Michigan is home to half of the 10 top rated-meads in the world, according to ratebeer.com, the Free Press reports.
Frank Witsil writes that B. Nektar Meadery of Ferndale, which on Saturday was set to debut new craft beers and hard ciders, makes two of those top meads. To keep up with demand, it plans to open another production facility and a tap room in Ferndale, about 20,000 square feet, within a year.
Mead, which also has been called ambrosia and nectar of the gods, is created by fermenting honey and flavored with spices, fruit, hops and even tea.
“In the last 5, 10 years mead has really taken off,” said Chris Webber, who, as president of the American Mead Makers Association in Lakewood, Wash., has been trying to organize the industry, collect data about sellers and generate buzz. “It’s different.”
Michigan, Webber said, has more mead-making businesses than any other state.
Among ratebeer.com’s other top 10 meads: Kuhnhenn Brewing in Warren has the No. 1 rated mead, plus another in the 7th spot. A mead from Schramm’s in Ferndale is No. 10. The No. 2 rated mead is from Poland.
