Mead: An Introduction To The Drink Of The North

This post is a submission from Volkish Contributor Randolph Carter

I have never seen mead enjoyed more in any hall on earth.

Beowulf (Seamus Heany Translation)

Many sources state that mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man. We know that mead has been with our people since before recorded history and has held a central place in the myths of Aryan man; from the hymns of the Rigveda to the Eddas of the Norsemen. Where ever our people go alcohol is sure to follow. But mead holds a special place in the racial memory of Aryan man that other fermented drinks do not. Mead is the drink of the North–of Hyperborea–the land of our origin. Mead is the drink of the Gods.

The Volkish approach to mead would be to make your own rather than buy it at the store. Mead is a simple alcoholic beverage derived by fermenting honey and water. A simple mead is relatively easy to make given some time and patience, and there are many resources available both in print and online to guide you. But always remember that the majority of its fermentable sugar must come from honey.

Unfortunately, many of us lack time and especially the patience to produce our own liquid gold. We are lucky that Mead is experiencing a renaissance as of late, in both North America and in Europe. Meads are now commercially available in most wine shops with a specialty beer selection. Buy local when possible, but familiarize yourself with these large national brands: Chaucer’s, Redstone, Viking Blod, and Superstition Meadery.

Following are a few reviews of meads that I have recently acquired:

Dansk Mjod Viking Blod, Denmark 19% abv. $34.99-45.99 USD. Mead from a recipe dated to 1700.  Spiced with both hops and hibiscus.  Light golden color.  Initially smells honied with floral and peach notes.  Mouthfeel is thick but less than many meads.  A very sweet mead.  Not as boozy as its 19% alcohol would indicate.  Honey dominates the flavor with floral character coming from the hibiscus.  Best as an after dinner or ceremonial drink as a little goes a long way.

Redstone Juniper, Colorado, USA 13% abv. $20-24.99 USD. Mead fermented with juniper berries.  Pale yellow in color.  Herbal aroma with spice, hints of pine.  Initially honey on the palate, finishes with herbs, juniper, and spice.  Clean.  Sweetness is not cloying as it is balanced by the juniper component.  More drinkable than many meads.  The juniper and pine character are reminiscent of the forest.  Juniper has long been added to fermented beverages throughout Northern Europe.  Juniper has been found in drinking vessels in burial sites and bog sacrifices throughout the North.  Very traditional.

Superstition Jucious Ceasar, Arizona, USA 13.5% abv. $28.99-32.99. Mead fermented with grapefruit and hops.  Yellow golden color.  Aromas of grapefruit with a hint of herbal character.  Light mouthfeel.  Bitter grapefruit character, sweet but not overly so. Finishes with a floral character.  Not a traditional style but one made with ingredients indigenous to its home state.

Superstition Peanut Butter Jelly Crime, Arizona, USA 13% abv $35-40.99. Blueberry mead with peanuts added.  Dark Purple in color opaque.  Big nose.  Aromas of grape jelly, blueberry and Reece’s Peanut butter cups.  Initial wave of sweetness.  Palate of forest berries finishes with some funky tart character. Very sweet.  “Dessert in a glass” sort of drink.  Peanuts are not a traditional ingredient for mead though fruits of all kind are.