Typically, commercially-made mead won’t easily spoil since it has undergone rigorous production steps and aging periods. The recommendation varies significantly among producers, from just a day to a few weeks. This mead variety drops in quality after opening. After opening, it is recommended to drink it immediately. It is best to drink it within a year or two. Lighter mead (those with lower alcohol contents) are less stable. Of course, like other alcoholic beverages, it can still be drinkable after these periods, but the flavor may not hit the spot. With good care, mead can retain its best flavor for around 3 to 6 months. After opening, the flavor and taste can considerably decrease. Typically, an unopened darker mead can last for 5 years or even more. The next thing you should do is to check the label or manufacturer’s website for this information. It considerably varies on the type of mead and alcohol content. There is no exact answer on the shelf life of mead. It’s not recommended to freeze mead as the flavor can be affected. For the other varieties, it is best to refrigerate (unless otherwise stated on label).Įither way, always keep the bottle sealed when not in use to prevent the air from getting into the bottle and degrade the flavor. If you plan to keep it a bit longer, keeping it in the refrigerator is smart to do. Darker mead can stay at room temperature. Higher alcohol content means the mead is more stable. Meanwhile, the lightest variety is called hydromel and contains 3.5% to 7.5% alcohol. Standard mead, also the most common in the market, contains 7.5% to 14%. Well, it depends on the alcohol content and the producer.ĭarker, heavier mead (or sack mead/ great mead) typically contains higher than 14% alcohol. Avoid spots that might give sudden shocks or vibration, such as nearby a refrigerator.Ī common question for mead storage is whether it needs refrigeration after the bottle is opened. A wine cellar would be a perfect place, but your pantry or cupboard is great as well. Keep unopened mead in a dry, dark, cool place, away from sources of direct sunlight and heat. Place mead bottles on their side, especially if they are going to be aged for a longer period. Storage guidelines for mead are relatively similar to wine. We will also answer some FAQs about mead at the end of this article. That’s the nitty-gritty of mead, now let’s get into the more technical parts of storage and the shelf life of mead. The alcohol content of mead considerably varies from 3.5% to 20%, depending on the makers. Longer aging period means higher alcohol content. The aging period varies from 3 to 36 months.
These variants include braggot (with malt and hops), melomel (with any fruits), pyment (with grape juice), rhodomel (with rose hips/ petals) trojniak (Polish), Tej (Ethiopian), and many more. Hence, it’s easy to find regional variants with many other names. The type of honey, type of yeast, additives, and aging period are the main determinants. Mead is known to have a diverse range of alcohol content, flavor, and taste. Depending on the regions, other ingredients may be added such as fruits, spices, herbs, grains, and hops. Mead (also known as honey wine) is an alcoholic drink prepared by fermenting honey and water with the help of yeast. It was popular among the Vikings, Greeks, Chinese, and African. Mead has been a part of culinary tradition across the world. Mead is probably one of the oldest alcoholic drinks that have existed since ancient civilizations. If you’re curious to find out, read on! What Is Mead?
Among other questions that popped up in your mind now are: how long does mead last? Does mead go bad?Įither way, in this article you will find useful information on mead shelf life, storage conditions, and how to know if mead has gone bad. Since everybody is talking about this “god’s drink”, you consider getting a bottle. Mead is getting more popular in America for the past decades. Well, it’s dubbed as “honey wine”, so maybe the older it gets, the better it tastes? Does mead age like wine? It looks fine, but you’re still doubting if it still tastes as great.