Does every fair out there offer mead?
I know Scarborough does, and it's from nearby La Buena Vida (http://www.labuenavida.com/) winery.
What does your Faire serve?
nyrf serves carroll's mead (http://carrollsmead.com/).
Due to the archaic liquor laws in Tennessee, no mead is served at TNRen. Beer and hard cider only. Although mead is a bit sweet for my taste, I do wish we had it for the authenticity and also that we could have my preferred alcoholic beverage, wine. Due to the extreme heat here, I usually stick with lots of water!
J-Bird wines serves some of the best meads ever made. Mint, Egyptian (my fav), Strawberry, "Bloody", and of course "The Mead". All are fantastic and one of the things that I look forward to every year.
Oh, MNRF!
TRF does carry mead, but it's just Chaucer's. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but you end up paying way too much for it in the end. That's why I stick to Loki!!!
The State of Indiana houses Oliver's Winery, which makes Camelot Mead. At least two retail chains carry this classic, although I'm not sure if they supply Ohio RenFest. 'Twas a thrill to see the Oliver's bottle at KY Highland Fest! (as I'm not truly fond of beer & ale)
8)
Quote from: Greenman66669 on July 27, 2008, 02:01:52 AM
TRF does carry mead, but it's just Chaucer's. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but you end up paying way too much for it in the end. That's why I stick to Loki!!!
Last time I was at TRF I was stunned to find you could buy it in bottles! I assume that was in the "bar area" only. I miss TRF.
I know that MiRF has it. They served it at the Feast and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to it again. This time I'm going to bring some home with me.
Meade can be found at MDRF. It is made for the festival by an MD winery, Linganore Winecellars. On ocassion, it can also be found both at the winery or at local liquor stores throughout the year.
http://www.linganore-wine.com/specialtywines.html
GSLRF serves Bunratty mead from Bunratty Castle, County Clare, Ireland. I've tried a few others and may I say I've not found one I like as much or more than Bunratty.
Edit: and YES is can be bought at your local liquor store!
We have J-Bird for Old Worlde in Twig.
http://www.the-mead-booth.com/
Good Stuff. And although I have to travel to the Twin cites or Milwaukee Irish Fest to get my Bunratty mead fix a I can at least get the Bunratty's Potcheen at a liquor store in Duluth along with Chaucer's.
We also have the White Winter winery in Iron Moutain which makes a honey wine/mead.
http://www.whitewinter.com/
I have to say I'm not crazy about the Scarborough mead that DonaCatalina mentioned, as it reminds me of a wine cooler or flavored malt beverage, which just are not to my liking.
I do like the Chaucers from TRF, but I'll buy the $11 bottle from World Market thankyouverymuch, rather than pay I think it was $6 or $7 for about 4 oz., or $20 something for the whole bottle (same size as the one I got at WM)
Bacchus Meadery will attend Ravenshire this year, and hoping to have Rocky Mtn. Meadery and beer on tap as well. Bacchus sells by the bottle and we hope to have the Tavern licensed in time for Faire for by the glass sales. Still waiting on word for that one, though. The Tavern hopes to get a year-round license so we can set up at other events, as well. The Faire itself has year-round insurance so we can do events all year throughout the community and other Faiers.
We have Rabbits Foot mead in this neck of the woods (Northern California)
(http://store.rabbitsfootmeadery.com/images/Rabbits-Foot-Logo.gif)
http://store.rabbitsfootmeadery.com (http://store.rabbitsfootmeadery.com)
I have seen it at Valhalla, Folsom, Nor Cal and others.
They have a wide range, from sweet to dry and you can order from their website. As you might surmize, I highly recommend them.
Huzzah
Quote from: Greenman66669 on July 27, 2008, 02:01:52 AM
TRF does carry mead, but it's just Chaucer's. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but you end up paying way too much for it in the end. That's why I stick to Loki!!!
Actually, if you go to the Agora or Indulgences, TRF has other varieties. I know there are a few Redstone Meads at the Agora's bar. A bit drier than Chaucer's - YUM!
Quote from: theChuck on July 26, 2008, 10:13:02 AM
nyrf serves carroll's mead (http://carrollsmead.com/).
Carroll's Mead is actually a honey wine, a light-tasting white wine flavored with honey.... kinda cheating, if you ask me.
The SCRF served meads from the Long Island Meadery, my favorite meads... after my own.
