Why Mead?
MEAD is produced from HONEY instead of wheat (beer), grapes (wine), or cane sugar (seltzers). The natural properties of HONEY make it better for fermenting than other sugars. HONEY has antibacterial properties. This makes batches of MEAD resistant to contamination that can occur in breweries or wineries.
HONEY is gluten free, diabetic friendly, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and can improve gut health. All alcohol is fermented sugar. HONEY is the sugar with the most beneficial properties you can put in your body. Why not use it in fermentation?
Characteristics of HONEY can be impacted by the season of production, the diet of the bees, the soil, and the climate. All of these characteristics influence the fermentation process and taste of the MEAD. MEAD is also versatile in that it takes on flavors pretty well (like beer). This makes MEAD a fun beverage to experiment with and to sample.
Our Journey
I started fermenting MEAD in early 2019. I started with one 6 gallon fermenter. It grew into an obsession over COVID. I bought more equipment. Started bottling, aging, and sharing with friends. I got tons of compliments. Then, I started catering events like weddings and social gatherings. The compliments kept coming. Many volunteered to invest. Eventually, I was convinced to start a MEADERY. I chose to base the MEADERY in my native city of New Orleans with a goal of contributing a unique beverage to the identity of New Orleans.
Crafting Mead
What is Mead?
MEAD is fermented HONEY. Before man made beer, wine, or seltzers, man made MEAD. MEAD is the first fermented beverage produced by man. You can’t write the history of alcohol without including MEAD.
Why haven’t I seen mead?
MEAD is expensive. HONEY is the most expensive sugar to purchase. The alcohol industry contracts towards beer and wine because they are cheap to produce. Beer uses grains like wheat and barley. Wine uses grapes that grow on vines. Ingredients cost are low. Using HONEY means the ingredients costs of MEAD can be over 10 times the ingredients costs of other fermented beverages.
Contact Magnolia Meadery
For inquiries, contact floyd.phillip@gmail.com