This place is a true hidden gem in the truest sense. Easy to miss little place on middle of the block with not much more than a mural on the wall and small dragon sign out front on the street side. Almost a whole in the wall kind of place but that not fully. It's actually a big place inside with more additions and expansions taking place in the coming months within the building space according to co-owner Ronald Poston.
This place is all decked out in biking decor and garb, really cool to be honest. From floor to ceiling its got swag from Viking/Norsk lineage and history/culture all over. He sells tons of this stuff every month as well aside from his mead business.
Ronald is a character let me tell you. He is the kind of guy I could talk to for hours about mead making, life, family, struggles, anything. He is just a very open and kind guy who also makes darn good mead (a "mazer" is a mead maker FYI). Ron told me his goal there is to be a 100% judgement-free place where anyone and everyone can come in, grab a bottle off tap (3 at any one time), or one of 15+ flavors of mead by the 12 oz bottle. He makes 54 different flavors of mead mind you!
I sampled 5 small shots worth at his tasting table while we spoke about the business. I then bought 5 more bottles myself to try later on. He even was kind enough to toss in (for free) a special not yet released 8 oz Jalapeno mead which turned out to be absolutely awesome in my book. Nothing quite like it. Ron is part mad-scientist, but also an artist in his unique craft of mead production and experience.
Mind you that mead is not like beer or wine! It is distinctly different and that being said, mead often is something that nonbeer and wine drinkers get into. Liking one or the other does not mean you will like mead, it does not mean you will hate it either, just don't make assumptions until you try it.
Ronald is making things in the most traditional manner possible, no sulfites, preservatives, no filtering or anything of that nature. He keeps his product as natural and authentic to tradition as possible. The ABV range in his mead is 13-18% so he usually does not force anymore than half a bottle on any of his customers given the strength of just 1 small bottle. He even told me his goal is to offer a memorable and pleasing experience with great-tasting mead as part of it, not to get people trashed and suck them dry of cash. That statement rang out to me, this is a guy who cares about his business his product, and his people. Impressive!
He and his wife have an amazing background academically and professionally, but also the timeline in how they got to where they are now. I will not spoil that story but you gotta ask Ron to tell it, its a goodie! read more