Phil
Quote from: dogglebe on July 28, 2008, 09:03:45 AM
Carroll's Mead is actually a honey wine, a light-tasting white wine flavored with honey
Pardon me for saying, historically thats what meads are "honey wines" (http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/LittleCasino/Smileys/bier.gif)
Quote from: Imestra on July 27, 2008, 07:42:42 AM
The State of Indiana houses Oliver's Winery, which makes Camelot Mead. At least two retail chains carry this classic, although I'm not sure if they supply Ohio RenFest. 'Twas a thrill to see the Oliver's bottle at KY Highland Fest! (as I'm not truly fond of beer & ale)
8)
Very nice! I didn't even take notice that KYHRF carried Camelot Mead. Not to bad of a mead for the $$ either!
Quote from: dogglebe on July 28, 2008, 09:03:45 AM
Quote from: theChuck on July 26, 2008, 10:13:02 AM
nyrf serves carroll's mead (http://carrollsmead.com/).
Carroll's Mead is actually a honey wine, a light-tasting white wine flavored with honey.... kinda cheating, if you ask me.
The SCRF served meads from the Long Island Meadery, my favorite meads... after my own.
Phil
mead.
n. An alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water.
[Middle English, from Old English meodu.]
What do you mean by cheating?
Well, not to be pedantic, but...wine with honey stirred into it, and an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey aren't the same thing. Then again, I'll confess to being a bit of a mead snob; m'lord being a homebrewer, I've been badly spoiled. ;D
Wtih one exception, all the commerical meads I've tried were at TRF. The first "mead", in the late 80's, was cheap white wine, warmed, with honey stirred in. Gaaack. My second was Chaucer..again, gaaack (mind you, this is my opinion, and the views here are not necessarily those of the management, blah blah blah). The next couple I tried, I can't remember the names of, but they tasted like cheap white with perfumed syrup in it- double gaaack! I've become real gun-shy about commercial stuff!
I will say that Redstone, while not being on par with handcrafted, was at least drinkable, but I thought a little overpriced for what I got. Again, all MHO.
Quote from: Sir William Marcus on July 28, 2008, 10:36:00 AM
Quote from: dogglebe on July 28, 2008, 09:03:45 AM
Pardon me for saying, historically thats what meads are "honey wines" (http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/LittleCasino/Smileys/bier.gif)
I know, but I think it's wrong to call a honeywine a mead. It's cheaper to make that mead and it's usually made from the wine that the winery wouldn't sell on its own.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on July 28, 2008, 11:44:27 AM
mead. n. An alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water.
[Middle English, from Old English meodu.]
What do you mean by cheating?
See above.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage whose chief fermentable is honey.
Wine is an alcoholic beverage whose chief fermentable is grapes (or other fruit)
A melomel is a mead flavored with fruit, though the majority of the fermentables is honey.
And now for a smooth transition....
I just finished bottling a batch of
Liquid Ruby, a melomel flavored with raspberries and strawberries.
Phil
Quote from: Tipsy Gypsy on July 28, 2008, 02:41:09 PM
Well, not to be pedantic, but...wine with honey stirred into it, and an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey aren't the same thing. Then again, I'll confess to being a bit of a mead snob; m'lord being a homebrewer, I've been badly spoiled. ;D
The problem is that most people don't know what mead tastes like. You can mix honey and pig saliva in a cup and some people will think it's mead.
Phil
Lo, those many years ago, a good friend and home-brewer asked me, "What do you want me to make for Scarborough?" My immediate reply was, "Mead! Not that honey-flavored wine, but good ol' Viking-style Mead!"
He made mead and brought it to Scarborough. We went out to the parking lot and had a few with a lunch of grilled Bratwurst.
The King was happier in those days.
Not my home faire but I can tell you that PARF being at a winery (Mount Hope winery), has it's own mead.
Quote from: Once Debauched on July 27, 2008, 02:35:21 PM
GSLRF serves Bunratty mead from Bunratty Castle, County Clare, Ireland. I've tried a few others and may I say I've not found one I like as much or more than Bunratty.
Edit: and YES is can be bought at your local liquor store!
Man that stuff is tasty. Chaucer's tears my stomach up. I found Bunratty at Spec's in Austin. Man I want some now.
Meade is white wine with honey and herbs. And Mead was originally made by monks centuries ago from fermented honey and water. Well this is how the Irish tell it. So argue with the likes of them, if ya wish.
J Bird is yummy, good thing I'm close enough to get it at the winery and not dependent upon MNRF.
I've had Chaucers, too sweet for me, and Bunratty is undrinkable, like liquid raisins and an unappealing dark brown colour.
Someone mentioned Winter White way back in this thread, that is also yummy but rather difficult to find in the Minneapolis area.
Quote from: Tanyor on July 28, 2008, 06:58:45 PM
Meade is white wine with honey and herbs. .... Well this is how the Irish tell it. So argue with the likes of them, if ya wish.
'Tis true, the Irish do tell it. And they'd be correct ... for "meade". They'd be completely wrong for "mead", though.
