Any mead drinkers out there?

[nfotiu]

Meads are not something I've ever really heard of other than passing references in literature. But my girlfriend has been taken me to this winery in Virginia that specializes in them, and I've really grown to like them a lot, especially this one:

http://www.hilltopberrywine.com/menu/voyage/

The drink of the Vikings and the Celts, mead is fermented honey and is the oldest alcoholic beverage. 5th centaury Irish monk, St Finnian, paired it with salmon.

Served cold, it was a very refreshing to drink sitting outside in the hot sun. It really doesn't seem like there are a whole lot of people making meads and got me wondering if it is something anyone else is drinking? And if not, I wonder why it is not more popular. I can't really say there is anything else I'd compare it to.

I'd highly recommend the wineries around Charlottesville, if you are ever out the DC or Virginia way. Very pretty scenery up in the hills/mountains.

[Minnie]

There's a Meadery up in the Water Valley area - we drove by it a couple of weekends ago and I tried to convince my husband to stop but he was in a rush to get home. I think there's another out by Millarville?

I'd really like to try it.

[icecube]

Only when my maidens/wenches feed me whole legs of meat and grapes off the vine

[jofillips]

fallen timber meadery - great product and fairly close to Calgary.
They're celebrating an anniversary soon as well;
http://www.fallentimbermeadery.ca/

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by jofillips

fallen timber meadery - great product and fairly close to Calgary.
They're celebrating an anniversary soon as well;
http://www.fallentimbermeadery.ca/

Yep, that's the one I mentioned - couldn't remember the name though. Apparently there's a Meadery in Okotoks too. I'll have to phone my brother and get him to see if it's still operating.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by jofillips

fallen timber meadery - great product and fairly close to Calgary.
They're celebrating an anniversary soon as well;
http://www.fallentimbermeadery.ca/

These are good guys. They let people book the area for events. They're pretty easy going, and enjoy hanging out having a drink along with everyone. We had a bocce ball tourny out there to raise money for the branch out foundation. It was a lot of fun. I'm not a huge fan of the Mead. I find it pretty sweet.

[jofillips]

I've tasted the original mead from there and it reminded me a lot of certain white wines. Not overly sweet, but saying that I bet mead gives one of the meanest hangovers known to man!
There's a couple of flavoured ones too to try.

[Pontine]

Tried it for the first time on Saturday but probably something I wouldn't drink on a regular basis.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by jofillips

I've tasted the original mead from there and it reminded me a lot of certain white wines. Not overly sweet, but saying that I bet mead gives one of the meanest hangovers known to man!
There's a couple of flavoured ones too to try.

I've tried the Traditional, the Oak, and the Dry. The Oak was the least sweet, but still sweet. I heard the new hopped mead was pretty good. I'm going to the Anniversary so I will try that.

[Robbob]

There is a place in Vernon (Planet Bee I believe), besides selling different types of honey they dabble in mead. Did quick tasting when I stopped by and I found them interesting. Kind of reminds me of a dessert wine.

[jofillips]

it must of been the 'traditional' I really enjoyed...
Personally I think its a drink made for Alberta - before coming here I didn't realise so much honey is produced from this province.
More great, local products please!

[troutman]

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I've tried the Traditional, the Oak, and the Dry. The Oak was the least sweet, but still sweet. I heard the new hopped mead was pretty good. I'm going to the Anniversary so I will try that.

They had a mix at the one I went to in Virginia. Some sweet, some flavored. They have one called Dragon's breath that is by far the spiciest thing I've ever drank. But the one I really like is not sweet at all, and definitely not anything like a desert wine. It is very easy to drink a large chilled bottle of it. I am much more of a beer drinker than a wine drinker, but I am definitely going to keep some Meads on stock for when I am sick of beer.

[gargamel]

I just tried it for the first time last month in Penang. Wamssler had a sweet store at a mall there where they give out samples of their 3 products. The original was ok, their ginsing version was awful and their more dry mead was pretty good. It's not something that I'd necessarily want to drink often, but it seems to turn my girlfriend into an animal, so I'll definitely be trying to keep a few bottles around.

[Keselke]

I dabble

[flylock shox]

There's a fruit winery on Vancouver Island called Coastal Black that does awesome flavored mead. It's almost impossible to track down off the island though.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Yep, that's the one I mentioned - couldn't remember the name though. Apparently there's a Meadery in Okotoks too. I'll have to phone my brother and get him to see if it's still operating.

Chinook Arch Meadery.
http://www.chinookhoney.com/Chinook%...%20Meadery.htm