Thor, easily the most recognisable of all the Nordic gods, has inspired many a thing in his time. Poetry, stories, music, movies of wildly varying quality. He’s also the impetus behind this second bottle of mead in our Lancashire Mead Company series. And how do you capture the indomitable spirit of Thor, the hammer-swinging, giant-slaying, beer-chugging defender of mankind in a bottle of mead? You add hops, of course.
This was my first personal experience with a hopped mead – not a braggot, which is essentially a blend of mead and beer – but one where hops are added after the fermentation process to impart flavour. In this case, Lancashire Mead Company have added citra hops, which is a flavour you will certainly be familiar with if you’ve ever consumed an IPA.
Yes, Thor’s Mead is the artisan mead-maker’s take on all those lovely craft beers we’ve been drinking lately, but there is no gimmick here. This is not an ‘IPA mead’, for all the flavours they have in common. In fact, I’d argue that this particular bottle is a fantastic opportunity to get to know the citra hop’s profile a little better than it presents in most beers.
Upon uncorking the bottle (and pouring a glass, if you can wait that long) you’ll be greeted with a pleasant herbal scent, underscored by smooth, almost zesty notes of tropical fruit. It’s got that great IPA aroma without the bitter finish, and it was actually a bit of an eye-opener realising just how much flavour the hops themselves hold. They express in Thor’s Mead with almost tropical intensity, headlined by what tastes like a fresh lash of grapefruit across the tongue. Delicate hints of passionfruit and peach follow afterwards, playing very nicely with the soft sweetness of the honey.
It’s a little frightening how smooth Thor’s Mead is. It has that heady, punchy feel you’d usually attribute to a strong craft beer, but the sheer lightness of that mingled hoppy flavour just makes this go down so easy. This is a theme I’ve picked up on with Lancashire Mead Company‘s bottles so far. They have a sort of complexity you’d normally attribute to stronger spirits like brandy or whisky, but with that bracing stiff drink burn replaced by a masterful employment of soft honey sweetness. It’s there in perfect measure, every time.
Much like a good beer, you can drink this one all night. It might catch up with you a bit faster than your standard IPA, though.
Thor’s Mead – 4/5
Another superb mead from Lancashire Mead Company – I am continually impressed at how innovative they prove themselves to be, borrowing elements from other beloved drinks and creating something both traditional and inventive all at once. If you love a good IPA, this mead will have a lot to offer you – not only some very similar heady, fruity notes but an in-depth exploration of how much flavour the citra hop actually contains.
While it doesn’t quite meet my personal tastes as well as Aegir’s Mead did, this is still up there as a powerful testament to the depth of real mead. A heady, invigorating concotion, delivered in a bottle sturdy enough to use as a hammer. Thor’s Mead indeed – the thunder god would be proud.
Pair Thor’s Mead with: Anything you’d normally have with a beer – meat snacks, anything salty, and great company.
If you’d like to grab your own bottle of Thor’s Mead, just click here.
Please email lars@drunkendice.co.uk with any enquiries.