**NOTICE** In this episode we consume alcoholic beverages. While we encourage our listeners to try along with us, we do not condone underage drinking. Do not consume alcohol if you are under the age of 21.
We are at it again! Do you hear the glasses clanking and the words starting to slur? Well that is because our cheeks are rosy, our spirits are soaring, and our bellies are full of delicious, delicious mead. And it is especially delicious because it has come from Four Fires Meadery in Maumee, Ohio.
If you haven’t, listen to our other mead episode here. We tried six meads from various locations, including Four Fires.
Which Four Fires Meads are we trying today?
Watermelon Dichro
My Morning Latte, Mint Mocha
Primrose
Nutty Bluefessor
Macadamia Nut Dichro
Black Currant Dichro
Gin and Jammies
Who is on this tasty tasty quest?
Hannah, Is people.
Cassie, the honorary Ohioan Iowan.
Matt, man of green gables.
Amy, wants to break her own rules.
And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!
The History of Mead (again!)
Mead is considered the world’s oldest alcoholic drink. And what does it consist of? Simply fermented honey and water. Chinese pottery vessels dating from 7000 B.C.E suggests evidence of mead fermentation that predates wine and beer. Ancient Greeks referred to it as nectar of the gods. It was believed to be sent from the heavens as dew and collected by bees. There are European cultures that considered bees to be the gods’ messengers, and mead was therefore associated with immorality and magical powers.
Celtic mythology tells of a river of mead running through paradise, and Anglo-Saxon cultures believed mead to be the bestower of immorality, poetry, and knowledge.
In the ancient times, mead was presumably made by diluting honey with water in clay or wooden vessels, then leaving airborne yeasts and yeast found naturally in the honey to do the rest. Today commercial mead is produced using a mix of honey, fresh yeast, lemons, and water. After fermenting it needs to be kept at least a year before drinking, but at around 16% it will keep indefinitely.
Mead can be produced in a variety of sweetness and it can be still or sparkling.
A mead’s flavor varies greatly depending on the honey type. Traditional mead often uses a mild honey such as orange blossom, clover, or acacia. But wildflower, blackberry and buckwheat honeys produce great results with sturdier spiced meads.
Mead is the fastest growing segment of the American alcohol beverage industry.
The Results
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!
7th Place: Primrose
Amy - 1
Cassie - 5
Hannah - 7
Matt - 5
6th Place: Macadamia Nut Dichro
Amy - 3
Cassie - 6
Hannah - 7
Matt - 4
5th Place: My Morning Latte, Mint and Mocha
Amy - 1
Cassie - 9
Hannah - 8
Matt - 6
4th Place: Gin and Jammies
Amy - 5
Cassie - 7
Hannah - 8
Matt - 7
3rd Place: Watermelon Dichro
Amy - 8
Cassie - 10
Hannah - 7
Matt - 8
2nd Place: Black Currant Dichro
Amy - 6
Cassie - 10
Hannah - 10
Matt - 8
1st Place: Nutty Bluefessor
Amy - 9
Cassie - 9
Hannah - 10
Matt - 9
There you have it. Four Fires Nutty Bluefessor receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Check out their website to discover all of their delicious meads.
https://www.4fmeadery.com/
Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you been to Four Fires? What did you think? We would love to hear your ratings as well.
Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.
And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. Additionally, paid subscribers will have access to monthly content where we put two restaurants head to head in a Quest for the Best battle. Additionally, on Tuesdays, paid subscribers get access to mini episodes where we try out new or limited time foods you can find at the grocery store or gas station. We try them so you don’t have to spend your money on something that might be garbage. You definitely do not want to miss out.
SHOW NOTES:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandgardens/arid-20377522.html
https://www.liquor.com/articles/10-facts-about-mead/
Mead Two: Four Fires edition