What do you think the oldest alcoholic beverage is made from? Grapes? Grains? Rice?

Actually, we can thank bees. During pre-medieval times in parts of Africa and Asia, honey was being fermented and used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. It later became popular during medieval culture. Rising honey prices at the time eventually meant only kings could afford the drink. Over centuries, it slipped into obscurity overtaken by the more familiar grape- and grain-based drinks we know of today.

Mead as it is known was rediscovered in the 1950’s and 60’s by a group of researchers and amateur makers experimenting with modernizing the production process. A place where mead making is enjoying modern renaissance is Portland, Maine. As part of PSFK’s drive of the 2016 Lincoln MKX, we had the opportunity to check out two of Portland’s most prominent mead destinations.