Homer, Alaska
Crusin' Rating: B+
Booze Rating: D+
This week is our last stop in Homer, Alaska! We are checking out Sweetgale Meadworks and Cider House, a spot just up the hill from one of our favorite bakeries in Alaska, Two Sisters Bakery! Sweetgale Meadworks and Cidery is one of two meaderies in Homer, the other being Odin Mead and Wine, which was a big favorite of ours, which means Sweatgale had its work cut out for it. Visiting on a 64 degree day with full sunshine made for fantastic weather to sit outside while we did our review - remember the sun always feels warmer in Alaska!
Sweetgale had a fantastic space which is apparent as soon as you arrive in the parking lot the blue facade and bright yellow doors are going to be hard to miss, even in winter. A firepit with plenty of wood, a covered deck with heaters, and flowers everywhere. There’s a garden on the property that you have a clear view of of from the deck and we got the opportunity to watch honey bees flit about the garden and fat bumblebees lazily make their way between flowers. Sitting on the deck you have a clear view of Kachemak Bay with Sadie and Poot peaks across the bay. Any space with a view of the ocean and mountains is going to be ranking quite high in our book and coupled with the weather, the friendly cider-tender, and the beautiful weather, it just really hit a lot of checkmarks on a great outdoor space and serves as an example of one of one of the styles of Alaskan Bier Garten. The inside of the space, while small, is well appointed and features pleasant artwork by local artists (including the bottle labels!). There’s a small fridge with pre-packaged snacks and chilled bottles to go, along with a small swag area. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, the space shares a wall with the Happy Closet Co., a gift and clothing shop that had some neat finds. The only downside, unless you’re planning to sit in the snow in an Alaskan winter, is that there's only two seats inside! Definitely going to be more of a summer stop.
Hannah and I snagged a flight of all six offerings, but limited our review to 3 so that we could take in the view a little more. It was our last full day in Homer, and we wanted to relish each and every moment.
Raspberry Mead (12.0% ABV) - This mead poured candy red and featured brilliant clarity, just a fantastic color. With aromas of raspberry jam mixed with a little bit of tart red fruit, this one sort of got a little fuzzy when tasting. With honey and yeast melding together to create this sweet hayfever impression this mead ended bitter and slightly boozy in an unpleasant way - think of too-young berries that still are white on the bush.
Sweatgale (8.0% ABV) - Of course we had to review their namesake offering, and this poured like slightly cloudy white wine and while it didn’t outright say it, I’m fully certain this was a mead though it featured a green grape aroma with mountain flowers and slightly bitter herbs and juniper. Sweetgale (bog myrtle) is a bittering agent that saw use before hops became prevalent, although I haven’t verified that history like I did with Spruce Tips. With sweet notes that gave way to pepperiness, mint, and juniper - this wasn’t quite what we were expecting. It was very different but we didn’t fee like the bitterness was really balanced out by the sweetness and overall this gave the impression of a thin gin.
Nagoonberry (10.5% ABV) - A nagoonberry (Rubus Articus) is a species of dwarf arctic bramble related to raspberries and blackberries. This mead featured brilliant clarity and was warm pink in color with notes of strawberries and guava on the nose. Tasting of strawberries macerated in sugar, alpine notes - fresh, bright, and slightly herbal, and then notes of cold-climate flowers this was definitely our favorite of the bunch but overall it was definitely on the cloyingly sweet side of meads.
You know, the mead here was not our favorite. Those that we decided to not review were on the lower-end of drinkable. But, as I stated, the space was just fantastic and Hannah said it was beyond cute. We could have sat out there, enjoying the view for much longer had there been more serviceable offerings. There are plenty of views to be had throughout Homer and, if you’ve been following along, there are plenty of imbiberies that are offering up some competition for where to spend your cash on a vacation. If you’re willing to try some mead that might not impress you but want to see a cute space, absolutely stop by. OR, you might actually want to shop next door and just check out the outdoor space on your way back to the car.
Until next time, keep on Crusin’, don’t stop boozin’!
To learn more about Sweetgale Meadworks & Cider House, please visit their website at: sweetgalewines.com or on Facebook: @SweetgaleWines or on Instagram: @SweetgaleWines
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