How we make our mead
We want to create a great tasting mead with quality, local ingredients in the most natural way possible
How we do things is going to change the way people think about mead
Our meads typically ferment for up to a month, although the exact duration can vary with each batch.
Once fermentation is complete, we remove any additional ingredients, such as fruit, and transfer the mead to secondary containers for aging. After a brief aging period, we filter the mead to remove any remaining fruit pieces or yeast clumps before bottling. The mead then ages in the bottle for an additional 90 days.
Our commitment to natural processes means each batch may have slight variations. For example, we do not use chemicals to kill residual yeast, which may result in slight carbonation in the finished product, particularly in our honey mead. This natural carbonation, in our view, enhances the mead's character.
You may also notice a small amount of sediment in the bottle, which is a normal byproduct of our traditional crafting and filtration methods. This sediment is a testament to the authenticity and natural quality of our meads.
The Process
We set out to recreate a traditional style of mead that has become increasingly difficult to find on the market - dry mead. Historical evidence suggests that this is how mead was originally made and enjoyed.
At The Horrible Meadery, we specialise in crafting dry meads using ancient methods and recipes. Our commitment is to produce mead that is as natural as possible without sacrificing quality or flavour.
We use local honey from Dutch beekeepers and berries from Dutch suppliers, complemented by renowned yeast brands to ensure a smooth and healthy fermentation.
What is mead?
It all began around 8500 years ago…
Mead or mjød in Norwegian is the world’s oldest alcoholic drink and evidence of mead has been found in parts of China, dating back to almost 6500BC. Some sources, however, claim evidence of mead-making has been found in Africa that predates this by another 10,000 years! Traditionally made from water, honey and some spices the ingredients were left to ferment in a barrel or pot until it was ready for drinking. The vikings left it for a full moon cycle before they would deem it ready for drinking.
In more recent history, mead was a popular drink amongst the Vikings and in Norse mythology some stories say mead originated when two warring gods made peace by spitting into a bowl - don’t worry we don’t spit in ours! Mead was known as the drink of the gods and when warriors were killed in battle the gods greeted them at the gates of Valhalla with a cup of mead. However, despite the Vikings being the first thing people often think of when they hear about mead, it was being made and consumed all over Europe, Africa and Asia well before the Vikings were around.
Now, thanks to the increasing appetite for trying something new (and shows like Game of Thrones and other fantasy productions) mead is one again becoming popular - and we think that’s awesome!
