Our story
Vinland Meads is a proud generational project rooted in deep family traditions. Originating from our ancestors who left Scotland, our mead-making process has been lovingly passed down through generations. We honor this heritage with every bottle, using honey from our own bees and involving our family in every step of the process.
Clyde, our brewer, has been crafting mead for over 20 years, refining recipes handed down from his grandfather. With a rich blend of Scottish and East Texan traditions, we blend the old with the new, creating a modern meadery that respects its roots.
Mead, or "honey wine," is made by fermenting honey with water, sometimes adding fruits, hops, spices, or grains. It ranges from 3.5% to over 20% ABV and has a history stretching back 4,000 years. Vinland Meads takes about six months to transform honey, water, and yeast into our exquisite beverage. Our mead ages in oak barrels, developing rich flavors before being bottled or kegged.
At Vinland Meads, we use local honey from Texas, ensuring each batch reflects the unique flavors of the region. Honey production is a complex process; it takes bees visiting millions of flowers and traveling hundreds of miles to produce just a pound of honey. Each year's honey is unique, influenced by the types of flowers in bloom and the bees' foraging patterns. This natural variability adds a special character to our mead, making each batch one-of-a-kind.
Our brewing process adheres to old traditions, mixing honey, water, and other ingredients without any preservatives or sulfates. We allow the yeast to convert the sugars in the honey naturally, at its own pace. A unique step in our process, taught by Clyde's grandfather, involves "burning the honey" to achieve a caramelized flavor. This technique creates non-consumable sugars that the yeast cannot convert, imparting a distinctive taste to our mead.
Our commitment to tradition and quality ensures that each batch of Vinland Meads is a true labor of love, worthy of our ancestors' pride.
Meet the Team
Sarah Hays
Majority Owner & Creative Director, Vinland Meads
Sarah Hays is the majority owner of Vinland Meads LLC and the guiding hand behind every decision. The brains, artist, and boss of the operation, she shapes the meadery’s identity from concept to customer. Blending Scottish heritage, Norse spirit, and Texas grit, Sarah creates the stories, designs, and experiences that make Vinland Meads unforgettable. Every label, event, and bottle begins with her vision.
Clyde Hays
Head Mead Maker, Vinland Meads
Clyde Hays is the craftsman behind the flavors at Vinland Meads, turning local honey into small-batch meads that honor old-world tradition. With roots in Scottish history and a deep respect for the land, he handles every step of production—from fermenting to aging—with care and precision. Clyde’s meads bring Sarah’s vision to life, making each bottle a perfect pairing of craft and story.
The Sticky-Fingered Crew
From the first batches in the early days, Gavin and Wyatt have had sticky hands in the honey and hearts in the craft—learning the art of mead making before they could even ride their bikes. Since going commercial, the rules say they can’t brew until they turn 18, a fact they mention often and wear like a badge of determination. They’re counting down the years to return to the fermenters they grew up beside.
Easton is the muscle when barrels of honey need hauling—steady, strong, and always ready to roll up his sleeves. Ian is the quick wit, ready with a laugh that keeps long workdays light. Orion, Tristen, and Coy may have their own busy lives, but the moment there’s a tasting to be done, they’re first at the table with honest feedback. Together, they’re the next generation of Vinland Meads—each bringing their own flavor to the family.
The Vinland Meads
Founders Crew
Vinland Meads would not exist without its Founders Crew—the family and friends who believed in the dream before it was bottled. They’re more than names on an LLC; they’re hands that lift tents, tools that fix pumps, voices that brainstorm labels, and shoulders that carry the weight (sometimes literally).
These are the people who show up before sunrise for markets, stay late after festivals, and never hesitate to share a spare wrench, trailer, or word of encouragement. They are invested in love more than funds, and their fingerprints are on every step of our journey.
We’ll etch their names into a wooden wall at the meadery—not just as a thank-you, but as a reminder that Vinland Meads is built on more than honey and oak. It’s built on people who cared enough to make it happen.
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