Mead

What is mead?

Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water. You may also encounter the drink under the names "mead" and "honey wine." Despite the latter name, the basis is honey and water, rather than grapes.

The producer can keep the honey central or add fruits, herbs, and spices. This makes mead a versatile drink, with varying flavors, alcohol percentages, and levels of sweetness.

What does mead taste like?

The type of honey provides an important starting point. Depending on the flowers from which bees collect nectar, honey can have floral, herbal, or earthy nuances, for example. How much of that remains in the mead also depends on the fermentation process and any other ingredients added.

Some meads are light and refined, others full-bodied and pronounced. In varieties with fruit, for instance, you might encounter fresh berry flavors, ripe stone fruit, or tropical aromas. Herbs and spices can add yet another layer.

Is mead always sweet?

No, mead can be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. During fermentation, honey sugars are converted into alcohol. The amount of sugar remaining largely determines how sweet the drink ultimately tastes.

Acidity, alcohol content, and any fruit additions also influence the balance. Therefore, a mead with a strong honey aroma does not necessarily have to be overtly sweet. Check the tasting description to discover which direction a bottle leans.

What types of mead are there?

In traditional mead, honey, water, and yeast take center stage. This gives the honey full rein to define the character of the drink.

Mead with added fruit is also known as melomel. The fruit type can add aroma, color, acidity, and sometimes extra structure. In addition, there are meads with herbs or spices and varieties that have been aged in wooden barrels.

Furthermore, mead can be still or sparkling. This also makes a difference in how fresh, soft, or full-bodied the drink comes across.

Which mead suits you?

Do you enjoy dry, refined drinks? Then look for a drier mead in which the honey comes through subtly. If you like full, round flavors, a sweeter variety might be a good fit.

Are you a fan of pronounced fruit? Then discover a mead with fruit that you enjoy eating or drinking. Also, pay attention to the acidity and alcohol percentage: the same fruit type can taste very different in different meads.

Feel free to tell us which beers, wines, or other drinks you enjoy. That provides a good starting point to discover your taste in mead together.

How do you drink mead?

Adjust the serving temperature to the character of the drink. A light, fresh mead can be pleasant when chilled, while a full, powerful variety may reveal more aroma when served slightly less cold.

Use a glass with enough room for the aromas and take your time to taste. With a more powerful mead, a smaller pour can be nice for discovering the different flavors.

Buying mead at De Biersalon

At De Biersalon, you can discover mead as a supplement to our beer range. From a first introduction to honey wine to a new fruit combination: browse the available selection and let yourself be surprised by the variety.

Don't know where to start? Tell us whether you like dry, fruity, soft, or sweet. We are happy to help you choose, in the store or via a message.

Do you also want to discover cider? On our mead and cider main pageyou can read more about the differences and find the corresponding collections.