Iron Hive's Alberta honey meads offer an accessible entry to an ancient drink

Mead — a fermented honey alcoholic beverage with roots in Viking tradition — remains rare on Alberta liquor-store shelves despite the province producing 40% of Canada's honey, more than any other province. Edmonton-based Iron Hive is changing that.

The meadery stocks three regular meads plus seasonal flavours, all made exclusively with Alberta honey. Edify staff received Iron Hive's core lineup and taste-tested all three on a Friday afternoon to find out which one to reach for.

Frost Bite is a lightly carbonated, dry mead at 11% ABV — spirit-forward, more wine than beer. Associate publisher Jennifer Walton described it as "punchy and strong to start, but smooths out as you drink it." Graphic designer Yuliia Syvokin and digital strategist Steve Glen both voted it the best of the bunch: clean, straightforward, unfussy.

Iron Hive's best seller is Pioneer's Blood, a blackberry-flavoured mead that's cider-y without being too fruit-forward or tart. It carries an earthy, after-the-rain character that staff compared favourably to peaty whisky. Director of operations Jodi Glen, who describes themselves as a mead enthusiast, called it a hands-down favourite. Its stronger flavour makes it ideal paired with a meal.

Gold Rush, the sweetest and most carbonated of the three, is Iron Hive owner David Camellini's most traditional offering. It's not cloying — all Iron Hive products steer clear of that trap — and staff voted it most patio-friendly, fantasizing aloud about enjoying it by a pool or with a hot dog at a barbecue. Jennifer ranked it her favourite for its mild, spirited flavour.

As a Friday-afternoon experiment, the team mixed all three together. The result was an unexpected but unanimous hit. For drinkers exploring mead for the first time, Iron Hive delivers an accessible, easy-drinking entry point to a beverage with deep historical roots.