Front Royal, Virginia
Saga Meadery: A Buzz In The Bedroom

Typically, looking under the bed in a college dorm would be ill-advised. Kevin Poplaski’s bed might be the exception. Curious about mead (a recurring theme in the many books he had devoured growing up) but not finding it readily available, Poplaski (owner of Saga Meadery) took to brewing it himself – under his dorm bed.

Classmates and family members were his guinea pigs in the early years, tasting the successes and the failures as he perfected his recipes before taking the leap to open Saga Meadery in 2015.

Unlike wine, mead is made from honey, yet the finished product is nothing like what you might spread on your toast or add to your tea. Typically some sweetness remains, but it’s not cloying, with some brews even finishing quite dry. Often the nectar source used by the bees will add some flavor notes. More often, however, fruits and spices will be combined to give the mead a unique, refreshing taste and a slightly heavier mouthfeel akin to sherry or other fortified wines.

Saga blends run the gamut from bold and expressive, to delicate, with options for whatever season or mood you’re in. In the colder months and around the holidays, you might opt for the Winter Cheer – Poplaski’s mead take on Scandinavian Gløgg, heavily spiced with cinnamon and allspice that’s best served slightly warmed on those chilly winter nights. Come spring, you could enjoy a lightly chilled glass of Wild Flower Mead, clean and crisp with floral notes to match the emerging spring blooms.

Saga officially opened its tasting room in Front Royal, Virginia in 2020. Conveniently situated in the mountain valley near the Shenandoah River, the Saga Meadery tasting room is the perfect stop after a day of hiking or a leisurely drive up the Blue Ridge. There you can sample from a flight of meads or, on warmer days, cool off with a slushy du jour while enjoying the clean mountain air.

Finally, if you’ve been curious about mead but have been given pause by the slightly higher price point compared to wine or cider, here is your chance. Saga strives to keep their meads affordable to make that experimentation easier on your pocketbook. No need to look for a college-age relative brewing under his dorm bed. Just swing by the tasting room or ask your local wine retailer.

Our Bestseller – Sunburst Citrus and Wild Flower

Visit Saga Meadery at 7 South St, Front Royal, Virginia, 22630. For hours and online ordering for home delivery, visit sagameadery.com