Stupid Man Suit | B. Nektar Meadery

Stupid Man Suit | B. Nektar Meadery

Seasonal (Spring) Cider Dark Berry Cider

5.5% ABV 500mL bottle $7.99-$9.99

Available Regionally

This dark berry cider boasts a 95 days... 23 hours... 14 minutes... and 38 second fermentation and uses apple, Balaton cherry, raspberry and black currant concentrate. This comes from B. Nektar Meadery who created the ever popular Zombie Killer, a honey and cherry cider.

I immediately gravitated towards this bottle specifically for it's label, an obvious reference to the 2001 cult classic Donnie Darko. As I looked at it I slowly lost hope for this- I am not a fan of Zombie Killer, nor am I fond of black currants. I justified getting this by telling myself if anything it's a $9 decor piece to put on my beer shelf.

I poured this into 3 small flight glasses to share and deliberate (I did not tell Matt or Frank anything about this cider except it's name). The aroma was a strong, tart berry and apple sweetness. The color was bright red, clear with no head. This was fairly light and thin, I expected a thick and syrupy viscosity so I was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't; there was no mouth coating or really any lingering presence. The first taste was reminiscent of a sparkling juice cocktail; highly carbonated with a fruity sweetness and little to no alcohol astringency. As my palate adjusted I was able to pick out the individual flavors, specifically the apple and raspberry. The black currants were thankfully used as an enhancer and not a dominate flavor (Black currants are so potent that they can easily overpower anything you add to it), which really goes to show the thought and skill they put into this. I found myself pouring another glass and finishing the bottle. This is very refreshing, easy drinking but also complex enough that I think this would be a perfect pair with a light desert or with a creamy cheese dish.

I asked Matt and Frank if they could identify the juice concentrates used in this. They both immediately said cranberry (I attribute this to the sweet and tartness of the raspberry and cherry that is cut by the dry, bitterness of the currants) as well as grape. Eventually Matt was able to spot the raspberry but black currants nor cherry were ever brought up. Matt compared this to a Moscato or Riesling, saying it was the closest thing he could think of to a sweet wine. He enjoyed the light airiness of this and thought it was a refreshing summer cider. Frank, on the other hand, is not a fan of ciders because of their sticky sweetness, so a semi-dry dark berry cider really tickled his fancy.

After hearing their thoughts I showed them the bottle and gave them the price. Frank was amused by the Donnie Darko label, but otherwise unfazed by the price and seasonality, whereas Matt was less than pleased. "At the end of the day this is a slightly bigger bottle at the same price as some good 6-packs, if you want to justify buying once it's because after you drink it you'll have a really cool bottle to use as decor."Depending on where you purchase this is ranges between $8-$10, I got this for a cool $9 from our local craft beer mart. Stupid Man Suit is 500mL (a European bottle size that is mostly used for German brews) which converts to a little under 17oz, a typical bottle is 12oz and a table beer is usually 25.4oz.

Our final ratings of Stupid Man Suit by B. Nektar Meadery

Lexi | 3.5/5

Matt | 2/5

Frank | 4/5

Disclaimer: Lexi is a Cicerone Server and studying to become BJCP Recognized. Matt is knowledgeable and has a decent understanding of the different styles and flavor profiles seen in each. And Frank likes drinking. Our intentions are to give quick reviews of the same beer to show the difference or accordance of opinion between 3 vastly contrasting people.