TASTE! Alaska : The LowDown on CELESTIAL MEADERY, and ...

The LowDown on CELESTIAL MEADERY, and ...

Posted by chefalaska

Posted: July 24, 2008 - 12:15 am

I have been waiting to announce that I will be representing Alaska In the Great American Seafood Challenge. This will take place in New Orleans, LA on the 2nd, 3rd of August. So, I will be missing the last opening of Celestial Meadery. No reason why you can't go stock up on your new favorite refreshment!

Below is a letter I received from Michael Kriker, the owner of Celestial Meads. Letting us know what's going on...

Celestial Meadery, taste extravaganza,,,

Hi Rob,

Sorry I'm a little late with this, but there is a ton of work to do with the move and trying to keep the permitting process from stalling.

Celestial Meads will have an Open House to celebrate National Mead Day on Saturday, August 2nd from noon-5:00p. Please note that this will be the LAST event at the old meadery location (700 W. 41st Ave., Unit H) as we will be moving in August. More details on the move soon. As usual, there is no charge for this event. There will be free snacks along with a dozen or more meads to sample. The second batches of Rubyfruit and Odin's Gift will be released at this event, along with a few new ones. 'Cinnamon Girl' is a methyglyn made with gallberry honey from Florida, Indonesian Koryntje cinnamon and mace. 'Scheherazade' is a spiced melomel made with cardamom, sour cherries, plums and pomegranates. It's an explosion of flavors and aromas that has produced 'WOWS' among those who have tasted it. We will also be releasing the first of our 'Special Reserve' series with 'Persephone's Fate', a pomegranate melomel at 14% ABV aged for a full year. This has been compared favorably with 'fi
ne VSOP brandy' by those lucky enough to get a preview taste.

Immediately after the above event, Celestial Meads will complete the move to it's new location at 600 W. 58th Ave, Suite B. This new facility will have a significantly larger production area and a separate tasting room, that should enhance the tasting experience. We will of course, still provide tours of the production area and blather endlessly about the joys of honey and mead. Many of the details are still being finalized but at the new location, I expect to be open to the Public each Saturday from Noon-3:00p. These opening are free to the Public and we will serve snacks and free mead samples, with mead available for purchase.

On Saturday, August 23rd from Noon-5:00p we will have a special Grand Opening event at the new location. I'm not sure if it will come together by the grand opening event but we will eventually be serving sparkling meads on tap that is available for purchase in growlers. Initially this will be Razzery Cyser ( a perennial favorite). Later on there will be a sparkling traditional mead and probably another sparkling melomel made with Alaskan Red Currants, but these are six months out. Every fews months we will be releasing another 'Special Reserve' mead. These are generally higher alcohol with longer aging periods, exotic honeys or combinations, and/or additional treatment. These are experiments with bigger, bolder, more mature meads and many may only be produced once. These are meant to showcase the tremendous variety and complexity available in mead. In addition to 'Persephone's Fate' above, following are some of the upcoming 'Special Reserve' batches.

'Trebuchet' is a 14% ABV oak-aged traditional mead made with sage honey from California, basswood honey from Iowa and spring wildflower honey from the Blue Ridge Mtns of North Carolina. Oct- Nov realease.

'Raizin d'Etre' is a pyment made with Zinfandel grapes at 14% ABV . The judicious use of oak really brings out the buttery, spiciness of Zinfandel grapes and the honey softens and enhances the flavors and aromas. A great mead that should age very well. Jan 2009 release.

'Blue Ridge Hottie' Special Reserve. 'Blue Ridge Hottie' was one of my first standard meads at 11% ABV that used sourwood honey from the Blue Ridge Mtns of North Carolina. This Special Reserve batch uses a sauterne yeast with a longer aging period and a bit more oak, and weighs in at 14% ABV. This is a unique, varietal honey that makes great mead with notes of wood, leather, tobacco and fenugreek. Spring 2009 release.

To find the new meadery, drive south on Arctic Blvd past International Airport Rd. Between Potter and the railroad tracks, turn left onto 58th Ave (Warfield's Auto Repair in on the corner). Go about 600 ft and turn right right into the parking lot (directly across from Arctic Self Storage). Please note that they are making storm water improvements to this section of 58th Ave, so access is poor and messy right now, and often requires taking the back way via Potter to Silverado then to 58th. Hopefully they will have this cleaned up by Aug 23rd.

Specialty Imports is now carrying Celestial Meads, although they will not be carrying everything. Some, like the 'Special Reserves' will only be available at the meadery.

Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Thanks,
Michael Kiker, Owner
Celestial Meads
907.250.8362
meads@gci.net

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