We here at Wotan's Wisdom Meadery Inc. are happy to offer a preliminary product: make your own mead kits. Learn about the mazer's art while getting some tasty mead, with recipes and instructions tested by chief mazer William Hawke over his six years of home-brewing experience. We are offering the following kits:
Gallic Treasure - includes instructions for brewing our Gold or Silver label flavor, all the honey and yeast you will need, and a 1-gallon demijohn with bung and airlock to brew in with a second 1-gallon to siphon your final product into, and pump and hose to do so with. Cleaning supplies not included to save on cost - you probably have then around your house anyway.
Price: $50
Wotan's Mead Horn - this cornucopia includes fruit and spices in addition to the supplies of the honey and yeast, and the instructions will tell you how to make one of our signature melomel flavors: spring pear, the Price Reserve high summer brew, the autumn apple of our midwest cyser, the warmth of the spiced orange yule brew, or our new offering: valentine's chocolate raspberry (order now, and it will be ready to share with your sweetheart by the romantic holiday).
Price: $75
Mazer's Special - Will loves to concoct new mead recipes. Using the power of math, chemistry, and an artist's experience in his medium, he will formulate a custom flavor to your tastes. Whatever flavor you want, we can try to do; then we send you the kit, and you follow the instructions, and a couple months later it's yours to drink.
Price: $100
Online Ordering:
Step 1: use this menu/button to order.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
History of a Dream: A New Chapter Begins
(Fourth part of four.)
As a gift to myself on my
twenty-seventh birthday, I signed the papers that incorporated the
Wotan's Wisdom Meadery. And while the company had technically and
legally existed before that instant, it was then, as I stood with the
pen in my hand and the ink still wet on the page, that the Wotan's
Wisdom Meadery became real in my mind. I was changed in my
preceptions, and in that instant, from a guy with a couple of get-by
jobs and some interesting hobbies into a professional and careered
mazer. Mildly put, it was a bit of a rush.
No longer would my dedication to
flavorful and high quality product go rewarded only by the admiration
and thanks of my close friends and family. No longer would mine be
the only mind thinking up tasty derivations to try in the carboys.
No longer would I be the only person giving my mead to people as a
yuletide gift. And more than all this, my desire to spend my energies and talents towards productive ends would be sated.
It had only been in the last year that things had come so quickly to this juncture. I'd spent years doing the research. I'd spent further years building the talents and experience with my experiments and my carboys. All the work, all the time, all the money for equipment and ingredients had gone towards building something in me that could be one very productive half of a mead business... specifically, the mead half. It was only after becoming friends with Ian, who had spent those same years working as a para-legal, dealing with bureaucracies, and learning at the proverbial feet of a master, that both halves of the mead business were joined.
The only part of this story left untold is what happens next... and that's because what happens next is happening now. This blog will cover the minutia of our moving forward into the future as it happens, showing the ups and downs, joys and pains of how my long held dream of making mead is actualized. It is my most sincere hope that both this story, and my mead, can make you happy in the years to come.
Getting bonded and licensed
Setting up a winery takes a lot of paperwork. First, there's the paperwork involved in any business: incorporation (this cost us $285 since we ended up doing it expedited online), tax registration for state and federal agencies, setting up bank accounts. Then there's the alcohol licensing. The first step of that is to get a tax bond, which insures to the state and federal government that the excise tax on whatever alcohol you produce that year will be paid. The bond must be for a minimum of $1000, or as much as the tax obligation will be if it will be more than that.
We are getting our bond through an online provider called Bonds Express. The other insurance companies I contacted did not respond to me with a quote in a timely fashion, so they lose out. The fee on top of the premium is a little more than I would like, but I'm hopeful that is something I can negotiate in future after becoming an established client. It's costing us $130 at this point for the $1000 bond, which is within the range of what I'd expect. The ratio of premium and fees to bond amount should get better if and when we are taking out larger bonds for larger production runs in the coming years.
