Blood, Sweat, and Honey: The People Behind Vinland Meads
At Vinland Meads, the story behind each bottle is just as important as what’s inside. We’re not a faceless brand or a factory line—we’re a family and a community, rolling up our sleeves and putting in the work from hive to horn. Our mead is born from local honey, old-world tradition, and the kind of teamwork that comes from living and working side by side. This is the heart of our craft, the hands that make it happen, and the people who turn “meadery” from a place into a family name.
Sarah Hays
Majority Owner & Creative Director, Vinland Meads
Sarah Hays Tasting Mead in Colorado
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 in Kilt with Hawk on Gauntlet
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
A old image of 6 of the boys, Coy was in the Marines at the time.
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.
Illustration of the wall that will be constructed at the Meadery of our Founders.
““Making mead the way we do isn’t quick, easy, or clean. It’s sweat in the Texas heat, sticky hands from the honey house, and long days over fermenters. It’s family hauling barrels, friends showing up at dawn, and the steady hum of bees in the background. Vinland Meads was built the hard way—by people who cared enough to put their backs into it. This is who we are, how we work, and the reason every bottle carries more than just honey—it carries our story.” ”
