how long to age coffee mead

[amber-ale]

Good evening

I have a batch of coffee mead made in 2014 that I have been patiently trying to age into palatability. But I am running out of patience and shelf space.

It has been gradually improving, but still tastes like an ashtray.

Does anyone know how long is reasonable for a coffee mead to mellow?

Has anyone ever made a tasty coffee mead?

Is it worth keeping another year or should I reclaim my wine cellar real estate?

thank-you for your $0.02

amber-ale

 

[bernardsmith]

What does an ashtray taste like? What was your recipe? I have made a coffee wine (not a mead) and it took about two years before it was truly drinkable. But your recipe and protocol will provide a better idea if this is "reclaimable" or whether you might need to take particular action to salvage something from this mead (adding cream and vodka? )

 

[On-target]

I made a coffee mead that at 2 years was ok. At 3years it was really good. Is yours dry or sweet. Would a bit of backsweetening help? Oak? How strong ( bitter)is the mead now? I am a coffee drinker anyways, so I like the flavor, but the bitterness can be overwhelming. I could always store it for you if you really need the space.. Good luck

 

[bernardsmith]

Why should coffee mead be bitter? Poorly made coffee tends to be bitter but coffee is not essentially bitter. To make a coffee wine you might cold brew the coffee rather than boil it (cold brewing inhibits any possible bitterness)

 

[The_Bishop]

Was it made with hot brewed coffee? If it was, it'll probably never change. Cold brew is the way to go.

 

[On-target]

I cold brewed mine also. Depending on how much coffee was added , and how strong said coffee was will have an effect on the flavor. I suggested bitter because the OP said ashtray. The mead I made had a very strong coffee flavor that back sweetening helped alot. I offered the OP some possible suggestions for improving his mead.
I really don't think vodka is the answer to any mead related question though.

 

[amber-ale]

update!! it is now Nov 2018 ( started coffee mead in 2014) and the mead is now almost finished ageing. Almost all the ashtray flavour is gone and it is now drinkable ( and good). A little bit more aging and it should be GREAT.

So cold steeped coffee mead is a viable flavour ir you have the time to allow it to age. ( similar to chocolate mead)