I don't like mead. A friend gave us a bottle years ago that came from a renaissance festival and I don't like mead. We visited an Ohio meadery a few years ago and it was okay but I wasn't converted to a mead lover. And, yes, I know that mead is historically considered the first wine as it is water in the honey that causes fermentation.
Madam, in planning our recent day of Ohio winery visits, set McAlpine Meadery as our first stop. Oh, joy, I don't like mead, I told her. One visit here changed my mind! Turns out, I hadn't had royal mead, also called king's mead because it was the best you had so you could give it to the king.
Like many Ohio wineries and meaderies, the genesis for McAlpine Meadery came from starting at home and loving what you do. Brothers Jeremiah and Marc Geisinger, Dungeons & Dragons aficionados and lovers of all things Vikings, headed out one Saturday to find mead near their Beach City, Ohio location. And couldn't. So, with the help of the internet and a local hardware store with an extensive brewing equipment section, they decided to make their own.
The venture grew from there until they, in partnership with their father, Jerome, purchased a building, renovated it, and opened McAlpine Meadery in 2015. Named for the family's first Scottish ancestor in Ohio, it now offers more than 30 flavors of mead, all made on site, and all providing a burst of fruit on the tongue. Marc was quite informative as he shared his passion for mead and led us through our tasting.
With every glass Madam and I found our taste buds enjoying the full fruit flavors of each mead we tried. We chose Elderberry first since we had recently had Elderberry wine and found the juice blended with honey perfect. The Black Currant was slightly tart while Wicked Peach tasted like it had just come from the orchard. Orange Blossom had a nose reminiscent of being in Florida when the groves are in blossom and delivered a delightful orange honey flavor.
Blood of my Enemies, made from blood oranges, was a little more tart but still full of orange flavor. Raspberry, as the name implies, was full of the best of this summer fruit while Sour Apple Cherry had a sweet cherry taste tempered by the sour apple notes. I still am not a fan of peasant mead so Star Thistle was not my favorite.
Madam's pick for Porch Sipping Wine, a wine you can enjoy any time but especially relaxing on the porch, was Krampus. Made from black currant and raspberry juice with the honey, the full fruit flavor is enhanced by the addition of clove, cinnamon and anise spices. First Date, which Madam called a Middle Eastern treat (think baklava) in a glass, is made with dates and honey and spiced with nutmeg, vanilla and cardamon.
Whether you are a fan of hot peppers or not, it is not possible to leave McAlpine Meadery without trying Dragon's Breath. Made from strawberries and honey, this mead gets its kick from cinnamon and the addition of a habanero pepper to each bottle. The first sip delivers that habanero punch but the cinnamon really came through as I continued sipping.
By the end of our visit, I was definitely happy that Madam had insisted on putting this stop on the itinerary. I left with a case that I plan to enjoy with friends and family through the year!