With a bond, it's possible to complete the TTB's online application (thank God for the paperwork reduction act) for a basic permit. This requires filing other online applications listing officer information for the company since we are an S-Corporation (small business corporation). Once the basic permit is approved, we can apply for COLAs (Certificates of Label Approval) for whatever labels we will use and formula approval for the different meads we will sell. With a COLA and basic permit, it's then possible to apply to the state of Illinois for our winery license (a $600 fee). With the winery license, we can apply for the self-distribution exemption which will allow us to sell to stores and customers without separate licenses, as long as we're under a certain amount of production per year. Whew! Then we're in business!
All this ought to be done by the end of the week. At that point, we can start to take orders - so our Kickstarter project will go up then, and we will post information about how to pay via paypal and order through email. Included will be requirements for us to get into each other state besides Illinois, with bonuses offered to customers who break open their state for us. Ironically, we'll be able to sell to EU citizens immediately, because the US-EC Wine Treaty provides reciprocal licensing; a courtesy not afforded to each other by the states of the USA! Shipping information for EU customers will be forthcoming as well (unfortunately, it won't be cheap unless we get a great deal more orders than we can expect at first).
We are getting our bond through an online provider called Bonds Express. The other insurance companies I contacted did not respond to me with a quote in a timely fashion, so they lose out. The fee on top of the premium is a little more than I would like, but I'm hopeful that is something I can negotiate in future after becoming an established client. It's costing us $130 at this point for the $1000 bond, which is within the range of what I'd expect. The ratio of premium and fees to bond amount should get better if and when we are taking out larger bonds for larger production runs in the coming years.
With a bond, it's possible to complete the TTB's online application (thank God for the paperwork reduction act) for a basic permit. This requires filing other online applications listing officer information for the company since we are an S-Corporation (small business corporation). Once the basic permit is approved, we can apply for COLAs (Certificates of Label Approval) for whatever labels we will use and formula approval for the different meads we will sell. With a COLA and basic permit, it's then possible to apply to the state of Illinois for our winery license (a $600 fee). With the winery license, we can apply for the self-distribution exemption which will allow us to sell to stores and customers without separate licenses, as long as we're under a certain amount of production per year. Whew! Then we're in business!
All this ought to be done by the end of the week. At that point, we can start to take orders - so our Kickstarter project will go up then, and we will post information about how to pay via paypal and order through email. Included will be requirements for us to get into each other state besides Illinois, with bonuses offered to customers who break open their state for us. Ironically, we'll be able to sell to EU citizens immediately, because the US-EC Wine Treaty provides reciprocal licensing; a courtesy not afforded to each other by the states of the USA! Shipping information for EU customers will be forthcoming as well (unfortunately, it won't be cheap unless we get a great deal more orders than we can expect at first).
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Join the Einherjar!
The Einherjar, or lone warriors, were those old Norse and Germanic warriors who died in battle and were taken to Valhalla by the Valkyries. The Valkyries then helped them train for the final battle of Ragnarok, partly by bringing them an endless supply of mead!
We at Wotan's Wisdom are not asking you to find death in glorious battle (though if you are a soldier of the armed services, we raise a glass in your honor). Instead, we offer to provide you with endless mead - and if you order now, we will consider you one of our Einherjar and offer a discount price. Not only will you get that discount price now, but for buying from us at this early stage when we're just starting production and need every dollar badly, we will consider you a lifelong Einherjar. You will truly have an endless supply of mead, because your price will be the same as wholesale.
Here is a comparison of the discounted and regular prices:
375ml taster: $15 retail, $10 Einherjar.
750ml pouring bottle: $30 retail, $20 Einherjar.
Taster 2-pack: $27 retail, $18 Einherjar.
750ml 2-pack: $54 retail, $36 Einherjar.
Taster 3-pack: $36 retail, $24 Einherjar.
750ml 3-pack: $72 retail, $48 Einherjar.
Taster 4-pack: $42 retail, $28 Einherjar.
750ml 4-pack: $84 retail, $56 Einherjar.
Taster 6-pack: $54 retail, $36 Einherjar.
750ml 6-pack: $108 retail, $72 Einherjar.
Case Pack (24 Taster or 12 Pouring-size bottles): $180 retail, $120 Einherjar.
As you can see, you get 1/3 off because the retail markup (normally intended to let stores selling as our intermediary make a profit) is left off. We normally charge $10 for shipping each order, but if you order at least two cases, shipping for that order is free. International shipping rates will vary, of course.
