When I come back from a mighty quest
I have no need for sleep or rest
I head to a tavern for a drink
And get so drunk I cannot think
A wench by my side and a jug of mead
These are the things that I most need
- Alestorm
Mead (aka Acerglyn, Balche, Bilbemel, Bochet, Bochetomel, Braggot, Capsicumel, Chouchenn, Cyser, Czwórniak, Dandaghare, Dwójniak, Gverc, Hydromel, iQhilika, Medica, Medovina, Medovukha, Melomel, Metheglin, Midus, Mõdu, Morat, Mulsum, Myod, Omphacomel, Oxymel, Pitarrilla, Pyment, Pó?torak, Rhodomel, Rubamel, Sima, Tej, Tella, Trójniak to name a few variants and types) has been around for eons. It may have fallen out of fashion but it's still around and dangit it's right here in Chandler - we have our own meadery. This past Saturday I was feeling a bit Mead-evil and needed some mead to soothe the savage beast and calm the demons within so I headed out to the Arizona Mead Company located on Frye Road between North 56th Street and South Kyrene Road just south of Chandler Boulevard. It's in an industrial area full of warehouse type buildings. No real landmarks to clue you in. It reminds me of the town of Yew in the Ultima series that was hidden away and only visible during the full moon - this place is only open once a week on Saturdays between 3 and 9 pm. There's no storefront right on Frye or any landmark that tells you you're in the right place. Look for a building with the giant 6503 on it and then drive south into a parking area. Even the parking area doesn't have much telling you there is a mead bar around save for a little sandwich board with what appears to be a barrel with viking horns coming out of it. That don't mean it's a Minnesota Vikings kinda bar but Vikings were into mead so who knows? So I saw a glass door that betrayed a lit atmosphere within and was the only obvious business that was open that night in the area. I entered and was amazed to find the place was packed. Most of my friends look at me funny when I tell them I'm into mead. They think I mean I'm a carnivore and totally into meat. No you philistines, that's mead - M E A D!!! So yeah - I was amazed to find other meaderologists in this part of the planet. I was expecting the place to be run by some old guy in a beard with wizard hat and robe but Cody - the man in charge - looked like your typical young enterpreneur dude and he pretty much gave me the rundown of the place as well as three samples of his mead. Prickly Pear Sweet, Prickly Pear Dry and Caramel Apple Cyser - the Caramel being the most popular option. All three were quite delicious and I ended up getting a bottle of the Caramel Apple Cyser to go. I'll have to come back again another Saturday. Maybe even drag some friends along. Lots of parking - it's pretty much the only business there open those hours on a Saturday. This place is pretty much all about mead so if you're not into it go elsewhere because there's no food offerings or anything else and no - not a place to bring kids. Your mileage may vary of course. Bring your wizard robes or Viking hat.