Planning Your Time Here

• Where is Vinland Meads located?

Our public Mead Hall, taproom, tasting room, and artisan kitchen are at 6504 State Highway 31 East, Murchison, Texas 75778. We’re in downtown Murchison, on the south side of Highway 31 across from Rooted, in the old Massey Ferguson tractor shop.

• Where can I try mead in East Texas?

Come taste with us at Vinland Meads in downtown Murchison. We offer handcrafted Texas meads by the glass, tasting flights, and mead cocktails. Our staff can help you explore the selection and find something that suits your taste.

• How do I get there from Tyler or Athens?

From Tyler, follow Highway 31 west toward Murchison. From Athens, follow Highway 31 east toward Murchison. Look for us on the south side of the highway, across from Rooted, at 6504 State Highway 31 East.

• Is parking available?

Yes. We have ample parking for guests visiting our Mead Hall, tasting room, and artisan kitchen.

• When are you open?

Wednesday and Thursday: 5–8 PM
Friday: 5–10 PM
Saturday: Noon–10 PM
Sunday: Noon–8 PM
Monday and Tuesday: Closed

For questions about your visit, call (903) 484-6018.

• When can I come for a tasting?

Tastings are available whenever we’re open to the public. Tastings outside regular hours are also available by request—call us to discuss a time.

• How does a mead flight work?

Our $15 flight includes your choice of four available meads on tap, with a 1.5 oz sample of each. It’s a great way to compare flavors before choosing a glass or bottle. Tell our staff what you normally enjoy, and we’ll help you select your four.

• Do you serve food?

Yes! Our chef-inspired artisan kitchen serves appetizers, sharing boards, handcrafted flatbreads, smoked tacos, grilled cheese, and a kids’ menu. Chef Sean also prepares rotating Chef’s Choice desserts. Ask our staff for a mead pairing to complement your meal.

• Can I bring my family?

Absolutely. We’re a family business, and families are welcome. We have two large eight-person tables that are perfect for family gatherings, along with a kids’ menu, highchairs, and a baby changing station. You may find our grandson enjoying the hall, too—he’s here most days.

Alcoholic beverages are for guests age 21 and older.

• Do you offer drinks besides mead?

Yes. We serve mead cocktails and a selection of Texas wines from our favorite local winery down the road, Green Goat Winery. Nonalcoholic options include sodas, coffee, teas, and lemonade.

• What is the revolving TMA tap?

Our revolving Texas Mead Association tap showcases meads from fellow TMA member meaderies. The selection changes throughout the year, giving guests a chance to explore the variety of mead made across Texas. Ask our staff about the current offering.

• Can I reserve tables or host an event?

Yes. Our Mead Hall welcomes reservations and inquiries for parties, weddings, and special events. Call (903) 484-6018 with your date, group size, and plans, and let us help you arrange your gathering.

• Is the tasting room at Hays Manor?

Our public tasting room and artisan kitchen are in downtown Murchison. Hays Manor is our family farm and part of the story behind Vinland Meads. For a tasting or meal, come to our Highway 31 location. Contact us separately about any request to visit the farm.

About Our Mead

• What is mead?

Mead is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water and yeast. Often called “honey wine,” it has a long history across many cultures. At Vinland Meads, we craft meads using Texas honey, fruit, spices, and other ingredients that give each selection its own character.

• What’s the difference between mead and grape wine?

The main difference is the source of fermentable sugar. Grape wine begins with grapes, while mead begins with honey. Mead can also include fruit, spices, or herbs, creating a wide range of flavors and styles.

• What types of mead do you make?

Our lineup includes Heritage Traditional, Vixon Cinnamon, Crimson Dusk Black Cherry, Violet Dawn Blueberry, Harvest Blackberry, Thicket Wild Plum, Amethyst Raspberry, Ash Smoked Pecan, and Smoked Heritage. We also offer Heritage Reserve and limited releases such as Tribute.

Availability varies by batch and serving format. Check our current menu or ask our staff what’s available.

• Is your mead sweet or dry?

Most of our core selections are semi-sweet, while Violet Dawn Blueberry has a slightly dry finish. Honey, fruit, and fermentation all influence the finished flavor. A tasting flight is an easy way to compare the selection and find your preference.

• How strong is your mead?

The eight core meads listed on our tasting menu are 16% alcohol by volume. Specialty releases, cocktails, cider, and guest meads may differ. Check the menu or bottle label for the exact strength of your selection.

• Do you carbonate your mead?

We offer still meads, and some seasonal selections may be lightly sparkling. Ask our staff about the serving style of the particular mead you’re considering.