We at Wotan's Wisdom are not asking you to find death in glorious battle (though if you are a soldier of the armed services, we raise a glass in your honor). Instead, we offer to provide you with endless mead - and if you order now, we will consider you one of our Einherjar and offer a discount price. Not only will you get that discount price now, but for buying from us at this early stage when we're just starting production and need every dollar badly, we will consider you a lifelong Einherjar. You will truly have an endless supply of mead, because your price will be the same as wholesale.
Here is a comparison of the discounted and regular prices:
375ml taster: $15 retail, $10 Einherjar.
750ml pouring bottle: $30 retail, $20 Einherjar.
Taster 2-pack: $27 retail, $18 Einherjar.
750ml 2-pack: $54 retail, $36 Einherjar.
Taster 3-pack: $36 retail, $24 Einherjar.
750ml 3-pack: $72 retail, $48 Einherjar.
Taster 4-pack: $42 retail, $28 Einherjar.
750ml 4-pack: $84 retail, $56 Einherjar.
Taster 6-pack: $54 retail, $36 Einherjar.
750ml 6-pack: $108 retail, $72 Einherjar.
Case Pack (24 Taster or 12 Pouring-size bottles): $180 retail, $120 Einherjar.
As you can see, you get 1/3 off because the retail markup (normally intended to let stores selling as our intermediary make a profit) is left off. We normally charge $10 for shipping each order, but if you order at least two cases, shipping for that order is free. International shipping rates will vary, of course.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Mead: Not Ale.
Mead is a largely unknown beverage in the USA. Until we opened our doors there were (Edited: 134 - thanks Reddit user MarsColonist!) meaderies in this country, and we are the (Edited: 135th) - that's just about one to a state. Very few brands of mead have national distribution, and none of those are highly regarded. Why? It boggles the mind - the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man is so little known and unpopular in the country which is, to many, the symbol of the modern world. Perhaps we do forget our roots, as we are accused by hippies and mystics.
Some have heard of mead because it's served at renaissance fairs and festivals, and Medieval Times(tm). It's served in an ancient or fantasy context, with games evoking such images as a flagon of mead. Some fantasy authors even use mead interchangeably with ale in their stories, and this is where the confusion creeps in. Mead is not ale - though a honey ale would be a relative. The ingredients are often different in all respects but the water - different kinds of yeast, and certainly different sugars to be fermented.
Mead is, legally, a wine from "other agricultural products," specifically honey. Honey is the major ingredient in mead, and to begin with it's just much more expensive than wheat or barley, the major ingredients in an ale. Even hops, a traditional major flavor for ales and beers, don't bring the ingredients cost up to what mead runs just for the honey. Home-brewers of mead face retail prices of $5 to $8 per pound for their honey, depending on sale prices. Buying in bulk can only improve that by so much, and it can take 5 pounds of honey per gallon of mead. So, simply based on the cost to produce, honey wine is a premium product.
Because of this, our goal at Wotan's Wisdom is to make every bottle worth the high price we must charge to make a profit. All the care and passion we can muster go into making sure we have the best quality ingredients and tools:
- Locally sourced organic honey.
- Fresh fruit.
- Top quality spices.
- Carefully cultured yeast.
- Thoroughly sanitized brewing and bottling equipment.
We are not aiming to be the lowest price, though we will try to avoid being the highest (some wines are way too expensive!) - but we're confident you will try our mead and decide it was worth what you paid. If you try it, and have an idea what would be even better, remember that we offer custom flavors brewed to taste if you order at least a case. Contact us at wotanswisdom@gmail.com to discuss a custom flavor - and look for our mail-order form to become available online tomorrow (later today, technically, since it's quite late when I'm posting this).
Some have heard of mead because it's served at renaissance fairs and festivals, and Medieval Times(tm). It's served in an ancient or fantasy context, with games evoking such images as a flagon of mead. Some fantasy authors even use mead interchangeably with ale in their stories, and this is where the confusion creeps in. Mead is not ale - though a honey ale would be a relative. The ingredients are often different in all respects but the water - different kinds of yeast, and certainly different sugars to be fermented.
