Showing posts with label mead club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mead club. Show all posts

Friday, July 21, 2023

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 02, Issue 09

Discover the captivating world of mead in this Latest Buzz in the World of Mead. Drinking Horn Mead, a Flagstaff meadery, faces shipping challenges in Phoenix due to extreme heat and switches to air shipping to preserve the quality of its honey wine. Mediocrity Mead partners with Vista Viking Festival for a Viking Raid event and are offering a new mead called Saffron Lemonade. Stroudsburg’s Stonehaüs Meadery is featured in DiscoverNEPA, showcasing its mead flavors and specialty drinks. Indiana Brewers' Cup 2023 Homebrew Competition celebrates exceptional meads and ciders, with Treehive's "Okaw Valley Cyser" and McClure's Orchard receiving top pro honors. Orpheus MeadFest 2023 highlights Colorado's finest meaderies and offers a day of mead tasting and festivities for all mead enthusiasts.


Drinking Horn Mead Will Only Ship Its Mead By Air Until The Region Cools Down

The Drinking Horn Mead, a Flagstaff meadery owned by Evan Anderson, faces shipping challenges due to extreme heat in Phoenix. To preserve the quality of their small-batch honey wine, they decided to temporarily halt ground shipping and only use air shipping until temperatures cool down. Despite the obstacles, the meadery's commitment to producing top-quality mead remains a top priority. You can read the full story HERE.

Some Lemonade To Get You Ready For That Viking Raid

Hey folks! Big news from Mediocrity Mead! They're teaming up with the Vista Viking Festival for the third year in a row to throw a Viking Raid at the meadery next week. The festival is raising money for a Walk MS team, so 10% of the proceeds will go to the cause, and you can also donate directly to the team. It's gonna be a blast with food, music, mead, and more! Plus, they've got this cool new mead called Saffron Lemonade. It's made with this fancy spice from the crocus flower, giving it a mix of earthy and citrusy flavors, and the color is insane! And hey, if you're planning to go, remember to don your tunics and drinking horns. One last thing, they've changed their Friday hours to 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. starting this week. Cheers!


DiscoverNEPA Features Stroudsburg’s Stonehaüs Meadery

Stonehaüs Meadery in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, offers a variety of in-house mead flavors, along with ciders, root beers, and specialty drinks. Stop by on Saturdays for live music and check their social media for upcoming events. Check out the DiscoverNEPA video HERE.


Mead Makers Shine With Exquisite Creations And Stunning Wins At Indiana Brewers' Cup 2023 Homebrew Competition

On a warm summer day, the Indiana Brewers' Cup 2023 HomeBrew Competition was in full swing, celebrating the craft of brewing and the art of mead-making. Brewers from near and far gathered to showcase their creations, eager to see their hard work recognized and appreciated.

Among the finest meads and ciders, Treehive's "Okaw Valley Cyser" emerged as the Best of Show Mead/Cider Pro, capturing hearts with its luscious flavors and exquisite taste.

The distinguished title of Indiana Meadery/Cidery of the Year was awarded to McClure's Orchard, a testament to their unwavering commitment to crafting exceptional meads and ciders that captivated both judges and enthusiasts alike.

Among the contestants, Daniel Hervey, a member of the MASH Fort Wayne Homebrew Club, stood proudly as his "Traditional Mead" took the top spot in its category. The rich and ancient flavors of his mead delighted the judges, earning him well-deserved praise.

Not far behind, Dean Steuerwald, representing the Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI), also found success with his "Semi-sweet Mead," securing a commendable second place in its category. But that wasn't the end of his triumphs; he also earned second place in the "Sweet Mead" category for his mead named "Aloha."

As the competition continued, Matthew Mead from Michigan showcased his expertise in crafting "Specialty Meads." His "Historical Mead Danube Cherry Dwójniak" won him the first-place position in its category, while his "Experimental Mead Shadow of My Predecessor" earned him second place in its category. Each sip of his meads told a unique story of creativity and skill.

The excitement reached its peak as the judges moved on to the Cider and Perry categories. Jeff Carlson from Grand Rapids, Michigan, delighted with his "New World Cider All Day Westy," securing the first-place position in its category. Not far behind, Chris Krull from Decatur, Indiana, wowed the judges with his "Specialty Cider Sugar and Spice," taking the first place in its category.

In a thrilling conclusion, Dean Steuerwald's "Berry Mead Hawaiian Punch" stole the hearts of the judges, winning the Best of Show for Mead & Cider. The perfect blend of berries and honey transported the tasters to an island paradise with every sip.

As the sun set on the competition, the winners celebrated their victories, raising their glasses in a toast to the art of brewing and the passion that brought them all together. The Indiana Brewers' Cup 2023 HomeBrew Competition had once again proven that the world of mead and craft beverages was alive and thriving, with talented individuals showcasing their creativity, innovation, and love for their craft.

