Sweet Life: 5 Meads to Drink Up

Bananas Foster Forever: Made from local honey, bananas, vanilla beans and caramelized brown sugar, this dessert-inspired drink ($10.99) is a sweet victory for Crafted Artisan Meadery owner Kent Waldeck. “I am a dork for bananas Foster,” he says. “For a few years, I wanted to try to get a banana Foster mead out there.” 1189 state Route 43, Mogadore, 330-628-4444, craftedmead.com

Cleveland Sunset: The citrusy notes and fresh juice in this cheerful concoction ($12.99) are meant to represent Cleveland’s colorful sunsets. Wildflower honey from Humble Bee Vineyards’ hives is combined with fresh strawberries, orange zest and yeast to make this dry, refreshing mead. “We go from hive to bottle,” says owner Travis Hreha. “It doesn’t get more local than that.” 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood, 440-728-7939, humblebeevineyards.com

Forgotten Lore: Dry wine lovers can find comfort in BottleHouse Brewing Co.’s Forgotten Lore ($25). Wildflower honey, vanilla beans and a blend of cherries ferment for two months before the mix goes into a bourbon barrel for at least a year. “It’s got hints of cherry, chocolate, whiskey and honey,” says mead maker Jason Kallicragas. “But with all of that, it is surprisingly dry.” 13368 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-926-0025; 2050 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-214-2120, 
thebottlehousebrewingcompany.com

Hopped Apricot: Pop, fizzle and clink with this sparkling Hopped Apricot mead ($6.99) from Western Reserve Meadery. Clover honey adds spicy notes along with fruity apricot and Columbus hops. This mead is dry-hopped, which means the hops are added after fermentation and allows those delicate, aromatic flavors to stay intact. “It’s very dry, clean and refreshing,” says co-owner Douglas Shaw. 2135 Columbus Road, Cleveland, 216-716-2500

Select Bourbon Barreled Mead: Based off Valley Vineyard’s golden mead, this version ($24.99) places honey, water and yeast in bourbon barrels and lets it ferment for a unique twist. “We were selling a sweet golden mead in Tennessee, and they were mixing it with bourbon in cocktails,” says vice president and co-owner Joe Schuchter. “So we figured out a way that we could bring that flavor to our customers.” 2276 East U.S. 22 & 3, Morrow, 513-899-2485, valleyvineyards.com