Mead lovers and honey tasters alike will be happy to hear there are some new changes at Silver Hand Meadery.
They are now serving mead by the glass and offering mead flights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, an expansion upon their previous weekend hours.
Sarah Potts, tasting room and retail shop manager, said because of a new law the Virginia General Assembly passed over the summer, the meadery is now able to do this.
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority announced earlier this year the Virginia General Assembly would pass 19 new laws, including an ABC license reform. These new laws became effective as of July 1.
“We are technically considered a winery, even though we serve mead,” Potts said.
That classification partly affected the way the meadery could operate before the new laws. Before, Silver Hand Meadery had to apply for a banquet event license just to be able to serve anything by the glass.
That license only lasts three days at a time, and they could only apply for it eight times a year.
But the meadery also didn’t qualify for the proper licensing to serve by the glass because they do not make at least 60% of their product on site.
Where winemakers use grapes, mead makers need honey.
“We source a majority of our honey from apiaries around the United States and parts of Mexico,” Potts said.
But thanks to the new law, Silver Hand Meadery can serve by the glass with less hassle.
This isn’t the only fun change though.
Potts added the meadery is also working on building an outdoor space.
“There will be a fireplace, too, for people to sit outside and enjoy their mead,” she said. She added some outdoor seating will be available this weekend, weather permitting.
Also coming soon will be new flavors of mead, including a strawberry mead made with basil and mint.
By the glass pours are available for $8. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis for the Friday and Saturday pours. For tastings, reservations can be made by visiting Silver Hand Meadery’s website.
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