Experience The Divine Nectar At Orpheus MeadFest 2023 - A Celebration Of Colorado's Finest Mead!

Mead, often referred to as "sunshine and meadows in a glass" takes center stage at Colorado's Orpheus MeadFest, a celebration of this ancient and delightful beverage. This event brings together the finest meaderies from Colorado, some of which have earned international acclaim for their exceptional meads. Mark your calendars for July 22, 2023, and prepare for a delightful day filled with the “nectar of the gods.”

Attendees can taste, savor, and purchase meads directly from these prize-winning meaderies at the MeadMart. The festival takes place at the spacious grounds of Jefferson Unitarian Church, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces for various activities and ample on-site parking.

Mead enthusiasts can enjoy an incredible array of meads from Colorado's best meaderies, immersing themselves in the rich flavors and aromas of this unique beverage. The experience is further enhanced by the harmonious melodies of Orpheus PCC, providing a musical accompaniment to the delightful sipping.

Members of the Orpheus Homebrew Club have the opportunity to enter their private club area and sample the home-brew entries from the Orpheus MeadFest Competition. It's a chance to explore and appreciate the artistry and creativity of fellow homebrewers.

The climax of the event is the 2023 Orpheus MeadFest awards ceremony, where the winners of the competition will be announced. Attendees can judge for themselves the best meads that Colorado has to offer.

For those seeking to deepen their involvement in the mead community, the Orpheus Homebrew Club Membership is available for an additional $5, providing access to exclusive club activities and camaraderie among fellow mead enthusiasts.

Whether you're a seasoned mead connoisseur or a curious newcomer, the MeadFest promises a memorable and enriching experience that celebrates the ancient and divine art of mead-making. Don't miss this extraordinary gathering of mead enthusiasts and connoisseurs at the Orpheus MeadFest 2023 on July 22.

From local meaderies facing shipping challenges to exciting Viking raids and award-winning meads, the world of mead continues to thrive and captivate enthusiasts. Whether you're sipping on luscious cyser or indulging in the divine nectar at a mead festival, the journey through this ancient beverage is nothing short of extraordinary. As meadmakers across the country continue to push boundaries and craft exceptional flavors, the allure of mead is destined to endure, offering a timeless taste of history and nature in every glass. So raise your drinking horns and toast to the timeless tradition of mead-making, where the past and present meet in a blissful harmony of flavor and delight. Cheers to the wondrous world of mead!


Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 02, Issue 03

Welcome to the Latest Buzz, where we bring you the most exciting news in the world of mead! In this edition, we cover the first commercial meadery in Arkansas, the launch of a premium Cellar Series line by Nectar Creek Meadery, and a triple bottle release by Brothers Drake Meadery. We also discuss what you should know about mead, the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, and the Nevada Craft Beverage Passport program. Lastly, we share exciting news about the "Good Fields'' Appalachian Food & Farms Festival and the 3rd Annual Sigurblot Viking Festival. So sit back, relax, and read on to learn more about the exciting developments in the world of mead!


First Commercial Meadmaking In Arkansas

Photo: Arkansas Meadery website

Tony Fry, a small-town Arkansas native who works in information technology, is changing the state's reputation by founding the first meadery there. Fry, who is also a homebrewing enthusiast, opened Arkansas Meadery in a barn on his Saline County acreage in 2021. Today, he distributes mead to five Arkansas liquor stores around the state, with more to come. Despite its historical roots, mead is relatively unknown to modern audiences, especially in the US. However, there are about 500 commercial meaderies in the United States, an increase of 650% since 2003. Fry is part of the state's movement to revive the beverage's popularity. For the full article, click here.


Nectar Creek Meadery Launches Premium Cellar Series Line

Courtesy of Nectar Creek

Oregon's Nectar Creek Meadery has launched its premium Cellar Series line with the release of Festoon, a mead made with plum and hibiscus. The Cellar Series is a rotating line of limited-edition meads made by the award-winning meadmakers at Nectar Creek. Mead is believed to be the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world and has been enjoyed by everyone from Vikings to royalty. Festoon is made with crimson hibiscus flowers, aromatic honey, and red plums, resulting in a tart and delicious beverage. The mead comes in cans and features a new look designed to appeal to craft enthusiasts across the country. For the full article, click here.


Triple Bottle Release At Brothers Drake Meadery

Courtesy of Brothers Drake Meadery

This Saturday, March 26, Brothers Drake Meadery in Columbus, Ohio will be hosting a triple bottle release at Brothers Drake On 3rd (1025 W 3rd Avenue). Featured releases are Queen Bee, a Granny Smith apple mead aged in bourbon barrels, Pyrus, a honey and pear wine, and Peach Rush, a peach mead. For more information, visit brothersdrake.com.


