Edmonton Mead Taste Test

Iron Hive presents a singular proposal to the modern drinker: consume a really ancient beverage. Mead, a fermented honey alcoholic beverage, traces its roots to the Vikings. Despite Alberta’s status as the producer of 40 per cent of Canada’s honey (more than any other province in the country), mead is not a common product on liquor store shelves across the province. Edmonton-based meadery Iron Hive stocks three regular meads, plus seasonal flavours, made exclusively with Alberta honey.

After ordering Iron Hive’s three mead offerings earlier in the week, Edify staff received them directly from the proprietor and gave all three a try on a Friday afternoon.

To sip or gulp?

First up was Frost Bite, a lightly carbonated, dry mead, which staff found spirit forward — the 11 per cent ABV puts it more in the realm of wine than beer. Be careful with the tall can!

Associate publisher Jennifer Walton describes it as “punchy and strong to start, but smooths out as you drink it.”

Graphic designer Yuliia Syvokin and digital strategist Steve Glen both agreed Frost Bite was the best of the bunch, clean and straightforward, an unfussy beverage.

Iron Hive’s best seller, however, is the blackberry-flavoured Pioneer’s Blood.

“I can see why it’s the best seller,” says director of operations Jodi Glen. “It’s hands-down my favourite, and I really like mead.” Pioneer’s Blood is cider-y without being too fruit-forward or tart, with an earthy, after-the-rain smell that staff compared favourably to a peaty whisky. This one, the staff agreed, would be best paired with a meal, with its stronger flavour.

We dreamed of patios

Last up was the Gold Rush, the sweetest and most carbonated of the meads on offer — but, like all of Iron Hive’s products, it’s not overly sweet or cloying. Iron Hive owner David Camellini describes it as the most traditional of Iron Hive’s current offerings. Gold Rush was voted most patio-friendly in Edify’s taste tests. Staff members were fantasizing about enjoying the drink by the pool or with a hot dog at a barbecue, rather than in a boardroom at the end of September. Gold Rush was Jennifer’s favourite, citing the mild and spirited flavour.

Now, the staff were not playing drinking games, but it was a Friday at 2 p.m., so we had a little fun mixing all three — which was an unexpected but unanimous hit.

Viking lineage aside, drinkers looking to explore the world of mead will have an easy drinking, accessible entry to the beverage with Iron Hive.