WA Meadworks
As often said in Monty Python, "And now for something completely different." What do I mean? Well, how many meaderies do you know of? I wouldn't be surprised if your answer was none because before I ventured to Lindenhurst with one of my buddies, I never would've thought any meadery existed, let alone WA Meadworks here on Long Island.
Well, that's not entirely true. I did stop into Brew Cheese up in Stonybrook back in the warmer months and sampled one of WA's solid meads (Keepin' it Lindy #2) which was on tap. Plus I had been exposed to just the idea of mead years ago at a renaissance fair so unlike most of the people I talked to about WA Meadworks, I had tried and did know what mead was. Though I probably never would've expected the world of mead to lend itself so closely to beer.
What do I mean? Just enter into WA Meadworks and you'll think brewery. A bar with plenty of taps, tables scattered about, and a nice shelf full of bottled product for purchase. So a brewery, right? Wrong. WA Meadworks specializes in honey wine, creating a wide array of styles filled with anything from berries to chocolate. Better yet (just like any alcohol-based establishment), you can try a bunch of these meads via flight.
With more than 15 options on tap, it can be tough to choose. Well, tough for anyone not driving. Half of the meads are labeled draft, giving way to ABV's that are respectable for sipping (single digits). The other half are "still meads" which really get the booziness going as they ring in at ABV's north of 12%. With me being behind the wheel that day, my buddy opted for a flight and hit mostly on the higher variants so my tastes were smaller and spaced out.
Apple of My Eye, Anybody Want a Peanut?, Is it Autumnal? (pumpkin spice), and Gloop (chocolate) were four still meads that had a great hint of the flavors they were representing (as stated by their names), though definitely had the boozy wine kick riding along with each. One of the draft meads we tried was the Meaderhosen, brewed in collab with DUBCO for Oktoberfest. Can't say I loved the bitter, malty forefront and only slight sweetness, but the fact it was a collab was pretty cool.
What was also cool was the employee behind the bar. This guy was talking up a storm, mostly to some of the local Lindenhurst folks and friends, but he did include my buddy and I in tasting some of another collab WA did with DUBCO, but on the beer side of the fence. Don't Call Me Honey Boy, a kölsch with (you guessed it) honey as the main flavor made for a nice combination for the two worlds of alcohol. Getting to try that brew free of charge, along with decent hospitality within the taproom, rounded out a fun little mead trip.
Overall, WA Meadworks is totally something worth checking out. Maybe you like your wine red, or perhaps you're more into beer. Either way, take a step out of the ordinary because WA will give you a crazy crossover between the two in the form of an old school libation developed under new school ideas. I'd totally return (perhaps not as the driver) to sample more honey wines because hey, why not try something completely different? read more