What is Mead?

What is mead, exactly? Mead, also known as honey wine, is a fermented alcoholic beverage made primarily from honey, water and yeast. Mead alcohol? That’s right. Alcohol made from honey. While technically a wine and naturally gluten free, there are a multitude of different styles of mead. If you are thinking that you shouldn’t try mead because you don’t like sweet wine, think again. If you drink alcohol, there is a variety of mead for you.

Now for some history... Mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages known to man, predating beer and wine. The earliest evidence was found in northern China dating to 6500-7000 BCE. You might also have heard it named in works of literature like the epic poem Beowulf or The Lord of the Rings. Of course, Game of Thrones really brought mead to the forefront most recently.

But don’t let it fool you: mead isn’t reserved for dead guys, D&D, and Vikings. Vikings may get all the credit, but there is evidence of mead being produced in many different cultures. After all, the most simple mead is made with honey, water, and spontaneous fermentation, so it is no surprise that mead has popped up all over. Still wondering if mead is right for you? The only way to find out is to try it yourself.

What Does Mead Taste Like?

We've been asked this a lot, and the answer is simple... it's amazing. However, just like any beverage, it varies by style and maker. Mead can have a wide range of flavors, alcohol levels, and calorie counts. Mead alcohol levels vary greatly, which is great because you can have a low ABV spritzer for a hot day or a high alcohol boozer for an appretif. We occasionally get customers concerned that they won’t like mead because they think it will be too sweet. Yes, there are some sweet meads, but sweetness depends on the style. Mead can range from a very sweet dessert style to an austere bone dry wine and everything possible in between.

There are a multitude of factors that can impart flavor. We like to maintain a good honey profile throughout, since we feel that mead should taste like honey. Seasonal variations in blooming cycles, weather patterns, rainfall, and soil type translate directly into distinctly flavored honey. The mead can take on additional flavors and aroma from ingredients (also known as adjuncts) including fruits and spices, the yeast used, and the aging process. 

Like wine, the climatic changes from year to year result in no two years tasting exactly the same, and when it's gone, it's gone. If you find a mead you like, buy it and buy a lot!

Styles of Mead

There are many styles of mead. Each style is derived from the type of ingredients you use to make your mead. We like to keep it simple, and only make what we like and what our customers like. (If you have an idea, throw it our way: we are militant experimenters.) If you take the base of honey, water, and yeast, you have what is referred to as a traditional mead. Here are just a few of the most common mead styles you will might see on a menu or in a store:

Melomel

A mead that also contains fruit (such as blueberry, strawberry, or melon)

Pyment

A mead fermented with honey and grape juice (unfermented wine)

Cyser

A mead fermented with honey and apple juice/cider

Some other mead styles that you might encounter include:

• Metheglin - Mead made with spices. The term 'medicine' is believed to have its roots in Metheglin, as for centuries, this infused mead has been a popular remedy for colds and various ailments.

• Bochet - Mead made with honey that has been caramelized or burnt, yielding a distinctive profile with dark, smoky notes reminiscent of toffee, caramel, or marshmallow.

• Braggot - Mead made with a cofermentation of honey and malted barley, giving rise to a unique mead-beer fusion. Braggots are not gluten free.

For more information on mead and the variety of mead styles, click here.

Today’s Modern Mead

Mead is one of the fastest growing segments in the US alcohol industry, and we’re proud to be a part of it. With meaderies popping up all over the US, we are happy to be among the first in the San Diego area. We are passionate about helping this industry grow, and even more passionate about teaching people about mead.

If you get the courage to try a mead and find that it isn’t quite to your liking, fret not. There are many varieties and there is a style for you. It may just take a little dedicated drinking on your part. I’m sure you won’t mind.

If you’re in the San Diego area, stop by our tasting room for a mead flight to try several different styles. If you aren’t in San Diego, we have a select number of bottles available for shipping.