THE HOLY TRINITY

When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, the “trinity” plays a pretty prominent role.  As a celebration with deep christian roots, the holy trinity of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit is front and center.  In fact, perhaps the most recognizable symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, the three leafed  shamrock, is also tied closely to the trinity.  According to lore, St. Patrick used the shamrock as a teaching tool to explain the holy trinity and christianity. 

Of course here at The Sap House Meadery, we are also interested in the other thing synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day; the consumption of spirits! So when it comes to  raising a glass in honor of St. Patrick, what is the holy trinity of alcoholic beverages? That’s easy!

Guinness. Irish Whiskey. Mead (Miodh in Ireland)!   

LATE TO THE PARTY

In fact, given that mead, is the oldest of Irish alcohols, we’d logically argue mead should sit at the head of the table for the holiday feast. It is believed mead is the oldest alcohol in the world, about 9,000 years old.  So it’s safe to say,  that when the Irish held their first Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, sometime around the 9th or 10th century, that mead was well represented at the table.

Now don’t get us wrong.  We love a good Guinness, and there’s no debate Ireland produces some of the finest Whiskey in the world. 
But here’s the thing…they both were a little late to the party. 

It wasn’t until 1759 that the legendary  St. James’s Gate Brewery opened its doors in Dublin and poured it’s legendary stout.  But what about Whiskey? What about  Jameson’s?  Again, the earliest record of whiskey production in Ireland was in 1405, or about four or five hundred years after the first feast of St. Patrick. 

By the time Whiskey showed up on the scene, Teach-Miodhchuarta (the mead hall) at the ancient royal site on the Hill of Tara had been in existence for at least 600 years.  Tara was the seat of The High Kings of Ireland, and an ancient and ceremonial burial site.  Ancient texts show pretty detailed drawings of the mead hall nestled in and among this the  burial ground.   

MI NA MEALA

So not only does the historical timeline support the notion mead is the elder statesman of spirits, but it is clear it holds a revered place in Ireland.   Whether it’s ancient history, or the Ireland of today, mead continues to shape Irish Culture.  You may have heard that the term honeymoon stems from the tradition of newlyweds, in ancient times, drinking mead for one cycle of the moon because they believed it promoted fertility. 

While the honeymoon tradition is reported in a number of cultures from Norse to Greek, it is best documented in the Irish and Celtic traditions. In fact, the Irish word for honey is “Meala”, and The Month of Honey, or “Mi na meala” refers to the month after the wedding when newlyweds celebrated by drinking the mead they were given as wedding gifts.

Even today, in Ireland, and in some weddings in the United States, it is customary to recite the following, centuries old, Irish toast at the wedding:

NEWLYWEDS:   
            Friends and relatives, so fond and dear, 
            ’tis our greatest pleasure to have you here. 
            When many years this day has passed,
            fondest memories will always last.
            So we drink a cup of Irish mead
            and ask God’s blessing in your hour of need.

GUESTS:        
​            On this special day, our wish to you,
            the goodness of the old, the best of the new.
            God bless you both who drink this mead,
            may it always fill your every need.

So whether it’s death (The Hill of Tara) or marriage (Mi Na Meala) mead holds a sacred place in Ireland.  This St. Patrick’s Day, if you are serious about celebrating Irish Culture, make sure our award winning Sap House Mead’s are leading the charge.  They  shouldn’t be hard to find, as any good Irish pub likely has some on hand.  

We checked in with Nora Mulkern of Jackson, N.H.’s  famed Shannon Door Pub. For 68 years, the Shannon Door has been a mecca for all things Irish, and mead is no exception. 

 “While not everyone in NH is familiar with mead, our Irish customers certainly know all about it,” Mulkern said. “As an Irish pub we are fortunate to have world class meads made right here in Mt. Washington Valley”.

So rest assured, with Shamrock’s in the air, we here at The Sap House Meadery will be out and about on March 17th, spreading mirth and merriment.  We will be pouring mead, and doing our part to make sure the holy trinity of St. Patrick’s Day drinks, mead, Irish Whiskey and Guinness lands in good hands!

The Shannon Door Pub is located at  9 Spancil Hill Rd, Jackson, NH 03846 
​You can find out more about them on their website.

In many ways the word “sustainability” has become a buzzword.  One look at Fortune magazine’s  “The Change The World Sustainability All Stars”  list is sure to produce eye rolls, as you wade through corporate giants like Walmart and Apple.

In light of that, it’s refreshing to visit a place like The Emery Farm Market & Cafe in Durham, NH.  Because, when the sign over the door contains the number  1660, you know you are at ground zero for the “sustainability” movement.  As the oldest family owned farm in the United States, words like community are in their DNA, and with all due respect to Fortune’s  “Change The World All Stars”, The Emery Farm is far more interested in who will be farming the land 25 years from now, than whether their stockholders should buy or sell.

Walking around the market with Stacey Hamblett, the farm’s Culinary and Wellness Lead, you get the feeling you are taking a master class in community and legacy,  where something as simple as the pasta they sell has an inspirational back story and thoughtful, environmentally friendly packaging.  

“We like to think of ourselves as an important part of the Cooperative Hub,” says Hamblett, as she approaches a counter full of mouthwatering baked goods, “A crossroads where we are thoughtful about what the land produces. Where many of our employees are graduates with degrees in Sustainability and Environmental Science. Where we source from vendors who pay careful attention to responsible practices”.

Indeed, the food at Emery Farms is always second to none. Whether shopping for household staples, warm donuts, or lunch,  their food offerings are original and fresh. How fresh?  Recently, Hamblett has been dabbling in winter growing in the greenhouse behind the kitchen.  The fruits of her labor are harvested, and in many cases find their way immediately into the daily offerings that are ever evolving.
The Emery Farms is a gem nestled between the seacoast and the University of New Hampshire.  It is easily accessible and a landmark for those who care about supporting small businesses with deep local roots .  The upstairs is a meeting area dedicated to wellness education, sustainability practices and community workshops.  

Listening to Hamblett’s reverence for the land and community, one begins to understand how the farm has flourished for centuries. “Every one who works here has a deep passion for this land,”  says Hamblett. 

“Whether it’s engaged discussions with the UNH community about our environment,  or the careful considerations we are giving to who will be the next generation of farmers to work this land.  We are so passionate about this place and this land that we love”.  

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​In typical Penguin fashion, their collection of locally sourced meads 
is the most diverse collection that can be
found anywhere. A collection that must be seen to believe! Just like 
everything in The Penguin

But don’t take our word for it. Next time you are in North Conway 
Village, park the car near Schouler Park and step into the Penguin to 
see for yourself.

Ohh, and bring your cellphone!

Inevitably you’ll find yourself reaching into your pocket to snap a 
picture of something on the shelves. Only to quickly fire off a text 
to a good friend.

“You are not going to believe what I found!”.

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The Penguin Gallery is located at 2655 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860 and is open seven days a week from 9AM to 6PM Sunday through Thursday and 9AM to 8PM Friday and Saturday.

You can find them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PenguinGallery​