In which Ricky the Meadmaker goes on a field trip! We learn more about another great Vermont beverage which is also the new non-alcoholic offering at Groennfell Meadery!

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is some scary-ass sh*t. To sum it up for those unfamiliar with the problem:
Bees are dying.
Bees, in addition to making honey for mead, also pollinate many of the foods we eat.
No bees means no food.
Humans like food.
We need to know why bees are dying.

We at Groennfell Meadery have stayed relatively quiet on the subject of CCD since A) it’s a hot-button issue and we try to stay cool, B) we are not agronomists, entomologists, or apiarists, and C) until recently there was relatively little consensus on the cause.

While points A and B continue to be true, C has changed. Several high profile papers have recently been released on the subject of CCD and the findings are fairly uniform: 

While CCD is caused by numerous factors, the use of neonicotinoids (a class of pesticides) has a high probability of being a causal factor.

Being that neonics make up 33% of the world’s insecticide sales by value, this is a serious problem.[1] Couple that with the fact that many of the alternatives have serious financial and economic repercussions[2] and that many of the findings show that it’s not neonics in and of themselves, but rather the way they are applied that causes the problem,[3] and you’ll find one very, very complex issue.

The most recent study to propose a causal link is from Harvard, and it can be read here. It’s the paper generating a lot of the recent media commotion.

So, to reiterate:
We love bees.
We love our farmers.
We love food.
We support evidence-based decision making and hate knee-jerk legislation.
Did we mention that we love bees?

Do you like drinking? Of course you do! Are you stingy? Don't worry, so are we!
That's why we've created a whole bunch of ways to share the love of mead for less!
The following is a list of our standing discounts:

Groennfell Glass Club
Anyone who owns a Groennfell Meadery Pint Glass gets $1 off of every pint pour in our tasting area! The best part? You don't even need to remember to bring your glass!

(Sorry, owning a sample glass doesn't count.)

Case Discount
Whenever you buy a full case (24 bottles) - whether it's a variety pack or just one product - you always get 10% off the case price!

Variety cases are only available in our tasting room.

(Discount only available at the meadery. No Limit.)

Alternative Transportation Discount
Whether you walk, run, bike, or come by trolley, we want to thank you for your commitment to the environment by giving you 20% off your first pint!

For more on Walking and Biking to Groennfell Click Here.

(One discount per customer per visit.)

Buy a Growler
Growlers are one of the least expensive ways to take our mead home to enjoy, and it's more sustainable since the packaging is infinitely reusable.

(No Limit, but remember that growlers are best enjoyed fresh!)

Buy a Keg
Just like buying a growler except even less expensive per glass! 

Also, having a keg of mead in your home pretty much guarantees your credentials as a Certified Meadiac.

(Did you know that you can get a discount tap handle if you have us on tap?)

Join the Volunteer Corps
Every once in a while we need a hand around the meadery for something fun. Usually it's appearing in an Ask the Meadmaker, sometimes it's something else. Sometimes you can get a free pint for helping out, sometimes you just get the joy of being part of the team. Pretty enticing, right?

To sign up, Click Here.

Theft
Not highly recommended.

So, I totally had an article written for today... Then this guy showed up at the meadery!

Is he not the most adorable thing you have ever seen? 

"Wait, is that a huge-ass quarter?" you may be wondering. No! That's a normal flippin' quarter! Larry is just that adorably tiny!

Go ahead! Click on the picture! Fill your screen with Larry's Tiny Majesty! (I named him Larry, by the way.)

Let him inspire you! Go out! Learn something new! Go on a tiny, tiny adventure!

I'm afraid you'll just have to wait until next week for an update on the latest findings about neonicotinoids. 

In which Ricky the Meadmaker demonstrates how (not) to answer the most common questions about Groennfell mead. Also starring: Pat Cope, Scott McFarland, & Kelly Klein.

Further Reading:
What is mead?
Isn't mead sweet?
How old is mead?
Is mead beer or wine?
Picking a yeast strain
Yeast in mead
Meaning of Groennfell