Friday, October 7, 2022

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 01, Issue 08

Hey there my fellow mead connoisseurs. We are back with another issue of the Latest Buzz. It has been a while since we’ve had an update but it’s not from lack of trying. There just doesn’t seem to be an abundance of mead news floating around out there. But I did manage to find some so without further adieu, let’s rundown the topics for this edition. Getting us started is  the announcement for Washington’s 2nd Annual Mead Fest featuring 9 different meaderies. Then we have the latest on Fitzgibbon Meadery, Loew Vineyards, W A Meadwerks, and new releases from B. Nektar. So grab your favorite mead, enjoy a quick read, and have a wonderful day! Skål!

Washington's 2nd Annual Fall Mead Festival at Skål Beer Hall


Plan on heading out to Seattle's Skål Beer Hall on Sunday, October 30th for a celebration of Washington Mead! Nine local meaderies will be on hand to pour their Fall favorites. Come mead the makers, sample a variety of meads, and take home a bottle or two! 


Participating Mead Makers include: 

Skål Beer Hall is located at 5429 Ballard Avenue Northwest, Seattle, WA 98107. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Fitzgibbon Meadery Brings Authentic Mead to Ellwood City, PA

Image Courtesy of Fitzgibbon Meadery

When Eric and Misa McAnallen first met, both were into medieval culture and reenactments with a closet full of medieval costumes. On a trip to Tennessee in 2019, the pair visited a Nashville meadery (Honeytree?) which inspired them to open their own place. The two opened their own meadery to sell their products in 2020 as Fitzgibbon Meadery at 536 Lawrence Ave. in Ellwood City. Fitzgibbon Meadery is inspired by Norse and Viking mythology. “It’s not terribly realistic, but it’s fun,” Misa said. Since their opening, their products have won eight awards, including seven this year.

For the full story, click here.

MD Winemaker Creating Her Own History

Image Courtesy of Loew Vineyards

In March 1982, William and Lois Loew purchased a 37-acre tract in Frederick County, planted grapes, and by 1986, they were selling their first bottles of wine. When her grandfather died in April, Rachel Loew Lipman, 29, was already working full-time at Loew Vineyards in Mt. Airy, Maryland.

While Lois remains the winery's owner, Lipman is keen to resuscitate the business and use it as a vehicle to communicate the family story, which spans multiple generations of wine and mead producers.

So learning a few weeks ago that two of the Loew meads had been acknowledged in multiple competitions couldn't have come at a better time. Its Klara mead, named for Klara Margulies Löw, "the lovely mother of our co-founder, William Loew," was a 2022 Maryland Governor's Cup gold medal winner and the Jack Aellen Award winner for the best fruit wine, mead, or cider. Meanwhile, the Malka, a traditional mead, won a gold medal in both the Maryland Governor's Cup and the Valkyries Horn Mead competitions.

For the full story, click here.

W A Meadwerks in Lindenhurst Moving Tasting Room Into Its Production Space

Image courtesy of W A Meadwerks/Facebook

Roger Wanner, a co-founder of W A Meadwerks in Lindenhurst, NY, confirmed earlier this month his meadery is not closing, but rather relocating. W A Meadwerks will remain in Lindenhurst Village, according to Wanner, and the tasting room at 26 West Hoffman Ave. will be relocated to the company's manufacturing site at 290 N. Wellwood Ave.

Wanner stated that the intention is to fully reopen the tasting room in the North Wellwood Ave. storefront by the end of the year. Customers can also anticipate new meads, adjustments to W A Meadwerks' tasting and flight programs, as well as an expanded food menu.

Meanwhile, W A Meadwerks is planning a brunch fundraiser for the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, according to Wanner. The "Bees for Boobs" event will take place at W A Meadwerks' tasting room on October 23 from 1-6 p.m. Participants can enjoy mead and food, enter a 50/50 raffle, and participate in a Chinese auction.

For the full story, click here.

B. Nektar Announces New Releases


B. Nektar, everyone's favorite Ferndale, MI, meadery, announced their latest releases in an email blast.


Dark Dark Goose, 16.9% ABV
This one time, we tasted some coffee... and then we made a honey wine with the coffee... and then we aged it in a bourbon barrel... and then we went on a road trip to pick up an imperial stout barrel... and then we put it on top of the car... and then we drove home... and then we put the honey wine in the stout barrel... and it was so good... and then we made some for you.


Ain't Misb.havin', 14.4% ABV
B. Nektar's collaboration with Misbeehavin' Meadery
Starring Orange Blossom Honey, Pineapple Puree, Raspberry Puree, Raspberry Juice, Pineapple Juice, Natural Ginger Extract. Producers Brad Dahlhofer and Clint Wadsworth

Black Fang, 6% ABV
Don't be afraid. We're going to give you the choice to accept this dark gift. The mead is the life, and it can be yours. The seductive honey, clove, and orange zest penetrate the flood of blackberry in this forbidden libation. You never know what life was until it ran out in a cold black rush over your tongue. Drink up and meet your maker.


Eyeball, 16% ABV
They watch, but they do not see. They hear, but they do not listen. Don't think you are anonymous, however. Your digital fingerprints are everywhere, revealing all of your likes, fears, and secrets. Watch yourself, and stay in line. BigBrother is watching us, but are we watching him? Open your eyes and speak out.

For all the latest, or to order a bottle or five, visit B. Nektars website.

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