Jon Talkington and his business partner Robert Walker Jr. have been making mead for over 20 years, so it’s no surprise that the duo recently opened The Brimming Horn Meadery in Milton. Both men hope to bring a modern flair to this ancient alcoholic beverage.

Below, a short Q&A with Talkington.

How would you describe mead to someone who doesn’t know what it is?

Mead, or honey wine, as it is sometime called, is a very ancient, unique and delicious beverage made from the fermentation of honey, water and yeast. Its flavor is wonderful. Fruits, spices and herbs can be added to flavor the mead. It is very wine-like and can range from dry, semi-sweet or very sweet like a dessert wine. It can also be still like wine or sparkling (carbonated), much like champagne. The alcohol content of mead usually ranges from 7 percent to 18 percent.

How did the idea of opening The Brimming Horn Meadery come about?

In 2001, while I was perfecting my craft as a home brewer, I came up with the name Brimming Horn. At the time, the name meant a full drinking horn of mead. Over the years the name has transcended into something different—the mead horn became a sense of community, vision and abundance. The horn brims over with wealth, friendship and community. It was about three years ago that Robert, my business partner, and I decided to make what I was doing at home a business.

What sets you apart from other meaderies?

Passion, creativity and 24 years of mead, wine and beer brewing experience. Our tasting room is all hand made and looks a bit like a Viking hall. We have an old sense of style and we treat our customer like family.

What are the most popular varieties/flavors that you offer?

Our most popular meads are Freya’s Kiss—a semi-sweet traditional honey mead—and Bjornbar, our dry blackberry mead made with locally grown berries and wildflower honey. Also, our session meads, which are lower in alcohol and slightly carbonated, are a big hit. We make an Orange Cardamom and Lemon and Lime Spruce Ginger session meads, which are very refreshing on a hot day. There will be more meads available in the autumn.

Price: four samples for $6; six samples for $10; seven samples for $12. 6-ounce pours are $10; 12-ounce pours are $6.50.

More information:

The Brimming Horn Meadery

28615 Lewes-Georgetown Hwy., Milton

664-1188 • brimminghornmeadery.com