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Celtic Radio Community > Medieval Kingdom > In Need Of Mead !

Posted by: gandolf3339 30-Sep-2008, 09:04 PM

In search of mead ? I am always looking to buy a good case.

Posted by: Blue_Rogue 30-Sep-2008, 09:14 PM

I can tell you now, you won't find any in Oklahoma!!

But, I had some at the Renaissance Faire in either Dallas or Houston, I don't quite remember, it's been a couple of years. I'm leaning towards Houston. They had thier own winery and meadery on grounds!!

By the way, if you get the chance, I high suggest a weekend there. From what I remember, it was suppose to be rated one of the top three Faires.

Posted by: Blue_Rogue 02-Oct-2008, 09:24 AM

The Faire here is slow in growing, but doing a pretty good job.
I had gone to the first 12 years, haven't been the past 2, but it's growing and developing real well. But they just haven't hit the appreciation of mead yet, why, couldn't answer that.

WOW, Man, is your timing good!!!
The Renaissance Festival is October through November.
(and we're having BEAUTIFUL weather down here right now)

Here's the link;
http://www.texrenfest.com/home.html

Posted by: stevenpd 02-Oct-2008, 09:17 PM

Sounds like a new trade to be learned.

Try this.

http://www.gotmead.com/

Posted by: seamusmaccorcrain 09-Dec-2008, 10:44 AM

If anyone is interested in mead recipes.......I have a lot of them, and would be willing to post somewhere here!

Seamus

Posted by: seamusmaccorcrain 19-Dec-2008, 10:09 AM

Here's a listing , in doc format, of mead recipes I have

Enjoy !

Lord Seamus

Posted by: gandolf3339 19-Dec-2008, 11:16 AM

Thank you Seamusmaccorcrain for shareing these recipies

Posted by: Faerydreamer 19-Dec-2008, 05:52 PM

I am ashamed to say that I have never had mead and do not know what it is. Can someone please tell me what it is?

Thanks
Faerydreamer

Posted by: stevenpd 19-Dec-2008, 06:17 PM

Here you go.

QUOTE

It may have been at a special event, such as a wedding or an anniversary that you first noticed the rather odd bottle of liquor sitting at the table. You take a sip and find it enticing, sweet and filling. Your host or hostess reply to your query that you're drinking mead. But what is mead and why has it started to gain in popularity among the general public?

Let's look at the basics first. Mead is basically an alcoholic drink consisting of honey, water and yeast that have been fermented, much like beer. It may contain other ingredients, such as spices or herbs
to enhance the flavor; possibly different types of fruit depending on the circumstances.

But where did this drink come from? Honey has been harvested around the world from the very earliest signs of human settlement, when man learnt how to deal with the honeybee and to dip into the sweet hives and retrive the sticky liquid. It didn't take a long time before humans discovered either by accident or by planned intervention that fermented honey, water and yeast added a very different taste to the drink. At the same time the idea of fermenting grapes was also taking root, so the flourishing industry depended more on what was available in what area as far as resources went to create a local drink.

Mead became popular all the way from Ethopia, where it was named "tej" to Finland where it was called "sima". Of course all these countries used honey as a base for their drink but then added whatever local herbs and fruits were available. Because of the sweet taste this drink became more popular than beer and wine in many locations, becoming a favorite local and state drink. In fact, during one Crusade a Polish Prince complained to the Pope that his knights could not go all the way to Palestine because there was no mead to be had!

In fact one common word used today has a direct link back to the days when mead was a popular drink. The word "honeymoon" refers to the old wedding custom of the father of the bride delivering a month's worth of mead to the groom and his family as part of the dowry.

So why isn't mead as popular today as it was in the past? Blame it on an aggressive wine industry that expanded beyond the local vineyard, with various types of grapes that could withstand different weather conditions and thrive where before there would be no chance of a grape surviving. It didn't take too long before mead became more of a local delicacy, made by small brewmasters and home brewers who wanted to keep the tradition alive.

You can probably find mead in your local liquor store if you look hard enough; there has been a concentrated effort by European brewers to try and resuscitate this ancient drink to compete with the wine and beer market. You can, of course, brew up a batch at home but this requires a lot of equipment and of course training in order to make sure your mead is safe to drink.

And of course you can always ask around and see if there's a local brewery or brewmaster who is busy bottling mead for a small but enthusiastic market. Odds are that once you find a supplier, be it international or local, that you won't lack for this sweet drink.

Mead has roots in the ancient world, with historical connections to the Greeks, the Romans and almost every country on record.

http://www.essortment.com/food/mead_tvtn.htm

And here is one of many spots on how to brew it.

http://www.gotmead.com/index.php

And another.

http://www.meadmadecomplicated.org/

Have fun!

Posted by: gandolf3339 19-Dec-2008, 07:44 PM

Hi Faerydreamer,
Mead is honeywine, wine made from honey instead of grapes and if made correctly it is heaven but watch the hangover it is worse than wine. And it is very hard to find unless you have a good renaissance fair in your area. There is something called melomel wich is fruited mead.

Posted by: Lady-of-Avalon 19-Dec-2008, 07:55 PM

Gandolf3339,

So I guess it is very sugary then,,,if so I better stay far from that...would've like to taste it though.

LOA

Posted by: gandolf3339 19-Dec-2008, 07:58 PM

yea LOA,
I don't think diabetics should indulge much.

Posted by: Lady-of-Avalon 19-Dec-2008, 08:03 PM

Oh! well thanks Gandolf3339 maybe if I "stumble" upon it one day I may at least try and take a sip just for taste for in reality I'm not fond of alcohol...the only drink I take sometimes to help me sleep is a wee bit malt scotch...on ice!!!

LOA

Posted by: gandolf3339 19-Dec-2008, 08:23 PM

That is the good and bad about it, when made right you do not know it is alcohol but before you know it when you stand up you tend to sit back down quickly. And as far as a wee bit of scotch on ice I think I'll have one of those now !

Posted by: Faerydreamer 20-Dec-2008, 08:50 AM

I do live near the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair. They have that going on every weekend during the summer. I will have to get there very soon. We also have some very talented people in our local discussion group that are versed in making mead. I will have to ask for some to try. Of course, I will only try it at home so that I do not have to worry about driving.

Thank you very much for answering.

Posted by: seamusmaccorcrain 30-Dec-2008, 08:57 AM

I've got some SCAdian friends that brew mead...I'm not sure what the sugar content of mead is, but will ask. I know it's fremented from HONEY instead of grapes, but I will agree with a lot of what has been said earlier....the kick is quite nice, as is the taste of a well brewed mead....and depending on what the main ingredient is, such as blueberries , or even the type of honey that's used, the tastes can run from sweet to very dry, like a sherry

I'll see if I can get in touch with my friend, Max the Executioner, and find out what he knows about sugar content , hopefully within the next week or so!

Slainte!

Lord Seamus