Where To Buy Mead Beer: A Comprehensive Guide

Mead, an ancient alcoholic beverage made from honey, water, and yeast, can be purchased from several online retailers and physical stores. Online meaderies such as Batch Mead, Drinking Horn Meadery, and Stone Dog Meadery offer direct shipping to customers, with some even providing free delivery above a certain order value. For those seeking a wider variety, liquor stores that specialize in wine may carry classic brands like Bunratty, Chaucers, and Redstone, as well as newer options like Moonlight, Nectar Creek, and B. Nektar. Additionally, some local meaderies offer in-person tastings and tours, providing an opportunity to sample and purchase mead directly from the source.

Buying mead online

While the mead industry is growing, it can still be difficult to find mead in your local liquor store. However, there are several online retailers that sell mead, and some meaderies offer shipping directly from their location.

VinoShipper is currently the biggest online mead retailer. The website features a dedicated mead page from Moonstruck Meadery. Other online mead retailers include:

• Crafted Artisan Meadery
• HoneyMaker (Maine Mead Works)
• Meadery of The Rockies
• Modern Craft Winery & Meadery
• Orchid Cellar Winery
• Rabbit’s Foot Meadery
• Craft Shack
• Amazon
• Total Wine
• St. Ambrose Cellars
• Feisty Brood Meadery
• Acoustic Brewing Company
• Hidden Legend Winery
• The Honey Wine Company
• Wild Blossom Meadery

When buying mead online, it is important to be aware of shipping policies, as several states have strict regulations on shipping alcohol.

Some small-batch meaderies, such as Batch Mead, offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount. Others, like Drinking Horn Meadery, have a minimum purchase requirement for online orders to keep prices low.

Classic mead brands

Mead, also known as honey wine, is an alcoholic drink made from fermented honey, water, and yeast. It is thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world, with a history as old as beekeeping itself.

There are several classic mead brands that have brought this ancient drink back to life, following traditional recipes and ancient processes. Here are some of the classic mead brands you can try:

Lindisfarne Mead

Lindisfarne Mead is produced by a family-run winery situated off the coast of northern England. Their mead is crafted using ancestral methods known in the local region since ancient Roman times. Unlike traditional meads, Lindisfarne Mead includes fermented grape juice and herbs, resulting in a well-balanced, potent honey wine with a delicate, light, and refreshing flavour. It is best served chilled in a tall glass.

Mella Mead

Mella Mead, based in Wales, has brought back the long-lost heritage of the oldest alcoholic drink. Their raspberry mead is made with the purest honey extracted from lush meadows of fresh wild Welsh flowers, packed with summer fruits. This full-bodied mead is fermented with ripe raspberries, offering rich aromas of refreshing berries and brambles, with a delightful kick of menthol on the finish. It is best enjoyed neat with pork, cheese dishes, desserts, or as a cocktail ingredient.

Kinsale Wild Red Mead

Kinsale Mead Co is Ireland's first meadery in the last 200 years, established in 2016 by Kate and Denis Dempsey. Their Wild Red Mead follows old medieval processes combined with modern techniques. Inspired by the story of the red-headed pirate Anne Bonny, this mead is crafted with high-quality natural ingredients from various botanical sources. It includes raw honey, black currants, dark cherries, water, and yeast, and is fermented for 3-5 weeks before being aged for 6 months. The result is a semi-dry, full-flavoured, well-balanced mead with a deep burgundy colour and aromatic notes of berries and fruits. It is perfect served neat over ice or as a base for fruity cocktails.

Friary Honey Mead

Friary Mead is a family-run business in the United Kingdom, run by two sisters who create interesting, tasty drinks based on traditional methods passed down through generations. Their honey mead is handcrafted from fermented honey with added white grape and apple juice, spicy ginger, and a touch of 3-year-old Scottish Whisky. This blend gives the mead intensity and strength, beautifully balancing the ingredients. It has a light gold colour and opens with an intense nose of whiskey and ginger root, followed by zesty notes of apple and grape juice smoothed by the honey's sweetness. It is best served neat and pairs well with cheeses and desserts.

Lietuviskas Midus

Lietuviskas Midus is a Lithuanian distillery based in the old town of Stakliskes, and it is the only mead producer in the Baltic States. Their Zalgiris Mead is crafted using natural, locally sourced organic ingredients, including fermented honey, water, and added herbs, fruits, or berries. It is traditionally brewed between 15 to 24 months, depending on the desired strength. Their Zalgiris Balsam Mead is the strongest in their range, mixed with ethyl alcohol and distilled to produce a 75% strong balsam mead. This mead has a unique balsamic flavour, with gentle spiciness and zesty cranberry notes balanced by honey's sweetness.

These classic mead brands offer a range of delicious and traditional meads that showcase the ancient art of mead-making. Each brand has its unique take on this ancient beverage, incorporating local ingredients and time-honoured techniques to create distinctive flavours and aromas.

New mead brands

Mead, an alcoholic drink made from fermented honey, is experiencing a revival. While some of the classic mead brands include Bunratty, Chaucers, and Redstone, several new brands have emerged with good distribution, such as Moonlight, Nectar Creek, B. Nektar, and Schramm. Here is a closer look at some of these new mead brands:

Moonlight Meadery

Moonlight Meadery, based in New Hampshire, uses a variety of organic honeys from Brazil, Zambia, and other places to produce its meads. Their meads are crafted with a basic formula of one part honey to three parts water, fermented with a white wine yeast. Moonlight Meadery's offerings include 'Desire', with notes of blueberries, black cherries, and currants; 'Fling', with flavours of orange blossom and rhubarb; and 'Sensual', made from wildflower honey and white flowers. Their meads have an ABV range of 12% to 16%.

