October 2026 offers yet another milestone in the wider Hive Mind Mead story, with its Dark Cherry Melomel (fruit infused mead) winning the Sustainability category at the Great British Food Awards, recognising not simply the mead itself but the company’s wider sustainability vision, as well as being recognised as a regional champion for Wales.
According to the judges: “The dark cherry flavour comes through beautifully, rich and fruity without overwhelming the natural honeyed base of the mead. It strikes a lovely balance between sweetness and depth, making it smooth and enjoyable to drink.
Beyond the taste, there’s real reassurance in knowing this has been produced with sustainability in mind, adding an extra layer of appeal for anyone conscious of where their drink comes from. A well-crafted mead that manages to be both indulgent and responsible. Definitely one worth seeking out!”
Hive Mind’s Dark Cherry mead seeks to reimagine one of the world’s oldest alcoholic drinks, drawing inspiration from the long tradition of combining mead with fruit to produce a rich blend of fruit and honey, with a little tannin and tart sharpness. A style that was historically used for celebratory events in particular.
From the outset, Hive Mind has committed to making mead the authentic way, fermenting 100% real British honey rather than using a wine or refined-sugar base. This draws on brothers Kit and Matt Newell’s shared love of beekeeping and brewing, whilst supporting the rural economy with a clear sustainability agenda geared around supporting pollinators and the wider beekeeper community, which supplies the honey Hive Mind’s own 200+ hives can’t provide, alongside fully recyclable packaging and carbon-neutral canning.
Hive Mind deliberately promotes mead in a modern, artisanal style, distancing itself from the plethora of novelty medieval offerings and their use of wine bases and flavourings. The business can now count M&S, The Co-op, The National Trust, Selfridges and a nationwide network of Michelin-starred restaurants amongst its many prestigious listings.
According to co-founder Kit Newell, “Today our expanding offer accommodates classic meads, melomels, honey-based soft drinks, lower-ABV sparkling meads and even an introductory ‘Tavern’ mead that appeals to an inquisitive younger demographic who place greater emphasis on discovery, authenticity and real ingredients rather than purely on alcoholic strength.”
Although this Welsh family business has won a number of prestigious taste and sustainability awards in the past, including the Great Taste Golden Fork for Wales, this latest recognition is particularly significant in highlighting that great taste and responsible production can go hand in hand.
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