level, but still in a way that is balanced, pleasant, and enjoyable. The wood character should not completely dominate the mead, but can play up to an equal role as the other ingredients.
Appearance
Same as the base style of mead, possibly with darker shades of color.
Aroma
Same as the base style of mead, possibly with balanced, pleasant aromatics associated with the declared wood variety and any process details (toast levels, etc.). The wood-derived aromatics should complement and enhance the base mead, not dominate it.
Flavor
Same as the base style of mead, with added flavor from the declared wood variety and any process details (toast levels, etc.). The wood-derived flavors should complement and enhance the base mead, not dominate it.
Mouthfeel
Same as the base style of mead, possibly with added tannins from the wood giving a drying quality and additional body.
Characteristic Ingredients
Any mead style. One or more variety of wood (oak, Spanish cedar, amburana, etc.) in any toast level and any form, such as chips, chunks, staves, or new barrels.
Entry Instructions
Entrants must specify sweetness, carbonation, and strength levels. Entrants must specify a base mead style, as well as any components typically required by that base style. Entrants must specify the type of wood used, and may specify the toast or char level.
Comments
Meads featuring only a background character of wood should be entered as their base style. Those meads featuring a mix of M4D Wood-Aged Mead and M4E Barrel-Aged Mead should be entered as M4E Barrel-Aged Mead.