Nicknamed the ‘Nectar of the Gods’, mead is the oldest fermented drink in history and was enjoyed by most all ancient cultures throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East. It is crafted with fermented honey and yeast and can be enjoyed with an infusion of fruit, spices or carbonation.
While the number of meaderies has more than doubled, it was not without difficulty. Mead has confronted quite a few regulatory difficulties, starting with how it is categorized. According to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, mead is considered a wine unless it is produced with malt, in which case it is a beer. Both can affect how it is taxed and what additional permits may be required. The American Mead Makers Association is focusing its efforts on introducing a mead classification to the TTB. In the meantime, they are pleased to witness the recent spike in both production and consumption.
Source: The Motley Fool, September 2017