1. Visit a local meadery

There are hundreds of meaderies across the United States, and many throughout the world. Mead is a highly regional product. Because mead relies on local honey, the best mead in any area is likely made within 50 miles, with honey made by bees likely visiting the flowers in your own neighborhood. Find a meadery near you.

2. Plan to visit a meadery on your next trip

Because mead is so local, going for a mead tasting is a fantastic way to explore a new area. The next time you're going out of town on a trip or vacation, Take a look at our directory to see if the region you're visiting has any meaderies. there's a good chance it does!

3. Explore your grocery store or liquor stores

If you're looking for a taste of mead without the tasting experience, or if local mead is not an option, it's worth checking the shelves of liquor stores in your area. Your best bet is to focus on any that are known for specialty drinks and craft beverages, rather than your run-of-the-mill stock. The staff / store owner should be able to locate it for you in a snap, but if you're on your own, there's a few shelves to look on:

• The "Dessert Wine" Section: This is the most common spot. Look near the Ports, Sherries, and fruit wines.
• The "Specialty Beer" Aisle: If it's a "Session Mead" (lower alcohol, carbonated, in a can), it’s almost always grouped with high-end ciders or local craft singles.
• The "Global" Shelf: Sometimes it’s tucked away with Japanese Sake or specialty imports.

A couple other things to keep in mind. First, mead does come in cans, so don't expect it to always come in a medieval looking bottle. Second, sometimes mead is called "Honey Wine", for reasons I explain here, so it's worth asking if an otherwise well-stocked shop doesn't carry anything with the word "mead" on it.

4. Check to see if it's on tap!

More and more bars are choosing to serve mead, especially if there's a local meadery nearby. It is a fantastic specialty offering that stands out as a unique alternative to the seemingly infinite sea of craft beer options.

• Seek out the specialists: Look for craft beer bars or taprooms known for a curated selection. Even if they don't have a mead on tap the day you visit, the staff at these spots are often well-connected and can point you toward other local bars that might.
• Go to the source: Even if you don't have a local meadery, call up the closest one you can find in our directory. Most mead makers are happy to tell you exactly which local bars or bottle shops they currently supply, saving you the guesswork.

5. You can buy mead online

If all else fails, or you're looking to revisit a drink from a meadery you've previously visited, it is possible to buy mead online. While nothing beats the experience of a local tasting room, the digital aisle serves as a great fallback for those who don't have a meadery nearby or are looking for something highly specific.

There are sites that stock a variety of meads, but we advocate for going straight to an individual meadery’s website when shelves are thin. Not every meadmaker will deliver, but quite a few do. Explore our directory, wander onto the sites of a few that sound interesting, and see what they have to offer.

The Best Way to Start is Simply to Start

Finding mead is often as much about the journey as it is about the drink itself. Whether you are walking into a local tasting room for the first time, hunting through the "specialty" shelves at your local shop, or having a rare bottle of honey wine shipped to your door, you are participating in a craft that is thousands of years old.

If you ever find yourself at a bar or shop that doesn’t seem to carry it, don't be afraid to ask. The mead community is small but incredibly passionate, and every request helps this unique category claim its rightful spot alongside beer, wine, and cider.