If everything old is new again, then it should come as no surprise that mead鈥攓uite possibly the oldest of all fermented beverages鈥攊s making a renaissance. Its earliest mentions date back to Plato, Virgil, Beowulf, and tales of Vikings and Norse gods. Yet despite it possibly being Thor鈥檚 pint of choice, honey wine hadn鈥檛 quite created the same buzz common with beers and traditional grape-made wines. That is, not until recently.
By count of the (AMMA), there are slightly more than 200 U.S. commercial meaderies, a huge difference from the less than ten in the mid 1990s. Similar to today鈥檚 commercial craft brewers, many commercial mead makers started with beer homebrewing鈥攖he gateway craft, if you will. While a batch of beer can be quite involved with extractions and heating, mead is appealing because of its simplicity鈥攎ix honey with water and let ferment.
While mead likely has the craft beer boom to thank for its growing popularity, the taste鈥攗nlike the process鈥攊s anything but simple. 鈥淭he current trend with meads involves a lot of experimentation,鈥 says Chris Webber, president of AMMA, who mentions ginger and chilies as two ingredients that come first to mind. 鈥淭he sky鈥檚 the limit with flavor profiles, and it seems as though there is nothing a mead maker won鈥檛 try today.鈥
Whether you鈥檙e new to honey wine or looking for a unique liquor that appeals to a craft beer lover鈥檚 palate, these meads take top marks in taste.
Pomegranate Pyment
Bos Meadery
Madison, Wisconsin
鈥淭art, sparkling, and dry鈥 are three words not often associated with meads, yet that鈥檚 exactly what to expect from the Pomegranate Pyment (13 percent ABV). This light, sparkling drink blends all locally sourced Wisconsin wildflower honey, with Riesling grape juice, and pomegranate juice for a beverage just right for giving mead a first sip.
Kurt鈥檚 Apple Pie
Moonlight Meadery
Londonderry, New Hampshire
This best-selling, is the perfect replacement for an after-dinner dessert. Made from local apple cider with Madagascar-bourbon vanilla and added Vietnamese cinnamon spice, Kurt鈥檚 Apple Pie鈥檚 (16.8 percent ABV) aroma alone is worth popping open a bottle.
Chazzano Ethiopian Harrar
B. Nektar Meadery
Ferndale, Michigan
Using one of the today, the Chazzano Ethiopian Harrar (14 percent ABV) gets full morning joe aroma and flavor, and pairs perfectly with its earthy Michigan wildflower honey.
The Statement
Schramm鈥檚 Mead
Ferndale, Michigan
A with a sweet finish, The Statement (14 percent ABV) combines decadent Michigan-grown dark cherries with raspberries, light oak and vanilla to offer a layered taste sensation.
Capsumel
Moonstruck Meadery
Bellevue, Nebraska
This with serrano, jalapeno, and anaheim peppers. But unlike hot sauces and chili powders that leave you runny-nosed, watery-eyed, and hiccupping, Capsumel (10.5 percent ABV) is blended to make flavor鈥攏ot just heat鈥攖his mead鈥檚 focus.