Mead in Westford, MA: what it is and what we stock

Mead is a wine-like drink made by fermenting honey with water, and you can find it at CBC Liquors at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford. Our mead category shows what is in stock today, from traditional honey meads to fruit and spiced bottles.

What is mead, exactly?

Mead is honey, water and yeast, fermented until the sugars turn into alcohol. That is the whole base recipe. It is often called honey wine, though it is not made from grapes, so it sits in its own category.

From that simple start, makers branch out. Some add fruit, spices, herbs or hops, and the honey itself can change the character a lot. Clover honey tends to taste light and clean, while darker honeys give a deeper, earthier flavor.

You can browse everything we carry on the mead page, which lists what is in stock right now.

What does mead taste like?

Most people expect something syrupy, and some meads are sweet. But sweetness is a choice the maker makes, not a rule. Mead can be dry, semi-sweet or dessert-sweet, and the label or the bottle description is the best clue.

A dry mead has honey aroma and a clean finish, closer to a crisp white wine. A sweeter one reads more like a dessert wine, with honey up front. Fruit meads, often called melomels, pick up the flavor of whatever fruit went in, and spiced meads, called metheglins, lean on warm spices.

If you have never tried it, a fruit or citrus mead is usually an easy first bottle.

Which meads do we have in stock?

Our shelves change, so check the category page for the current list. Right now the meads we carry for this search include DANSK MJOD Viking Blod and DANSK Odins Skull, both in the Nordic, Viking-themed style of bottle.

If you want something with a bold name and presentation, CRAFTED MEAD Dragon Heart and CRAFTED MEAD Warhammer are there too.

For something lighter and more citrus-driven, look at 1634 Citrus Breeze. And SUPERSTITION BEELINI is a good one to look at if you like the idea of a mead that drinks more like a cocktail.

How is mead different from wine, beer and cider?

Wine ferments grape sugar, beer ferments grain, cider ferments apple juice, and mead ferments honey. The fermenting process is similar, but the starting material changes everything about the flavor.

Mead often lands in a similar strength range to wine, though bottles vary, so check the label. If you usually shop our wine section or like cider, mead is a natural next step. Beer drinkers who like honey notes in a brew may also enjoy exploring it.

How should you serve mead?

Serve dry and semi-sweet meads chilled, the way you would a white wine. Sweeter meads can be served cold in small pours, like a dessert wine. Some spiced meads are also served gently warmed in cold weather.

A small wine glass works well because it gathers the honey aroma. There is no need to rush a bottle. Mead is a drink to sip and enjoy slowly, and an opened bottle keeps best sealed and refrigerated.

What food goes with mead?

Dry mead works with roast chicken, pork, and mild cheeses. Sweeter styles pair with spicy dishes, because the sweetness calms heat, and with fruit, nuts and blue cheese. Citrus meads are good with salads, seafood and soft cheeses.

For a gathering, a few bottles in different styles makes a good tasting. Our party planner is there if you are working out a larger order.

Can you get mead from CBC Liquors without coming in?

Yes. Besides walking in, we offer pickup, delivery and shipping. Store and pickup hours are Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 9 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM. Delivery hours run a half hour shorter at close.

We serve Westford and nearby towns including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton and Lowell. You must be 21 or older to order or receive alcohol.

Where do you look if you want something hard to find?

If you are after a specific bottle, start with the mead page, then check our wider range of more than 4,500 products and 1,880 brands. For special requests, ask the shop directly. Our allocated items page covers limited bottles, and we are rated 4.7 out of 5 from 339 Google reviews, which reflects the kind of help you can expect at the counter.