The Wye Valley Meadery and Hive Mind Brewery have joined forces under a new name, the Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. The rebranding effort also includes the launch of Hive Mind Sparkling Mead in 330ml cans, available with four natural flavors: ginger, elderflower, rhubarb, and pure honey. In addition, two new flavors, sour cherry, and honey & hops, will be added soon. The cans feature vibrant honeycomb illustrations reflecting the company’s focus on the importance of honeybees, who visit over 300,000 flowers and fly 50,000 miles to produce every can of mead.
The mead produced by Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. is gluten-free, made with natural ingredients, and is made with British honey, including honey from Hive Mind’s own hives located in the Wye Valley, where their beekeeping practices support local biodiversity, habitat conservation, and vital pollinator populations.
Hive Mind Meadery and Brewery were established in 2018 by beekeeping brothers Matt and Kit Newell in the Wye Valley. According to Kit, “Mead has seen a surge of interest in the craft drinks market in the USA, and we’ve been at the forefront of growing interest in the product here in the UK, pioneering modern mead styles and changing perceptions of this versatile drink.”
The rebranding is part of the company’s mission to expand across the UK and in export markets. It highlights the collaborative nature of the business and reinforces their determination to create something more significant than the sum of its parts. The move of the Sparkling Mead range into cans mirrors the craft beer movement and offers a more sustainable option than glass bottles, making the product more portable for outdoor events.
With their session strength (4%) Sparkling Mead range, Hive Mind aims to offer a light and refreshing drink option, which, when combined with natural and seasonal ingredients, makes it an excellent choice for summer. Modern mead offers a wide range of flavor profiles, and this versatile drink can act as a base for cocktails, as well as offer a different option for food pairing. Hive Mind’s ambition is to use their new brand to enable more people to discover this natural drink while supporting honeybees in the process.
The Hive Mind Sparkling Mead range is available for the off- and on-trade in 330ml cans or 30l kegs through specialist drinks distributors. Moreover, they’re available for consumers from independent retailers, delis, farm shops, and online. The cans retail at an RRP of £3.80 each while the four-packs retail at an RRP of £15.00 each. Hive Mind also sells directly to consumers via their website.
Overall, the new rebranding effort and product line by Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. reflects their commitment to supporting honeybees and promoting the versatility of modern mead as a desirable and refreshing drink.
