what is mead

In the expanding world of craft beverages and ancient traditions reborn, mead has made a notable comeback. Often dubbed the “drink of the gods,” mead is one of the oldest known alcoholic beverages, predating beer and wine. But what exactly is mead? Is it a wine, a beer, or something entirely different? In this blog, we’ll explore the origins of mead, how it’s made, its varieties, historical significance, and why it’s gaining popularity in the modern world.

What Is Mead?

At its core, mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with the addition of fruits, spices, grains, or hops. Because of its honey base, mead has a naturally sweet character, although its flavor can vary widely depending on the ingredients used and the fermentation process.

Mead is often confused with wine and beer, but it falls into a unique category. While wine is made from fermented grapes and beer is brewed from grains, mead is fermented from honey, making it neither a wine nor a beer but its own class of alcohol.

The History of Mead

Mead has an ancient and mythical past. Archaeological evidence suggests that mead dates back to at least 7000 BC, with remnants found in Chinese pottery. It was known in ancient civilizations across the world—from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas.

In Norse mythology, mead was considered a divine drink consumed by gods and heroes. The term “mead hall” often comes up in epic literature like Beowulf, representing places of feasting, fellowship, and power. Ancient Greeks referred to it as “ambrosia,” the nectar of the gods, and it was associated with immortality and poetic inspiration.

Despite its wide-reaching history, mead saw a decline during the Middle Ages as beer and wine production became more industrialized and accessible. Today, it is experiencing a renaissance, especially among craft brewers and home fermentation enthusiasts.

How Is Mead Made?

Making mead is a relatively simple but artful process that relies on:

Honey
Water
Yeast

Basic Steps in Mead-Making:

Mixing (Must Preparation): Honey is dissolved in water to create what’s called the must.
Fermentation: Yeast is added to convert sugars in the honey into alcohol. This process can take weeks to months.
Clarification: The mead is allowed to rest, which clears sediments and refines its taste.
Bottling and Aging: Once fermentation is complete, the mead is bottled and can be aged for additional depth and complexity.

The alcohol content of mead can vary significantly—from around 5% for light session meads to 20% for stronger, fortified versions.

Types of Mead

One of the joys of exploring mead is the variety of styles and flavors it offers. Here are some of the most popular types:

Traditional Mead: Made with only honey, water, and yeast. It’s the purest form of mead.
Melomel: Mead that contains fruit like berries, apples, or peaches.
Metheglin: Flavored with spices and herbs like cinnamon, cloves, or ginger.
Cyser: A blend of apple juice and honey, essentially a cross between mead and cider.
Pyment: Made by fermenting honey with grape juice or wine grapes.
Braggot: A hybrid of beer and mead, made with malted barley and hops.
Hydromel: A weaker, more diluted version of mead with lower alcohol content.
Sack Mead: A sweet, high-alcohol mead that often requires aging to smooth out.

Mead vs. Other Alcoholic Drinks

Understanding the difference between mead and other alcoholic beverages is key to appreciating its uniqueness:

Feature	Mead	Wine	Beer
Base Ingredient	Honey	Grapes	Barley/malt
Yeast Used	Wine or champagne yeast	Wine yeast	Beer yeast
Typical Alcohol Content	5-20%	9-14%	4-7%
Taste	Sweet to dry, floral, fruity	Fruity, acidic	Malty, hoppy

Mead in Modern Culture

In recent years, mead has found a place in craft beverage movements, renaissance fairs, fantasy conventions, and home brewing communities. Thanks to popular TV shows like Game of Thrones and books based on medieval lore, mead has become romanticized and rediscovered by younger generations.

The rise of meaderies (breweries that produce mead) across the U.S., U.K., and parts of Asia is a testament to its growing appeal. People are now experimenting with mead cocktails, sparkling meads, and using mead in culinary pairings.

Health Aspects of Mead

While mead is still an alcoholic drink and should be consumed in moderation, some enthusiasts tout it for its potential health benefits:

Antioxidant properties from honey.
Probiotic benefits if not pasteurized.
Naturally gluten-free, which makes it suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals.

However, it’s important to note that these benefits are not guaranteed and depend heavily on how the mead is produced.

Mead and Mythology

No discussion of mead is complete without touching on its legendary status. In Norse legends, the Mead of Poetry was a magical drink that granted wisdom and poetic inspiration. It was said to have been created from the blood of a wise man and mixed with honey.

In Celtic and Anglo-Saxon traditions, mead was part of rituals, celebrations, and was even given to newlyweds to enhance fertility and love—hence the term “honeymoon.”

Mead Tasting and Pairing

Like wine, mead can be sipped and savored. Here are a few pairing ideas:

Traditional mead goes well with cheese and roasted nuts.
Fruit meads pair beautifully with desserts or spicy dishes.
Spiced meads complement holiday foods like roasted turkey or pumpkin pie.
Dry meads can accompany seafood or grilled vegetables.

For those trying mead for the first time, sampling a mead flight at a local meadery is an excellent way to experience the diversity of flavors.

How to Store and Serve Mead

Mead should be stored in a cool, dark place if unopened. Once opened, it’s best to refrigerate and consume within a few weeks. Serving temperature varies by style:

Chilled for lighter, fruit-based meads.
Room temperature for richer or spiced varieties.

Use a wine glass or tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the aroma.

How to Make Mead at Home

If you’re interested in brewing mead at home, here’s a very basic recipe:

Ingredients:

3 pounds of raw honey
1 gallon of filtered water
Wine yeast (Lalvin D-47 or EC-1118)
Optional: fruit, herbs, or spices

Instructions:

Sanitize all your equipment.
Mix honey and water thoroughly.
Add the yeast.
Ferment in a sealed container with an airlock for 4-6 weeks.
Rack (transfer) the mead to a new container and let it age for 2-6 months.
Bottle and enjoy!

Mead-making kits are available online, making the process easier for beginners.

Conclusion

Mead is much more than a sweet honey drink—it’s a link to our ancestral past and a symbol of cultural tradition. With its endless variety, rich history, and resurgence in modern craft circles, mead is here to stay.

Whether you enjoy it for its flavor, history, or mythical roots, one thing is certain: mead is a drink that tells a story in every sip.

To explore related concepts and comparisons, read our detailed article on what is the difference between various topics and deepen your understanding.