What You Should Know About Mead, The World’s Oldest Alcoholic Beverage

Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with the addition of fruits, spices, or grains. It has a long and storied history, with evidence of mead making dating back to ancient times in various cultures around the world.

AdobeStock

One of the reasons for mead's recent surge in popularity is the growth of the craft beverage industry. Mead makers, like craft brewers, are experimenting with new ingredients and techniques, creating a wide range of styles and flavors to appeal to different tastes.

Mead is also appealing to those who are looking for a gluten-free alternative to beer or cider, as it is made from honey and does not contain grains.

In terms of taste, mead can range from dry and crisp to sweet and dessert-like, depending on the ingredients used and the fermentation process. It can also have a complex and nuanced flavor profile, with notes of honey, fruit, and spices.

Overall, mead is a unique and delicious beverage that is worth trying if you haven't already. With the growing popularity of craft mead makers, you may be able to find a local meadery and try some for yourself. For the full article, click here.


Breweries, Wineries And Distilleries Participating In Nevada Craft Beverage Passport

Nevada Craft Beverage Passport

The Nevada Craft Beverage Passport is making a comeback for 2023, with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Made in Nevada, and 44 local craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, and taprooms participating in the program (including Black Rabbit Mead Co. and Deadwood Meadery). Passports can be picked up and stamped at any participating location, with every visit earning participants a stamp. The more stamps you receive, the bigger the prize. Last year, an estimated $42,000 in additional beverage sales were made from the passport, and five winners of Made in Nevada's gift basket emerged at the end of 2022. This program aims to highlight craft beverage establishments across Nevada and support local businesses while offering fun incentives for passport holders. Learn more about the Nevada Craft Beverage Passport and view the full list of participating locations to pick up a passport at agri.nv.gov/passport. The full article can be found here.


“Good Fields” Appalachian Food & Farms Festival Launching This Summer

Good Fields is a new food festival in the Southeast that aims to raise awareness about the importance of local farms and support local agriculture. Hosted at the 150-year-old Shipley Farm in Vilas, North Carolina, the festival will feature 12 top chefs from across North Carolina, live music, local craft beer and wine (including Moonjoy Meadery), and vendors. The event will support programs that help sustain local food and farms, donating a percentage of proceeds to various initiatives. The festival's co-founder and host, Bob Shipley, hopes to strengthen the local agricultural community and bring attention to the decline of family farms in the High Country and across North Carolina. For the full article, click here.


3rd Annual Sigurblot Viking Festival

Courtesy of Four Brothers Meadery's Facebook page

On Saturday, April 22nd, from noon - 9 pm (or later), Festus, Missouri’s Four Brothers Meadery is hosting the 3rd Annual Sigurblot Festival, one of the largest Viking festivals in the region. The festival will include vendors of handcrafted goods, live armored hand-to-hand combat, blacksmithing, fire and belly dancing, food trucks, live music, archery, and axe throwing. The event will also have a VIP tent for Mead Club members, drink specials, and fire pits to keep the air warm. The festival aims to provide an immersive experience of the Old World for its attendees. For more information, visit the Four Brothers Mead event page or fourbrothersmead.com.


Thank you for joining us for this edition of the Latest Buzz. We hope you found these articles informative and exciting. Keep an eye out for our next edition, where we will bring you more news and updates on the world of mead!


Friday, February 10, 2023

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 02, Issue 01

What's buzzin', cousin? In the first issue of the new year, we are talking the latest buzz on Superstition Meadery, Black Heath Meadery and Silver Hand Meadery at Virginia Governor's Cup®, Meadiocrity Mead, Pye Road Meadworks, Mānoa Honey and Mead, Starrlight Mead, and Obscurity Brewing. Let's dig in.

 Superstition Meadery Introduces New Mini Club

Courtesy of Superstition Meadery

The Superstition Meadery Mini Club ships three bottles of mead or cider to your door every month. Club Members receive free shipping and packaging on their club releases and any extra bottles they add to their shipment, and they also get 20% off on those additional bottles! If you're a Guild Member, even better, because you receive an additional 10% off on your Club shipments! You can read all about the Mini Club and their other clubs HERE.

Virginia Wineries Association Announces Virginia Governor's Cup® Gold Medalists

Courtesy of Virginia Governor's Cup®

The 2023 Virginia Governor's Cup® Competition is a record-breaking year with a total of 614 entries from 66 wineries across the state. Out of these entries, 142 gold medals were awarded to the wineries, which is a testament to the high quality of the wines being produced in Virginia. The competition has a reputation for being one of the most stringent in the nation, with a panel of judges led by Master of Wine Jay Youmans, who rigorously blind taste the entries. To receive a gold medal, a wine must score an average of 90 points or higher on a 100-point scale, emphasizing the high standards set by the competition.