Mead is, legally, a wine from "other agricultural products," specifically honey. Honey is the major ingredient in mead, and to begin with it's just much more expensive than wheat or barley, the major ingredients in an ale. Even hops, a traditional major flavor for ales and beers, don't bring the ingredients cost up to what mead runs just for the honey. Home-brewers of mead face retail prices of $5 to $8 per pound for their honey, depending on sale prices. Buying in bulk can only improve that by so much, and it can take 5 pounds of honey per gallon of mead. So, simply based on the cost to produce, honey wine is a premium product.
Because of this, our goal at Wotan's Wisdom is to make every bottle worth the high price we must charge to make a profit. All the care and passion we can muster go into making sure we have the best quality ingredients and tools:
- Locally sourced organic honey.
- Fresh fruit.
- Top quality spices.
- Carefully cultured yeast.
- Thoroughly sanitized brewing and bottling equipment.
We are not aiming to be the lowest price, though we will try to avoid being the highest (some wines are way too expensive!) - but we're confident you will try our mead and decide it was worth what you paid. If you try it, and have an idea what would be even better, remember that we offer custom flavors brewed to taste if you order at least a case. Contact us at wotanswisdom@gmail.com to discuss a custom flavor - and look for our mail-order form to become available online tomorrow (later today, technically, since it's quite late when I'm posting this).
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Mead: It's worth the wait.
Since we've just started, if you order mead from us in the next month or two, it will not be delivered immediately. We don't have a supply built up! That would take money - and banks aren't loaning that out like they used to these days. So to secure the loans we need to make the mead we love (and we hope you will too), we need purchase orders. So what we're saying is, we'll brew you fresh mead, starting when you order it from us. That does take some time, though, so you'll have to bear with us.
How much time does it take? It can be anywhere from 2-3 months for a short mead to mature. Great meads, like fine wines, can be laid down to age for years, but we're not asking you to wait that long (unless you want to). The process can't be sped up; the yeast will work on the honey in its own time, and upsetting the ratio of honey, yeast, and water would ruin the flavor. Still, once you get a taste, we know you'll find the wait was worth it.
We plan to use Kickstarter to jump-start this process. Among the goals of the Kickstarter project will be:
- Setting up a website. (This involves paying a web designer and a web software engineer.)
- Establishing stocks for instant-gratification sale of mead. (This involves us buying the ingredients up front on the speculation that the mead will sell when it's ready.)
- Selling in as many states and countries as show interest. (Licensing can be complex - this will involve paying our lawyer, hiring someone to handle the mountain of paperwork, and of course paying the license fees.)
By Monday we'll have an order form available to download. I just need to write it up and run it past our lawyer (one of the hazards of the alcohol business). This will allow early adopters to order from us by mail with personal check or money order. We will also be showing our thanks to anyone who buys from us at this early stage, including supporters of the Kickstarter project and anyone who orders by mail before our website is set up - expect to hear details about the benefits of being among the Einherjar soon.
How much time does it take? It can be anywhere from 2-3 months for a short mead to mature. Great meads, like fine wines, can be laid down to age for years, but we're not asking you to wait that long (unless you want to). The process can't be sped up; the yeast will work on the honey in its own time, and upsetting the ratio of honey, yeast, and water would ruin the flavor. Still, once you get a taste, we know you'll find the wait was worth it.
We plan to use Kickstarter to jump-start this process. Among the goals of the Kickstarter project will be:
- Setting up a website. (This involves paying a web designer and a web software engineer.)
- Establishing stocks for instant-gratification sale of mead. (This involves us buying the ingredients up front on the speculation that the mead will sell when it's ready.)
- Selling in as many states and countries as show interest. (Licensing can be complex - this will involve paying our lawyer, hiring someone to handle the mountain of paperwork, and of course paying the license fees.)
By Monday we'll have an order form available to download. I just need to write it up and run it past our lawyer (one of the hazards of the alcohol business). This will allow early adopters to order from us by mail with personal check or money order. We will also be showing our thanks to anyone who buys from us at this early stage, including supporters of the Kickstarter project and anyone who orders by mail before our website is set up - expect to hear details about the benefits of being among the Einherjar soon.