• Do you use local ingredients?

Yes. We use Texas honey and source fruit and other ingredients from our own land and nearby producers whenever possible. Our artisan kitchen also features locally baked sourdough and ingredients from our East Texas neighbors.

• What kind of honey do you use?

We use raw Texas honey from our bees at Hays Manor and local apiaries we trust. The honey’s floral source and season can bring different aromas and flavors to the finished mead.

• Does the honey affect the taste?

Absolutely. Honey provides both the fermentable sugars and an important part of mead’s character. Different honeys can contribute floral, delicate, rich, or earthy notes. Fermentation and the other ingredients shape how those qualities appear in the glass.

• Why do you make small batches and seasonal releases?

Small batches let us work with seasonal ingredients and explore different recipes. Alongside our established lineup, we make limited selections that reflect what’s available and what inspires us. A particular batch may sell out before its replacement is ready.

• Do you use artificial honey flavors or syrups?

We make our mead with real honey, rather than artificial honey flavoring or corn syrup substituted for honey. Fruit, spices, and other recipe ingredients give our different meads their individual flavors.

• Do you pasteurize your honey?

We do not pasteurize our raw honey before use. Some recipes involve heating or caramelizing honey before fermentation. Mead made with caramelized honey is called bochet, and that process can contribute deeper, toasted flavors.

• Is there wax or pollen in your honey?

Our unfiltered honey can contain trace amounts of naturally occurring beeswax, pollen, and propolis. That describes the honey we begin with; it does not mean every finished bottle contains visible traces of those materials.

• Do you rescue wild hives?

Yes. Bee rescue is part of our work at Hays Manor. When possible, we safely relocate bees from places such as hollow trees and old structures. Some of our most meaningful meads began with honey gathered during those rescues.

• What’s the story behind Tribute, your Cemetery Mead?

Tribute began with a winter bee rescue in a family cemetery, where we recovered honey from a queenless hive inside a hollow tree. The resulting mead connects our beekeeping, family history, and respect for the land. Speak with Clyde or Sarah about its story, availability, and tasting experience. Read More Here

Ingredients & Dietary Questions

• Is your mead gluten-free?

Our mead recipes do not use grains in fermentation. If you need to avoid gluten, ask our staff about the specific mead or mixed drink you’re ordering, since added ingredients can differ.

• Is mead vegan?

Mead is made with honey, a bee product, so it is generally not considered vegan. We do not use animal-based fining agents, but the honey itself remains an essential ingredient.

• Do your products contain nuts?

We use nuts in our kitchen and in mead production. Ash is made with pecans. Cross-contact is possible, and we cannot guarantee that our products are nut-free. Please speak with a staff member about any nut allergy before ordering.

• Do you add sulfites?

We do not add sulfites to our mead. However, sulfites can occur naturally during fermentation, so “no added sulfites” does not mean “sulfite-free.” Check the bottle label and speak with us if you have questions about a particular release.

• Do you make health or spiritual claims?

No. Our Norse and Scottish influences are part of our heritage, storytelling, and artistic expression. We do not claim that our mead provides health benefits or guarantees spiritual or ritual effects. (From Sarah not Clyde)

Buying & Enjoying Mead

• How do I buy your mead?

Visit our downtown Mead Hall to purchase available bottles or growler fills. You can also use the purchasing options linked on our website. Availability can change as batches sell out, so check before traveling for a particular selection.

• Do you sell bottles and growlers?

Yes. Standard 750 mL mead bottles are $45, and Heritage Reserve is $65. A 32 oz growler with its first fill is $75, with refills at $55. Ask our staff which selections are available for bottles or growler fills.

• Is your mead available in stores?

We work with retail partners. Check our Where to Buy page for listed locations, and contact the retailer to confirm current stock. If your favorite wine or liquor store would like to carry Vinland Meads, ask them to contact us.

• How should I serve mead?

Serving depends on the particular mead and your preference. Try fruit-forward selections chilled, and allow richer pours a little time in the glass to explore their aroma. We also serve selected meads warmed in specialty drinks. Ask us for a recommendation for the bottle you take home.

• How long does mead last?

Storage life depends on the particular mead, its packaging, and whether it has been opened. Keep unopened bottles in a cool, dark place and avoid prolonged heat. Ask us about storage, aging, and care after opening for your specific selection.

• How can I support Vinland Meads?

Come enjoy a tasting or meal, take home a favorite bottle, and share your experience with friends. Honest reviews, recommendations to local shops, and joining us for events all help our family business grow. You can also follow our stories, music, and other creative work through Vinland Meads and Hays Manor.