Alcoholic drink you probably never tried before is coming to NJ
If I offered you a mead, you might think I was giving you a brand name of notebook for school supplies. Or maybe you’re already hip to this.
Mead is a fermented alcoholic beverage of honey and water. It’s basically a honey wine. If you never heard of it before count me with you. But it’s starting to catch on in New Jersey.
A place that makes it is called a meadery, and only two exist in New Jersey. That’s Beach Bee Meadery in Long Branch and Armageddon Brewing in Somerdale. There had been another called Melovino Meadery in Vauxhall but they’re permanently closed.
Lo and behold a third meadery is coming to Somerville.
NJ Elixir has been given approval by the borough Planning Board to open a meadery on East Main Street between Bridge and Warren streets where there had formerly been an Indian restaurant.
Caleb Ahles, a co-founder of NJ Elixir, says there will be a tasting room and people can bring in their own food from nearby restaurants to eat while trying mead. Sort of a BYOF.
Mead is thousands of years old and some say it’s the oldest manmade alcoholic drink. Mead was called “nectar of the gods” in ancient Greece.
What does it taste like? (Good reason to go to Somerville soon.) The taste depends on the kind of honey, and fruit juices and herbs may be added for flavor.
You know you’re curious. No word yet on when they’ll be open for business. If you know anything about the flavor of Somerville’s downtown then you know a meadery will fit well. And it will be the only one in Somerset County and no other within an hour’s drive.
Welcome to the ‘Ville honey wine!
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