Introducing: Wotan's Wisdom Meadery Inc.
You are invited to explore the products of Wotan's Wisdom Meadery Inc., a new local source for high-quality honey wine! Chief mazer (maker of mead) William Hawke announces his initial selection of flavors. It takes two months to brew a batch of mead; If you order during the month of September, we can have a batch prepared for you and delivered by early December.
Our six delicious signature flavors include two classic expressions of the mazer's art, showcasing the craft of brewing with honey and yeast:
- Gold Label: Rich and smooth as the treasure of kings.
- Silver Label: A dry, clear flavor you could use for a mirror.
We also have four flavors of Melomel, or mead brewed with fruit - in the fermenter for a short mead such as our first round of products. Just like grape wines flavored with other fruits, these are sweeter meads:
- The Holiday Brew is a spiced melomel that includes orange and a special mix of spices, making this mead the perfect drink for your midwinter holiday of choice. We recommend warming to taste. It also drinks well chilled in other seasons, as a pleasant reminder of the winter festivals.
- The Price Reserve High Summer Brew delivers a citrus flavor from a carefully chosen blend of fruit and spice. This, the first private reserve created in our carboys, is refreshing at room temperature and exceptional chilled.
- Midwest Cyser: Cyser is similar to cider, but fermented with honey. You could describe this brew as an alcoholic apple pie. Whether made sour with Granny Smiths or mellow with Red Delicious, this signature American flavor tastes like fireworks on the fourth of July. Ask about our Mazer's special recipe, using this brew as the base of a sauce for pork!
- Spring Pear uses a blend of fruits and spices to spark a strong flavor of di'Anjou Pears. Our test batch disappeared as fast as we could bottle it! Best served lightly chilled, goes well with dessert.
The mazer is also enthusiastic about creating new flavors by the batch - talk to us about creating a customized exclusive flavor for you!
Our honey wine will be available in several packages:
Single Bottles (retail price $15 for taster, $30 for full size)
Single 375 ml taster bottles - The perfect way to get to know a flavor, an individual serving of delicious mead.
Single 750 ml bottles - A full size wine bottle to enjoy over dinner, bring to a party or give as a gift.
Gift and Taster Packs
375 ml 2-packs, 3-packs, 4-packs, or 6-packs - Taster packs provide an introduction to multiple meads at once, at a package price. Available in the same flavor varieties as the 750ml gift packs.
750 ml 2-packs, 3-packs, 4-packs, and 6-packs - Gift packs of full size wine bottles come in the following combinations:
2-packs (retail: $27/375ml, $54/750ml)
Gold & Silver - the precious memories gift
Holiday Brew & Midwest Cyser - the midwinter magic gift
Price Reserve High Summer Brew & Spring Pear - the scents of summer gift
3-packs (suggested retail: $36/375ml, $72/750ml)
Precious Gift Pack +1 (any of the other flavors)
Midwinter Gift Pack +1 (adds Gold or Silver, pack labeled as Midwinter Gold or Midwinter Silver)
Scents of Summer Gift Pack +1 (adds Gold or Silver, pack labeled as Summer Gold or Summer Silver)
4-packs ($42/375ml, $84/750ml)
Precious Midwinter Gift (Precious Gift + Midwinter Gift)
Precious Summer Gift (Precious Gift + Summer Gift)
6-pack options ($54/375ml, $144/750ml)
Summer Heat (Precious Gift + [Summer Gift x2])
Summer Riches ([Precious Gift x2] + Summer Gift)
Summer Gold Double (Summer Gold x2)
Summer Silver Double (Summer Silver x2)
Midwinter Cold (Precious Gift + [Midwinter Gift x2])
Midwinter Riches ([Precious Gift x2] + Midwinter Gift)
Midwinter Gold Double (Midwinter Gold x2)
Midwinter Silver Double (Midwinter Silver x2)
Gift For All Occasions (All six flavors)
Case Packs (retail: $180)
Taster Case
- A taster case contains four 6-packs, six 4-packs, eight 3-packs, twelve 2-packs, or 24 individual bottles, which can be ordered as two different packs (half and half) or all the same gift pack.