White wine flavored with honey and herbs would be a hippocras. (comes from "Hippocrates" -- who used honey and herb flavored wines as medicines) Some bottles of Bunratty's that you find in the States are really a hippocras, although they're labelled as meade -- not as "mead" -- note the spelling.
Simply a way to pass off poor quality wine by flavoring and sweetening it, to my mind.
I know Sterling offers Mead, but I don't know what kind and I've never tried it. Hmm...may be time for a fact finding mission this weekend. ;D
On a side note, there are several NY/NE wineries represented outside the gate every festival day for tastings. I picked up a couple of bottles of a dry mead a couple of years ago that I really liked, but now I can't remember where it was from.
I wonder why I can't remember anything?
Quote from: dogglebe on July 28, 2008, 09:03:45 AM
The SCRF served meads from the Long Island Meadery, my favorite meads... after my own.
SCRF = southern ct ren fair?
i know sterling offers meade from martin's which is made in sterling but idk about the others
TRF has others besides Chaucers...there is a shop that is located next to "coffee shop" near the front of the grounds that sells some fruit flavors....extremely overpriced, but fairly decent in flavor. I am however extremely spoiled, for I have a friend who brews his own and will rarely drink anything but. ;D
Quote from: theChuck on July 29, 2008, 12:02:11 PM
Quote from: dogglebe on July 28, 2008, 09:03:45 AM
The SCRF served meads from the Long Island Meadery, my favorite meads... after my own.
SCRF = southern ct ren fair?
That's the one. I didn't get to go this year, but they had L I Meads there last years.
Phil
NCRF serves Redstone, in several varieties, most of which are not bad at all and fairly priced.
I found out today that Sterling serves Mead from Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, NY. I've had their Traditional Dry Mead and really liked it.
http://www.montezumawinery.com/
I just came across Moniac Mead from Scotland - very dark and rich. Have also had mead from White Winter Winery from WI - quite nice. At the MN faire we can get some pretty good regional meads and melomels - think it was mentioned earlier.
We have Oliver's now at MiRF, and I believe they also carry Chaucer's and Rabbit's Foot, depends on which wine/beer booth you go to. I found out that different booths carry different brand wines and beers also. One of my favorites Celis White which is a belgian style ale brewed here in Webberville, MI. is only sold at two booths at faire. So you have to ask around to get a certain brand, but that makes it better especially for people that have an affiniy for a certain brand. And of course all brands even though one class/style of drink can taste different. I also foudn if you come on a wine or beer tasting day different beers and wines that are locally brewed/vinted are sold throughtout different booths at faire. So always see what's on tap, or go to the tasting so you knwo what to buy.
I know this is a late post but I just found this forum. The Oklahoma festival in Muskogee doesn't sell mead. The two in NY did though. But, Oklahoma has strange beer laws anyway.
Quote from: longgraywall on November 10, 2008, 04:00:04 PM
I know this is a late post but I just found this forum. The Oklahoma festival in Muskogee doesn't sell mead. The two in NY did though. But, Oklahoma has strange beer laws anyway.
Hopefully that will change if the Winery Industry in Oklahoma continues to grow.
Southern state liquor laws are strict, I know one of them for South and North Carolina I believe states that anything over 0.5% must be labled as malt liquor. So a 6% Labatt's would not be considered beer. But malt liquor and this makes it hard for some businesses to obtain permits to seel alcohol if they choose to sell anythin over 5%. So with wines, it's just as hard if not harder because most wines run at the 10% range. But, you never know it seems that liquor laws change from year to year. According to the sale and distribution of it. the consumption laws and age limits are basically the same nation wide.
Quote from: Sterling Scot on August 01, 2008, 04:02:33 PM
I found out today that Sterling serves Mead from Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, NY. I've had their Traditional Dry Mead and really liked it.
http://www.montezumawinery.com/
I'll lift a glass to that ;D I quite enjoy the Traditional Dry, and I think after looking at their website I may order a bottle of the sparkling mead for New Year's - thanks for posting the link! :)
Sadly, our home faire, Connecticut Ren Faire, is a dry faire ( officially). Its a drag, but it does cut down on the number of stumbling patrons at day's end. Actually a lot of the smaller faires are dry too.
Quote from: Sterling Scot on August 01, 2008, 04:02:33 PM
I found out today that Sterling serves Mead from Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, NY. I've had their Traditional Dry Mead and really liked it.
http://www.montezumawinery.com/
They have very excellent mead, I love the mead served at the faire, some of the best I've had yet!