The 41st year of the competition highlights the continued growth and excellence of the Virginia Wine industry, which has seen a significant increase over the years. The high number of entries and gold medals awarded demonstrate the dedication and hard work of the winemakers in the Commonwealth, and the competition serves as a platform for them to showcase their best products and receive recognition for their achievements.

In conclusion, the Virginia Governor's Cup® Competition is a must-attend event for both wine enthusiasts and the industry, as it provides a platform to discover the latest and greatest products from the state and recognizes the achievements of the winemakers with its strict standards and rigorous blind tastings. Black Heath Meadery and Silver Hand Meadery were among the meaderies who medaled. For a full list of gold medalists, visit: www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup/awards.

Meadiocrity Announces Valentine's Day Double Mead Release

Courtesy of Meadiocrity's website

It sounds like there's some exciting new mead releases at Meadiocrity Mead. The Dragon's Blood mead with dragon fruit and blood orange sounds like a unique and visually appealing drink, while the Ghost Pepper Guava mead with its sweet and spicy combination is sure to appeal to those who love a little heat in their beverages. For more information on Meadiocrity, click HERE.

Pye Road Meadworks Announces New Meads This Friday

Courtesy of Pye Road Meadworks

According to an email from Pye Road Meadworks, a couple of new meads drop today, Friday, February 10th. 

"Because I Like to Party is our blackberry and concord grape mead (the base mead of our "Party of Three" mead) with peanut and marshmallow!

This is NOT a PBJ sandwich mead - this mead is more like a classic adjunct stout, with rich blackberry and a subtle concord grape base. It's extremely smooth and is rounded out with a decadent combination of peanut and marshmallow!

We're also stoked to drop Rum BA Banan Straw! We've also taken our classic Banan Straw mead - strawberry aged on ripe banana, cinnamon, and plump Madagascar vanilla beans - and aged it for over TEN months in a small-format Caribbean rum barrel.

Strawberry and banana spice with rum sugar and oak... it's a super-special mead that we can't wait to share with you!"

Both of these meads will be available online on Friday at Noon ET with a limit of 2 PP for each bottle on the PyeRoad.com online store (preferred for local pickups, FL tax applies), VinoShipper (for bottles to be shipped, local tax may apply), and Oznr. They'll also have bottles available for pickup in their Tasting Room when they open Friday at 4:00 PM.

Mānoa Honey and Mead Announces New Guava Mead

Courtesy of Mānoa Honey and Mead

An email from Mānoa Honey and Mead announced

"Experience our newest ode to first loves. Made with Hawaiian māmane honey and Waialua guava, this specialty mead is aged in French Oak barrels, allowing for delicate, aromatic notes of berry, white florals and fresh wood to emerge. Reminiscent of Loveʻs initial blush, each sip is a sweet ode to falling in love for the first time."

Guava Mead is available to purchase online or at their Wahiawa Honey House.

News From Starrlight Mead

Courtesy of Starrlight Mead

Starrlight Mead has acquired the Chatham Cider Works brand! The involvement of the former owners in the transition process will ensure a smooth integration of the brand into the Starrlight Mead family. Selling through the existing inventory with current partner locations and expanding distribution will help to reach a wider audience and increase brand visibility.

It's exciting that Ben will begin making cider soon and I'm sure customers will be eager to try the new offerings. While the Chatham Cider Works cider is not currently available in the Starrlight Mead tasting room, it's good to know that it's available at Fair Game Beverage. This will provide customers with another option to try the cider and potentially lead to increased demand for it in the Starrlight Mead tasting room in the future.

The Newest Oldest Beverage

It's great to see the resurgence of interest in mead, especially as more meaderies begin to open up in Illinois. Mead has a rich history, being considered the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, and its association with Vikings and Renaissance Faires has given it a unique cultural identity.

However, it's important to note that modern mead is not limited to being a cloying sweet nectar. The craft meads offered by Obscurity Brewing in Elburn showcase the diversity and versatility of mead, with a variety of flavors and styles. This will likely challenge the common misconceptions about mead and introduce it to new generations of drinkers who may not have otherwise considered trying it.

The addition of mead to Obscurity Brewing's beer and cider repertoire is a testament to its growing popularity and the willingness of breweries and bars to embrace this ancient drink. The Under Rocks team's visit to Elburn highlights the joy of modern mead and I'm sure they had a great time discovering the different flavors and styles offered at Obscurity Brewing. The full article and Under Rocks Podcast can be found HERE.

I guess that's it for now so until next time, STAY MEADY!