Brewery: B. Nektar Meadery
Beer: The Dude’s Rug
Style: Cider
ABV: 5.5%
Character: Hard cider with black tea and chai spices (cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and ginger).
Ratings: BA: 3.53/5 | Untappd: 3.88/5
Metal Connection: LAWNMOWER DETH – Rad Dude
BeerMetalDude Rating: 4.25/5
Last year I posted 2 reviews of different B. Nektar Meadery offerings. Since then they have started distribution here in Texas. Damn, am I so glad this happened, because as of now, everything I have had from them has been amazing. Well, The Dude’s Rug Cider is no exception to this. I normally do not like Chai spiced adult beverages, but this one has a certain quality to it that puts this one above the rest that I have tried.
Just like the rest of B. Nektar’s line-up, this one features an amazing label. The Dude’s Rug is obviously named after one of the greatest films of all time, The Big Labowski. The overall feel of the label is reminiscent of the dream sequence that The Dude goes through. This label features a bowling lane floating in space. We are looking at this scene like if a camera is mounted on the bowling ball, which features the brewery’s bee on it. Really awesome label, and nod to this great movie.
I used a specialty glass that is designed for ciders. This Cider’s appearance a clear bronze color, similar to tea. Of course, there was no head, so no lacing, but that’s OK for a Cider.
The aroma was such an amazing blend of all the spices used for this Cider. Cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and ginger are all present, especially the ginger. Usually my nose can pick ginger out of a police line-up. My nose can also pick out the black tea, which is a bit muted compared to the spices. Of course, there is the overall aroma of sweet apples blended in there.
The taste was much like the aroma. All the chai spices used here are all present and accounted for up front and dominant. I am talking about cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and ginger. Again, that damned ginger sticks out like a sore thumb. The presence of the black tea in the flavor is amazing. The overall sweetness to the overall flavor comes from the apples. I love the lingering aftertaste in this one, as it reminds me of a sweet apple pie being chowed down on while drinking a hot black tea.
The body was a basic cider medium-heavy thickness. The mouthfeel was slick and oily with a sweet, crisp, and dry finish.
Overall, this was a really amazing cider. I am telling you, I rarely like anything that says it has chai spices in it. Some breweries just don’t know how to mix it in well. B. Nektar certainly does. This is a pure dessert drink, and a perfect end to my Halloween night.
Metal Connection: Do any of yo Metal heads remember when Earache Records used to actually release crazy underground bands? I do. One of those crazy underground bands just happened to be England’s own Lawnmower Deth. Fuck, I love their name! Just from the band name, and album title of their 1990 debut full length album, Ooh Crikey It’s… Lawnmower Deth, you knew you would be in for a wild and crazy ride! One of the tunes from this album, “Rad Dude” is our Metal Connection here for obvious reasons. Plus, this song is rad. Just listen to this 1:17 long song about being the rad dude who wouldn’t care about the ozone lair, and use hairspray if he was a Glam Rocker.
Beer Metal Media 