Beer Examiner

The Mead House of Gulval. Cornwall 1949.

Mead is an alcoholic beverage that predates both wine and beer. Many cultures throughout the world have references to this historical beverage. Essentially you might call it a “honey wine,” though technically wine is from fruit as beer is made from grains. The fermented sugars of mead are primarily from honey. If fruit is added to mead it is called melomel. If herbs are added it is a metheglin, grapes additions are called pyment. Cysers are apple juice and honey fermentations.

            In early May I had the opportunity to sample 8 different meads. All were made by English mead maker and mead historian Lt. Colonel Robert Gayre. The meads were all made at The Mead House by Meadmakers Ltd., in Gulval, Cornwall located in the southwest of England. Robert Gayre passed away shortly after my 1993 visit with him at his residence. He lived at Minard Castle on the shores of Loch Fyne, Scotland.

Photo left: Grosvenor Merle-Smith investigates the fine print on a 60 year old bottle of Sack Mead.

Long time friends Grosvenor and Rosie Merle-Smith (Louisa, Virginia), my wife and I rendezvoused in London to eventually reach our destination. We have made and enjoyed meads since the mid 1970s when we discovered mead through our homebrewing endeavors. A table top sampling of various meads together had been our destination for several years. We finally made it. The most interesting part of this adventure was that the meads we were about to try were made in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

Topics: Mead

Beer Style: Pale Ale. Now an American beer classic.

Of the hundreds of craft brewed beer styles available in the United States, pale ale is certainly the most ubiquitous.   The style has its roots in the ale houses of old England.  At a time when malt was inconsistently hand kilned over... Read More
Topics: Beer styles

Surviving beer festivals. Responsible enjoyment and seizing the moment.

There is a long history of autumnal beer fests and September and October are known as the beer festival season.   It’s a time for celebrating the harvest, the new fortified beers for the coming winter and having those final outdoor flings... Read More
Topics: Events

MillerCoors getting crafty?

My hat is off to the brewers who are making beer at the MillerCoors microbrewery in Golden, Colorado called AC Golden Brewing Company.   The Rocky Mountain News recently wrote about their endeavor "The art of crafting fine beer:  Tiny... Read More
Topics: Beer Business , Breweries

What beer might John McCain drink during the RNC?

John McCain and beer?  What will he be drinking, if beer at all?  The answer is a no brainer.  Budweiser of course.  His wife owns one of the biggest Budweiser distributorships in the country.   It makes business sense... Read More
Topics: craft beer , craft brewers , RNC

Last minute updates on local beers for the RNC in the Twin City area.

It’s worth taking note that the word “Republican” has the word “publican” embedded in it.  There’s no excuse for slacking off beer enjoyment during the Republican National Convention – there’s plenty... Read More
Topics: craft beer , craft brewers , RNC

Where’s the beer? New York Times can’t find a good party during DNC Denver.

I couldn’t help notice the headline on yesterday’s New York Times Thursday’s Styles front page E1, “At 5,280 Feet, the Party Atmosphere Is Thin.”  In the story it speculates reasons why people aren’t partying... Read More
Topics: Events

How to evaluate beer. Tasting beer with a purpose.

I’ve lived my life evaluating beer and often work late.  There are lots of reasons why I assess beer’s personality when having a beer.  pay attention when I’m taste beer with a purpose.  I want to share with you a few... Read More
Topics: Evaluation , Culture

Cape Cod escapade. Beer in the USA.

Visiting with the Cape Cod Lager and Ale Makers (CCLAMS) Homebrewers Club at the Cape Cod Brewery this past weekend, uncovered a few beer gems.          I’ve always respected any brewery that is able to make a... Read More
Topics: Homebrewing , craft beer , craft brewers , Events

Small brewers in big brewery towns.

Is it harder for a small brewery to be successful in a city where there’s already a big brewery in town?         Independent craft brewers succeed in St. Louis, Milwaukee and Golden/Denver area. Big brewers... Read More
Topics: Beer Business