Eventide Is Brewing An Ancient Drink Right Here In Dartmouth
DARTMOUTH — When you shop for a refreshing beverage in Halifax this summer, chances are you’ll be looking for beer, or maybe a nice bottle of wine. But have you ever thought of trying one of the oldest drinks known to humankind?
Ronnie Lunn, co-owner of Eventide Mead in Dartmouth, believes it’s only a matter of time before mead becomes popular in the Maritimes. And he wants Eventide to be the name associated with the alcoholic beverage.
“Historically, mead was more of an expensive drink, so it often gets associated with Vikings and things like that. But it was actually drank all throughout history. There’s evidence of it in ancient China and Africa and all over the place,” said Lunn.
“It’s still an expensive product because honey is expensive. At our company, we’re looking to make a more affordable drink.”
Mead, which is now thousands of years old, has also played a role in our vocabulary. Honey is the key ingredient in mead. Hundreds of years ago, people believed mead increased fertility. Therefore, it became a common wedding gift to help newlyweds start their families. That’s where the term “honeymoon” comes from.
When asked if there’s any truth to the legend of mead increasing fertility, Lunn let out a laugh.
“In the liquor industry, you’re not allowed to say there are any health benefits to your product. There’s a common theme where people will try it and say ‘that tastes almost healthy.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m not allowed to say that it is.’”
Eventide opened its doors four months ago. They have a location at 196 Joseph Zatzman Drive and their mead can be found in several retail locations throughout Halifax. They sell the drink in 473 ml cans for $6.00.
The business sprung from a hobby between two friends. Eventide’s other owner, Eric Hynes, would brew his own beer with Lunn’s help. The two would bring kegs of their beer to parties with decent reception. But when they first brought a keg of mead, it was much more popular.
“We would typically take kegs to parties when we had beer and people would drink it but we’d come home with half of the keg still full. But when we first took a keg of mead to a party, we came home with an empty keg.”
Lunn first got the idea of trying a mead product because of his familiarity with the lore of the drink: Whether it was in history texts or a fantasy world, mead can be found throughout.
“I’m someone who played Dungeons and Dragons, I’m very interested in fantasy things. I knew what mead was, too, because I have a love of history.”
Just a week ago, the company released its third flavour, Red Sky, which is infused with cranberry. No matter which flavour of Eventide you choose, it is a more modern taste than what brewers made hundreds or thousands of years ago.
“We don’t make a traditional mead; we make a more modern style. We use a lot less honey than what would typically be used in a typical mead,” said Lunn.
“What Ancient Egyptians were making for beer is not what we drink today for beer. Everything has changed through history as our pallet changes, as our technology changes.”
Eventide’s mead contains 6.5 percent alcohol, while other meads on the market can be more than three times higher. And if you assume the mead will taste overly sweet because it’s made from, Lunn has a message for you.
“You are absolutely false in that assumption. We put ‘dry’ right on the label; It’s no sweeter than a dry cider.”
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].