B. Nektar

B. Nektar, a Michigan-based meadery, offers a diverse range of meads, including traditional orange blossom honey meads and unique bottlings like agave mead and cherry chipotle mead. Their meads typically have an ABV range of 6% to 15%.

Batch Mead

Batch Mead is a small-batch meadery based in Temecula, California. They craft their meads with locally sourced honey, apples, and other ingredients, and have created over 100 different flavours. Batch Mead does not use any artificial additives, colourings, or extracts in their meads. They have won multiple awards, including Best in Show at the San Diego International Beer Festival in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Charm City Meadworks

Charm City Meadworks, based in Maryland, offers canned meads with an ABV of just under 7%. Their meads come in a variety of flavours, including Wildflower, Hibiscus, Basil Lemongrass, Raspberry Coconut, and Pumpkin Spice.

Drinking Horn Meadery

Drinking Horn Meadery offers Traditional, Regular, and Seasonal varieties of mead, crafted with local ingredients and ancient recipes. They have a mead hall located in Flagstaff, Arizona, where their meads can be purchased and enjoyed.

Buying mead in-store

If you're looking to buy mead in person, there are a few options to consider. While mead may not be as widely available as other alcoholic beverages, there are some specialty liquor stores and meaderies that stock this ancient beverage. Here's a guide to help you find mead in stores near you:

Liquor Stores

Start your search by locating liquor stores in your area that specialise in wine. While mead is technically a wine, made from fermenting honey, water, and yeast, it often seems to be more popular among beer drinkers. As such, you may have better luck finding mead in stores that cater to wine enthusiasts.

Local Meaderies

Another option is to seek out local meaderies in your region. These are often small-scale, artisan operations that produce mead in limited quantities. They may offer tastings, tours, and direct sales to visitors, providing an opportunity to learn about the mead-making process and sample unique varieties.

Grocery and Specialty Stores

In some areas, mead can be found on the shelves of grocery stores or specialty food and beverage shops. This availability varies by region, so it's worth asking around or checking with local stores to see if they carry mead or plan to stock it in the future.

Distribution and Brands

When searching for mead, keep in mind that distribution can be inconsistent, and not all liquor stores may be familiar with it. Classic mead brands to look out for include Bunratty, Chaucers, and Redstone. Newer brands with good distribution include Moonlight, Nectar Creek, B. Nektar, and Schramm.

Location-Specific Options

The availability of mead can vary significantly depending on your location. For instance, in the United States, mead can be found in states like Wisconsin, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and California. In Portland, Oregon, you can even find sparkling mead on tap at Culmination Brewing.

In summary, buying mead in-store may require a bit of research and legwork, but with a little effort, you can uncover local sources for this delicious ancient beverage.

Making your own mead

Ingredients and Equipment:

Firstly, you will need to gather your ingredients and equipment. For a simple mead recipe, you will need the following:

• Honey (2-3 pounds, depending on desired sweetness)
• Water (non-chlorinated or filtered)
• Fruit (optional, but commonly used are blueberries, oranges, and raisins)
• Yeast (champagne yeast or wine yeast is recommended)
• Sanitizer
• Brewing jugs and buckets
• Airlocks
• Tubing
• Bottles

Sanitizing:

It is important to sanitize all equipment that will come into contact with your brew. Follow the directions on your chosen sanitizer and ensure that everything is thoroughly cleaned before proceeding.

Mixing Honey and Water:

In a large pot, heat about half a gallon of non-chlorinated water on medium heat. Once the water is warm but not boiling, add the honey and stir until it dissolves. Turn off the heat. You can adjust the amount of honey used depending on your desired level of sweetness. Using two pounds of honey will result in a drier mead, while three pounds will create a sweeter mead.

Adding Fruit and Yeast:

Next, add your chosen fruit (if using) to the brewing jug. This can include berries, orange slices (skin and all), and raisins. Raisins are added as a natural nutrient for the yeast and will not affect the final flavour. Carefully pour the honey-water mixture (called "must") into the jug, using a funnel. Top off the jug with cool non-chlorinated water, leaving at least two inches of headspace at the top.

Make sure the temperature of the must is below 90°F (32°C) before adding the yeast. For a one-gallon batch, use half a packet of champagne yeast. Put the lid on the jug and shake it for several minutes to distribute the yeast.

Fermentation:

Place a little water in the airlock until it reaches the line, then put the rubber stopper into the jug. Set the jug in a cool, dark place, and fermentation will begin. You should start to see bubbles forming within 12-24 hours. Fermentation can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks, depending on the ambient temperature.

Bottling and Aging:

Once fermentation is complete (when there are no more bubbles rising in the jug and airlock), you can bottle your mead. The flavour will improve with age, so consider saving a couple of bottles for several months or even a year to see how the taste develops.

Tips and Variations:

When making mead, it is important to use good quality honey and ensure that all equipment is properly sanitized to avoid contamination. Mead can be made with various ingredients, including fruits, herbs, spices, and flowers. You can also create different types of mead, such as melomel (fruit mead), cyser (made with apples), or metheglin (made with herbs and spices). Experiment with different recipes and ingredients to find your preferred style of mead.

Frequently asked questions