Mead, Heritage, and Behind-the-Scenes: What You’ll Find on Our Patreon
When we started Vinland Meads, we knew our story was bigger than the bottles. Every recipe, every barrel, and every step has a history behind it. Patreon has become our way to share those deeper stories—the kind that go beyond the tasting notes and labels and show the why and how of what we do.
Mead Across Cultures
From the misty glens of Scotland to the royal courts of Ethiopia, mead has long been more than just a drink—it’s a shared legacy of humanity. Across continents and centuries, cultures have turned honey into sacred offerings, medicinal tonics, and celebratory brews. In this article, we explore the global journey of mead: how it inspired Norse poets, bonded Polish nobility, warmed Mongolian warriors, and flowed through ancient temples from China to Mesoamerica. At Vinland Meads, we honor this rich tradition in every bottle, keeping not only bees alive—but the stories, rituals, and heritage they helped ferment.
From Paperwork to Pouring: Our Journey to Opening a Texas Meadery
Opening a meadery in Texas isn’t just about honey and barrels — it’s about navigating paperwork, filing deadlines, and learning from every hiccup along the way. When we started Vinland Meads, we couldn’t find a single clear guide, so we pieced it together ourselves with help from fellow mead makers, late nights on Discord, and more than one trip to the Comptroller’s office. From fast TTB approvals to the headaches of label submissions and the surprise of missing eight months of RITS filings, we’ve learned the process the hard way. Here’s our story — and the lessons that might save the next mead maker some time (and a $5,000 penalty).
Beyond the Horn: Mead Mixology & Pairings for the Bold Drinker
Mead Mixology
At Vinland Meads, we’ll be the first to say that mead stands tall all on its own. But for those who like to experiment, mead is also one of the most versatile ingredients you can bring to your bar. With its honey backbone, bold fruit, and spice-driven styles, it can play the role of base spirit, modifier, or accent—depending on the drink and the strength of the mead.
Blood, Sweat, and Honey: The People Behind Vinland Meads
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.
The Road to Texas Mead Fest: How Vinland Meads Got Here
From a first sip in 2015 to pouring our own in 2025, Vinland Meads’ journey to the Texas Mead Fest has been ten years in the making. What began with a few bottles from Texas meaderies and a win at the Texas Mead Cup has grown into a licensed meadery, countless miles visiting makers across the U.S., and a seat at the table alongside the state’s finest. This September, we’ll be pouring our heritage-inspired meads for the first time at the festival that sparked it all—come raise a horn with us.
Raising a Glass to Our Community: Vinland Meads in the Farmers Markets
At Vinland Meads, farmers markets aren’t just about selling bottles — they’re about shaking hands with neighbors, meeting the growers who supply our fruit, and sharing the centuries-old tradition of mead face-to-face. From our ties to Hays Manor’s honeybees to our collaboration with Heathen Beard Company, market days bring together the farm, the craft, and the community in one place. Whether you discover us under a canopy in the market square or on the shelves of your local wine shop, every pour carries the story of local roots and ancient craft.
Sacral Mead - A Journey Through A Sacred Tradition
We at Vinland Meads produce Sacral Mead. The term "sacral," though, perfectly encapsulates the essence of our mead. It is not merely a beverage; it is an embodiment of the sacred. From the honey harvested from hives we visit and help thrive, to the water that filters through the earth at Hays Manor, to the fruits and spices we acquire from local sources – all these elements are sacral in our construction of Mead.
HAYS MANOR & Vinland Meads
Situated just below Hays Manor, our meadery offers a truly unique experience. As you explore the property, you'll likely encounter our majestic Scottish Highland Coos grazing peacefully. Red Tail Hawks soar from the Falconry Chambers, while nearby, our bustling bee apiary hums with the activity of hives brimming with honey, a key ingredient in our handcrafted meads.
Vinland Mead Hall
Nestled amidst the towering hardwoods of Hays Manor in Murchison, Texas, Vinland Meads Mead Hall emerges as a haven where modern design converges with ancient inspiration.
Our Commitment to QualityHoney for Vinland Meads
At Vinland Meads, honey is the cornerstone of our craft. We meticulously select our honey, starting with the hives at Hays Manor and the Hays Clan Honey Hives. While these are our primary sources, they don't produce enough to meet the demands of Vinland Meads, our family, and our neighbors. Therefore, we partner with select local beekeepers and honey farms to supplement our supply supply.
