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The Quest for Mead

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Jude
Post subject: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 2:06 pm
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Anyone else a fan of this drink made from fermented honey?

It was freely available where we stayed in Ireland two years ago, and it was on sale at the Globe Theatre in London, so I assumed that it was freely available throughout that part of the world.

Not so! Last week I spent some time hunting it down in Edinburgh, without results. I would be told that such-and-such a shop might carry it, only to be given the same advice at such-and-such a shop.

More than once I would be told "Oh, I love that stuff! I wish we carried it, but we don't!" So someone's getting some, obviously. :whistle:

Returning home, I tried the internet. Lindisfarne Mead is a good resource for those of you that live in the UK, but unfortunately they don't ship to Canada. (Incidentally, Lindisfarne Island would be a great place to visit next time I'm in the country. Anyone wanna join me?)

Annoyingly, it seems that in Canada you can't order alcohol from a different province, let alone a different country. This is unfortunate, since there is great mead in British Columbia, Colorado, and California. I fail to see how this policy benefits the public.

But I did find one Ontario source: Munro Honey Products. They offer bottles at a very reasonable $15, but the postage is unreasonably more than the bottle itself, bringing the cost to about $35. :Q

So, anyone else like mead? Where do you get it? Have you ever attempted to make it yourself?

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nienna
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 2:16 pm
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Jude, I'm surprised you couldn't get any in Edingburgh, since this company is not far away in Inverness: http://www.moniackcastle.co.uk/index.htm

I can't say I've ever looked for mead in the supermarkets over here, but apparently Morrisons sell it :shrug: Normally it's the sort of thing you see at old historic houses, and monastries, or farm shops even.

This directory should help you (there are loads of places listed in Quebec, mainly!):

http://www.talisman.com/mead/meadery.html :toast:

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 2:36 pm
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Thanks for those links, nienna! I notice that Rush Creek Wines in Aylmer has a fermented drink made of maple syrup. That sounds like something I need to try at least once in my life :D

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 3:09 pm
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I've never tried it and never seen it around here. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Can people ship it to you? (I know you can't order it.)

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 3:29 pm
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It's hard to find a straight answer - my guess is "yes", if it's a gift, and I would have to pay Customs Duty:

New Wine Shipping Guide

According to WikiAnswers, you can't ship liquor through the U.S. postal service at all, domestically or internationally. I guess you would have to use a courier service.

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 6:04 pm
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It pays to talk to your co-workers! I got directed to the SAQ just down the street from the office, and I picked up a bottle during my lunch break :banana:

Now, if I can just smuggle it across the border into Ontario on my way home from work :whistle:

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 6:10 pm
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Yay! Just drive carefully and don't look suspicious. :whistle:

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 6:17 pm
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I'm taking the bus...

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 7:00 pm
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Oh. Well, then, hide it well! :cheers:

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 7:26 pm
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Unlike the guy in your emoticon :D

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LalaithUrwen
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 7:40 pm
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Precisely! :D

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vison
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 10:44 pm
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I never heard this "can't order liquor from another province" stuff. I ordered Glen Breton Single Malt Whiskey from Cape Breton through our local liquor store.

I knew a guy who used to make mead. It was awfully, awfully powerful. One medium glass, like maybe 2 ounces and I was gooned. Only tried it once. But it was tasty, as I recall.

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Thu 11 Mar , 2010 11:06 pm
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I was surprised to learn that as well. But check out this article:

Shipping Laws on Wine within Canada

Excerpt:
Quote:
Legal: To ship wine or liquor within a province so long as the wine or liquor is "authorized" by the LDB. As an example, a winery that has a license to sell wine in BC can ship wine to a customer within BC.

Illegal: To ship wine or liquor from one province to another if it isn't authorized by the liquor board in the receiving province. As an example, it is not legal for a BC winery to ship wine from BC to an individual customer in Ontario without the approval of the LCBO.

Illegal: To import wine or liquor from another province whether a customer brings it with them personally or has it shipped. If a customer does this, they are legally required to declare it to the relevant liquor board in the destination province and pay the applicable charges and taxes.
So there you go. :scratch:

You'll be happy to know I made it back to Ontario safely and will be indulging in 3... 2.. 1... :toast:

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elfshadow
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Fri 12 Mar , 2010 2:00 am
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There are a couple of meaderies near my house, and as soon as I turn 21 I'm going to tour the closest one. I can't wait! I've never tried mead but I've always wanted to. :)


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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Fri 12 Mar , 2010 9:45 am
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Apparently the largest and most prestigious mead festival in the world takes place near Boulder, Colorado every February. You might be able to go and tell us all about it!

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Alatar
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Fri 12 Mar , 2010 11:30 am
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I know someone who could send you some! Just sayin'!

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Jude
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Fri 12 Mar , 2010 11:37 am
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Could you put me in touch with this person? :heya:

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Ara-anna
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Sun 14 Mar , 2010 9:20 pm
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I thought C_G brews mead? :scratch:

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Crucifer
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Mon 15 Mar , 2010 12:58 pm
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Brew it yourself! A friend of mine does!!!

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Estel Dúnadan
Post subject: Re: The Quest for Mead
Posted: Tue 30 Mar , 2010 5:53 am
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(ED is poking around...)

Yes, brew it yourself! Start by finding a food-quality barrel (plastic is acceptable) to contain about 40 litres, I think. This is remembering what I saw Tobias use. Then... let's see what the Florilegium has to say...

http://www.florilegium.org/files/BEVERA ... s-art.html
http://www.florilegium.org/files/BEVERA ... d-msg.html

This might also help:
http://www.florilegium.org/files/BEVERA ... t-msg.html

I haven't brewed any myself - I'm not very interested in alcoholic drinks, to be honest - but there's a Cooks and Brewers Guild down here. I can ask them for advice if you want.

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