Necromangocon - B. Nektar Meadery

    Legend has it that years ago a group of friends found an ancient book hidden deep in the darkest reaches of their basement. Against the friends' better judgement, the book's clasp was undone - unleashing the knowledge held within. It is said that the book levitated and that its pages began to turn themselves at an alarming rate. Amazingly, the friends found that the recipe for a mead was instantly burned into their minds. Little did the group know, the creation of this mead would lead to consequences so dire that they cannot be fully understood by the human mind. Well, that's what the label says anyway...

    Necromangocon (Necro for short) is a mead brewed with mango and black pepper. The mead was created by B. Nektar meadery which is based in Ferndale, Michigan. It may be of interest that another name for mead when it is brewed using fruit or fruit juice is melomel, though I'll stick to calling this brew what the meadery has labeled it.

    Necro pours a very light and transparent golden color. Absolutely no head forms at pouring, though a few tiny bubbles cling to the sides of the glass and swirl about its middle. I feel that I should note that it's not really a common characteristic of mead to have much head retention or a head at all.

Time for a little light, dark reading. Reader beware!

    B. Nektar's brew has a very faint aroma made up of honey, mango, and other floral scents. There's is a definite sweetness to the mead's aroma, as well as a very slight yeast spiciness.

    Necromangocon is light bodied, and almost a little watery. Similarly, the mead is lightly carbonated, with just a few small bubbles tickling your mouth as you drink it. Necro has an alcohol content of 6% ABV, which while low for a mead, isn't surprising as B. Nektar specializes in session meads.

    Necro tastes lightly of sweet, floral honey. Mango flavors are light, but bright, though I would have liked a little more out of the mead. There is only the slightest tingle of pepper at the end of the flavor. Necro tastes to me a bit more like a sweet, sparkling white wine than mead.

    Light, floral fruit and honey flavors combine with a crisp and slightly sparkling mouthfeel to create a pleasant beverage with a slightly spicy kick at the end.  I find myself wishing that Necro was a bit thicker, and of a higher alcohol content for a bit more warmth to the drink. Overall, I'm glad that I gave Necromangocon a try. B. Nektar's brew also now has the honor of being the first mead ever reviewed on Amulets and Ale!

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