Some of Our Most Frequently Asked Questions

What is mead?

Mead is a fermented beverage made from honey! David Meyers, of Redstone Meadery in Colorado, says that mead is “the oldest fermented beverage no one has heard of!” Mead’s history dates back at least to the Egyptians and has been associated with Vikings, medieval castles and Renaissance Faires.

Is it beer? Or is it wine?

Our mead is much closer to wine than beer. Many people categorize mead with beer - in the past it was often consumed in mugs or drinking horns like beer or ale. Mead is also known as "honey wine", even if it is considered a separate and distinct type of alcoholic beverage.

Our mead is created using the same process and equipment as wine. Wine is usually fermented grape juice, but can also be made from other fermented fruits (known as “country wines”). Mead is fermented honey and water – sometimes with fruit or spices added. And just as wine can vary in taste, color and dryness (or sweetness), mead can also vary in style from variety to variety. There are other meaderies that are making beer style meads too - often carbonated and with lower alcohol contents.

And yes, mead is gluten-free!

Where do you get your honey?

Although we have a couple of hives on the property, we buy most of our honey from local North Carolina beekeepers. If you are a beekeeper, we would love to buy honey from you - as raw as possible and in 5 gallon buckets. Contact us here. (Did you know it would take 1040 little honey bears to make ONE of our batches of mead?)

What about colony collapse and the bees?
Bees are taking a hit, but there are many factors contributing to the distress of the bees. If you would like some great information on what is causing this tragedy and what you can do about it, check out this TED talk by Maria Spivak, a bee expert.