Quote from: NorthBayDreamer on July 27, 2008, 10:58:38 PM
We have Rabbits Foot mead in this neck of the woods (Northern California)
(http://store.rabbitsfootmeadery.com/images/Rabbits-Foot-Logo.gif)
http://store.rabbitsfootmeadery.com (http://store.rabbitsfootmeadery.com)
I have seen it at Valhalla, Folsom, Nor Cal and others.
They have a wide range, from sweet to dry and you can order from their website. As you might surmize, I highly recommend them.
Huzzah
Heh, I just stumbled across this thread. I basically live across the street from them.
We had Rabbit's foot here at Michigan for a few years, it was the first mead I ever had, very good, not very sweet, and a little dry. But, that spurred my curiosity to try other brands, but yes this is one of the more affordable brands and of good quality to boot. My favorites though have to be Slowianski from Poland, English Mead which in fact is actually it's brnad name as well as beign a style of mead and Oliver from here in the states. I would suggest these to the beginning mead drinker.
I'm pretty sure Four Kingdoms had Chaucer (regular and raspberry). At the other faire I visited this year, Stronghold, the hardest thing is Coca-Cola.
Quote from: Greenman66669 on July 27, 2008, 02:01:52 AM
TRF does carry mead, but it's just Chaucer's. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but you end up paying way too much for it in the end. That's why I stick to Loki!!!
chaucer's isn't the only mead that TRF carries. They carry another brand and both in several varieties, not just pure honer based
Yes, Sterling does have mead as Scot said......but, the BEST mead I have found around here, is from Earle Estates! YUMMMMM!!!!! :o
I don't know what kind of mead Bristol had this year, but it was awful.
I like Chaucer's because I like sweeter wines (but not White Zin!), and Steve bought me a case, so I'm happy.
Chaucer's is good and affordable, a bit less sweet than the Oliver brand sold at my faire, but both very enjoyable.
I heard that Sherwood had some wonderful mead this year. Anyone know what it was?
DonaCatalina,
I believe there were several options when picking a mead at Sherwood this year. But the one that I heard nothing but positive things about was the Oberhof Meade from the Bell Mountain Vineyard out by Fredericksburg (Texas). The bad news (from what I've heard), is that the only place some have seen this Meade is at Sherwood outside of going directly to the Vineyard. I believe there is a way to order direct from the Vineyard (thru the web site). I really don't drink wine myself, but I did have a few sips and it was pretty good stuff!
Here's a link: http://www.bellmountainwine.com/
Sherwood has Thorin's Viking Mead and Oberhof Wildflower Mead. The Oberhof is in a Blue bottle, and is AWESOME! It has a wee bit of cinnamon bit to it, but it's quite tasty without being overly syrupy or sweet. What I've been told about the Thorin's is that it was like drinking syrup.
The bonus to the Oberhof is that it's a regional winery, using texas wildflower honey... Local honey is good for allergies. Drink more Oberhof!
I sipped on it most of both days I was there, and unlike last year, when I came home with terrible allergies, I didn't have a bit of trouble this year....
IIRC, the Ohio Renaissance Faire serves Valley Vineyards mead, which is a local winery not too far from the faire. Not bad mead, actually. Not as sweet as Chaucer's, and I can always go to the winery to buy my mead (or I can stop by the local Kroger's to pick some up).
This year, KCRF FINALLY offered Pirtle mead. It is made less than 10 miles from our faire site! Up until then, they offered Chaucer's.
I prefer Pirtle to Chaucer's; but I prefer Oliver to Pirtle.
I've had Redstone at Silverleaf.
Although meads are a bit too sweet for my liking in general, this place makes an excellent bottle: http://www.bnektar.com/
They offer some dryer versions that I enjoy from time to time. I might even get into making some mead of my own this summer, we'll see if that little project ever takes off :)
Quote from: Butch on March 28, 2011, 09:46:53 AM
This year, KCRF FINALLY offered Pirtle mead. It is made less than 10 miles from our faire site! Up until then, they offered Chaucer's.
I prefer Pirtle to Chaucer's; but I prefer Oliver to Pirtle.
Love love LOVE Pirtle. ;D I prefer the blackberry as it is sweeter, but their regular is pretty dry to me. Wanting to try their raspberry they now offer.
During the wine tasting here at the MiRF, Bardic Wells makes a hopped mead, and another maker which I can't remember their name makes mead from the honey made from Scottish Thistle flowers. Both great tasting.
thorin meadery now sells mead at the sea devil at trf. its the best i have had
We now have B. Nektar as our mead which is actually made here in Michigan, but I found most booths only sell the Orange Blossom style, I found the one booth near the leather shop and across from Griffon stage carries the B. Nektar Renaissance Mead which is a bit less sweet, and spicier. I believe they no longer carry Oliver mead.