Full Size Case
- A case is 12 bottles in the 750ml size. Once again, gift packs may be mixed and matched with two different gift packs in ordering a case, but individual bottles ordered as a case come only with one flavor per case.
Our six delicious signature flavors include two classic expressions of the mazer's art, showcasing the craft of brewing with honey and yeast:
- Gold Label: Rich and smooth as the treasure of kings.
- Silver Label: A dry, clear flavor you could use for a mirror.
We also have four flavors of Melomel, or mead brewed with fruit - in the fermenter for a short mead such as our first round of products. Just like grape wines flavored with other fruits, these are sweeter meads:
- The Holiday Brew is a spiced melomel that includes orange and a special mix of spices, making this mead the perfect drink for your midwinter holiday of choice. We recommend warming to taste. It also drinks well chilled in other seasons, as a pleasant reminder of the winter festivals.
- The Price Reserve High Summer Brew delivers a citrus flavor from a carefully chosen blend of fruit and spice. This, the first private reserve created in our carboys, is refreshing at room temperature and exceptional chilled.
- Midwest Cyser: Cyser is similar to cider, but fermented with honey. You could describe this brew as an alcoholic apple pie. Whether made sour with Granny Smiths or mellow with Red Delicious, this signature American flavor tastes like fireworks on the fourth of July. Ask about our Mazer's special recipe, using this brew as the base of a sauce for pork!
- Spring Pear uses a blend of fruits and spices to spark a strong flavor of di'Anjou Pears. Our test batch disappeared as fast as we could bottle it! Best served lightly chilled, goes well with dessert.
The mazer is also enthusiastic about creating new flavors by the batch - talk to us about creating a customized exclusive flavor for you!
Our honey wine will be available in several packages:
Single Bottles (retail price $15 for taster, $30 for full size)
Single 375 ml taster bottles - The perfect way to get to know a flavor, an individual serving of delicious mead.
Single 750 ml bottles - A full size wine bottle to enjoy over dinner, bring to a party or give as a gift.
Gift and Taster Packs
375 ml 2-packs, 3-packs, 4-packs, or 6-packs - Taster packs provide an introduction to multiple meads at once, at a package price. Available in the same flavor varieties as the 750ml gift packs.
750 ml 2-packs, 3-packs, 4-packs, and 6-packs - Gift packs of full size wine bottles come in the following combinations:
2-packs (retail: $27/375ml, $54/750ml)
Gold & Silver - the precious memories gift
Holiday Brew & Midwest Cyser - the midwinter magic gift
Price Reserve High Summer Brew & Spring Pear - the scents of summer gift
3-packs (suggested retail: $36/375ml, $72/750ml)
Precious Gift Pack +1 (any of the other flavors)
Midwinter Gift Pack +1 (adds Gold or Silver, pack labeled as Midwinter Gold or Midwinter Silver)
Scents of Summer Gift Pack +1 (adds Gold or Silver, pack labeled as Summer Gold or Summer Silver)
4-packs ($42/375ml, $84/750ml)
Precious Midwinter Gift (Precious Gift + Midwinter Gift)
Precious Summer Gift (Precious Gift + Summer Gift)
6-pack options ($54/375ml, $144/750ml)
Summer Heat (Precious Gift + [Summer Gift x2])
Summer Riches ([Precious Gift x2] + Summer Gift)
Summer Gold Double (Summer Gold x2)
Summer Silver Double (Summer Silver x2)
Midwinter Cold (Precious Gift + [Midwinter Gift x2])
Midwinter Riches ([Precious Gift x2] + Midwinter Gift)
Midwinter Gold Double (Midwinter Gold x2)
Midwinter Silver Double (Midwinter Silver x2)
Gift For All Occasions (All six flavors)
Case Packs (retail: $180)
Taster Case
- A taster case contains four 6-packs, six 4-packs, eight 3-packs, twelve 2-packs, or 24 individual bottles, which can be ordered as two different packs (half and half) or all the same gift pack.
Full Size Case
- A case is 12 bottles in the 750ml size. Once again, gift packs may be mixed and matched with two different gift packs in ordering a case, but individual bottles ordered as a case come only with one flavor per case.
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