2-5-19 Michael Fairbrother – Mead Distribution and Making Braggots and Ciders

2-5-19 Our guest tonight is Michael Fairbrother, owner of Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry, NH. Back in 1995, Michael tried a cyser (apple and honey mead) for the first time. Since that first sip Michael has developed a passion, and a single minded dedication to making international award winning meads. After being recognized as New England’s best mead maker for three consecutive years, Michael quit his full time day job in 2010 and progressed from moonlighting as a mead maker to full time production – he has not looked back. Michael will be speaking at the AMMA MeadCon on March 12-14 in Broomfield, CO on distributing commercial mead. Michael has been working with distributors since 2011, and has 8 years of finding, changing and working with distributors. Anyone who has dipped into distro knows that it can be a very frustrating experience. Michael will give us a taste of his talk for the AMMA. Then we'll drag him off to talk about some pretty awesome braggots he's made in the past during his home meadmaking days, and rumor has it, may be coming out in their lineup. We'll talk shop, methods, and flavors, and dig into the mead (of course). Got questions? Definitely let us know by sending us a DM from facebook.com/gotmead, on Twitter @gotmeadnow, or dropping it into our live chat (link below). Click the chat link to join us  in the live conversation during the show. This player will show the most recent show, and when we're live, will play the live feed. If you are calling in, please turn off the player sound, so we don't get feedback. Click here to see a playable list of all our episodes! If you want to ask your mead making questions, you can call us at 803-443-MEAD (6323) or send us a question via email, or via Twitter @GotmeadNow and we'll tackle it online! 9PM EDT/6PM PDT Join us on live chat during the show Bring your questions and your mead, and let's talk mead! You can call us at 803-443-MEAD (6323), or Skype us at meadwench (please friend me first and say you're a listener, I get tons of Skype spam), or tweet to @gotmeadnow. Show links and notes Tupelo Honey for $375 for 5 gallons ScotLabs Sparkling Handbook 'Recent Advances in the Science of Champagne Bubbles', Gerard Liger-belair, Chemical Society Reviews, Volume 47, Number 11, November 2008, pages 2361-2580. BJCP - for information on mead styles and faults and flaws Meads and Their Lactones: A Cautionary Tale for Mead Makers by Dan McFeely, “Bee Culture”, September 2002 An Analysis of Mead, Mead Making and the Role of its Primary Constituents (reprinted with permission from the authors), Daniel S. McConnell and Kenneth D. Schramm* Technical Director, G.W.Kent and President, The Yeast Culture Kit Company *Director, The Mazer Cup Mead Competition Yeast Inoculation Strategies – Getting The Best Fermentation Possible!, Lallemand, Winemaking Update, Number 2, 2005 Raisins are NOT a Significant Source of Nutrients in Mead, Tom Repas, BJCP Certified Mead Judge, Certified Master Beekeeper (University of Montana 2016) Mazer Cup International, Home Best of Show Winner 2015 & 2017, AMMA Meadmaker of the Year 2018, pub. Sept. 3, 2017 Advanced Nutrients in Meadmaking, Travis Blount-Elliot, May, 2018 Let There Be Melomels by Rob Ratliff The Big Book of Mead Recipes by Rob Ratliff Upcoming Events February 7 - Bos Meadery - Mead to Laugh, a Comedy Showcase February 7 - Haley's Honey Mead - Mead and Spirits- A Haunting Night February 9 - Honey Pot Meadery - Grand Opening February 14 - Wild Blossom Meadery - Make Your Love Wine for Valentines February 16 - Black's Fairy Meadery - Brazos Fest of the West February 16 - Rushford Meadery and Winery - Live Music by Skipper Jack February 23 - Valhalla Meadery - Mead-Ieval Fund Raiser March 2 - Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery - Mardi Gras Silent Day Party March 3 - Heidrun Meadery - Crabfest