Mead or Melomel? Which to choose? Or is there really a difference? 

The short answer is both yes and no.

Just like with other traditional hard drinks, it’s hard to place melomel into one specific category. In fact, this is a drink that has been around for so long that there are a lot of different varieties.

There are a lot of things that are similar between mead and melomel that it’s sometimes easy to mix up the two. 

Similarities between Mead and Melomel

This is actually pretty straightforward. Both are basically brewed the same and can be considered meads. Both use honey and yeast as a fermenting agent. And both can be very sweet depending on the amount of honey used during the brewing process.

Differences between Mead and Melomel

So what is the difference even if it is slight?

The only real difference between straight mead and melomel is that one has fruit added during the brewing process. Although today, both mead and melomel are often interchangeable and might even cover other drinks that might not fit into that category.

Types of Melomel

That’s not to say that some drinks are very clearly meads while others are melomels. 

Depending on the type of fruit used in the brewing process, it can bring out a distinct taste during the brewing process.

Pyments

This melomel is made from certain grapes. When used in the brewing process, it can make a melomel taste closely to a traditional wine, while taking on its own distinct color from mixing the gold from the honey with the red, purple, or white of the grapes. Sometimes, the wine is used instead of water during the process.

Bilbemel

This is made using blueberries. This creates a purplish hue in the melomel that adds to the sweet flavor that mead typically has.

Cyser

This is a specialty here at Twisted Horn. This is a melomel that is made using apples or cider. Our To The Core cyser, for example, gives an off-dry taste with the apple and honey blended together with a bit of heather and sage as after notes. 

Morat

This comes from using mulberries in the melomel. How this will taste and look will ultimately be determined by how ripe the mulberries are. The riper the mulberries, the darker the drink will be. It will also tend to have a sweeter taste compared to the drier taste of younger mulberries used.

Perry

Like our award winning Pure Pear cider, perrys are typically made with pears in the process. And we are pretty proud of the way ours turned out.

Rudamel

This is a melomel made with raspberries, giving it a rich crimson color and tangy texture. 

Rhodomel

This is made using rosehip berries, though it’s not quite as common. 

Other Kinds of Melomel

Like we mentioned above, there are so many melomel types that it would be near impossible to list them all.

Fortunately, most other kinds of melomel, outside of what we listed already, are often named after the fruit that is used during brewing. Orange Melomel, Blackberry Melomel, and so on. 

There are some people that will consider other types of mead as melomel so long as it comes from the fruit of a plant, such as chili peppers, or even maple syrup. This mostly depends on who you talk to, though. 

What’s the Difference Between Melomel and Wine?

The short answer to this is that melomel is a type of mead, which means it uses honey as its primary base. 

While “traditional” wines tend to use fruit in a similar manner as melomels, there typically isn’t anything much added to a traditional wine other than the fruit and a few herbs. 

Melomel, on the other hand, is a similar brewing mead, mainly that the drink requires honey (preferably raw honey) be used in the process. 

The way they taste is also radically different. The fermentation of the fruit with the honey adds a richer flavor than even many wines, regardless of preference. And a lot of it depends on the honey itself. Using clover honey lends a different experience than wildflower honey, for instance, whereas wine is a bit limited in what it can or cannot use in its process.

Let’s Enjoy It Together!

So whether you want to brew your own, or even you want to try some by more experienced hands, the combination of fruit and honey to make melomel meads are a wonder to behold and taste. You can check out the Melomel making process.

Come check out some of the melomels we have on tap in our mead hall, or even order mead online some to enjoy at home! We’ll look forward to seeing you and your fellow travelers!

SKAL!