This week on Beer Sessions Radio™ (listen to episode #164 here), host Jimmy Carbone is celebrating NYC Mead Week with the return of Michael Fairbrother (this time with his real life “honey” Berniece Van Der Berg) of Moonlight Meadery to talk about their adventures in making “the ancestor of fermented beverages.” Hear about Michael’s journey from CEO of a software firm to Meadmaker of the Year (taking “Best in Show” for his Desire Mead).
Also in the studio is Raphael Lyon, whose “farm winery,” Enlightenment Wines, is experimenting with a CSA model for wine while incorporating traditional and unique ingredients to make both mead and wine. As the smallest winery in New York State, Raphael is focused on creating unfiltered dry, esoteric wines in small quantities. He’ll even drop a few hints on how to make a good dandelion wine.
Plus, Chris Cuzme of 508 Gastrobrewery weighs in on the NYC Homebrewer’s Guild annual mead night (this year’s “Best of Show” in Homebrew Alley VII was a ghost chili mead).
Hear about the history of mead making, some folklore on early mead creation, and how mead in the past used to have psychotropic qualities. The guests weigh in on the decline of the bee population and local ingredients in both mead and beer. How has the modern food landscape prepared the way for mead? Join us and find out!