What is mead?

Mead: A Honey Wine

Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains, or hops. Its alcohol content can range widely, typically from about 3.5% ABV to more than 20%.

• Ingredients and Production: The primary ingredient in mead is, of course, honey. The type of honey used significantly influences the flavor profile of the final product. Water is added to dilute the honey to a fermentable sugar concentration. Yeast is crucial for the fermentation process, converting the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Other ingredients, such as fruit, spices, and herbs, can be added to create different varieties of mead.

• Variations: There are many different styles of mead:

  • Traditional Mead: Mead made simply from honey, water, and yeast.
  • Melomel: Mead made with fruit.
  • Metheglin: Mead made with spices or herbs.
  • Cyser: Mead made with apples or apple cider.
  • Pyment: Mead made with grapes or grape juice.
  • Sack Mead: A very sweet, high-alcohol mead.
  • Braggot: Mead made with malt and hops, similar to beer.

• History: Mead has a long and rich history, dating back thousands of years. It is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages known to humankind, with evidence of mead production found in ancient cultures around the world. It was particularly important in ancient Greece, Rome, and Northern Europe (especially among the Vikings).

• Flavor Profile: The flavor of mead can vary widely depending on the ingredients used and the fermentation process. It can range from dry to sweet, and from light and floral to rich and complex.

• Serving: Mead can be enjoyed chilled, at room temperature, or even warmed. It's often served in goblets or small glasses to be savored. Some people like to pair mead with food, similar to wine.