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The 5 Most Unexpected Secrets Of B. Nektar Meadery's Ferndale Taproom & Production Facility

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Step inside the revolutionary world of B. Nektar Meadery, a Michigan-based powerhouse that has single-handedly redefined the ancient drink of mead for the modern craft beverage enthusiast. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the Ferndale Taproom and Production Facility stands as the epicenter of their global influence, showcasing an experimental spirit that goes far beyond traditional honey wine.

This comprehensive guide dives deep into the state-of-the-art facility, revealing the innovative production secrets, the founders' compelling story, and the must-try new releases that are currently shaping the craft mead revolution. From tequila barrel-aged specialties to the latest session meads, here is everything you need to know about one of the largest and most unique meaderies in the United States.

The Architects of Modern Mead: B. Nektar's Founding Story and Profile

B. Nektar Meadery is more than just a beverage company; it’s a passion project born from a wedding toast that spiraled into a global phenomenon. The brand’s success is built on the vision and dedication of its three key founders, who took a niche, historical drink and injected it with pop-culture energy and fearless flavor experimentation.

  • Founders: Brad Dahlhofer, Kerri Dahlhofer, and Paul Zimmerman.
  • Founding Year: 2006.
  • Original Location: Ferndale, Michigan (a small town just outside Detroit).
  • The Spark: Brad Dahlhofer, an avid homebrewer, made a mead for his 2005 wedding to Kerri, receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews that inspired the business idea.
  • Current Status: B. Nektar is widely recognized as one of the top three largest meaderies in the United States, with distribution expanding across multiple states and internationally.
  • Core Philosophy: Guided by "geeky imagination" and influenced by "sub-pop culture," they aim to bring a modern, unconventional twist to mead, cider, and beer.
  • Flagship Products: Zombie Killer Hard Cider, Evil Genius, and various experimental session meads.

The Dahlhofers and Zimmerman have successfully navigated the transition from humble homebrewing to operating a massive production facility, cementing Ferndale, MI, as a key destination in the craft beverage world.

The Massive Ferndale Taproom & Production Facility: A 2025 Update

The operational heart of the B. Nektar empire is its expansive Taproom and Production Facility in Ferndale. This location is a testament to the brand’s rapid growth, moving from smaller beginnings to a state-of-the-art operation designed to meet soaring demand for their unique products.

The New Home: Address and Scale

The current facility is a significant upgrade, providing the space necessary for B. Nektar to maintain its status as a major industry player. The move into this larger space was crucial, allowing them to dramatically increase their production capacity.

  • Facility Address: 1511 Jarvis St, Ferndale, MI 48220.
  • Production Capacity: The facility, which includes a taproom and production area, has allowed B. Nektar to increase mead production by an estimated 500%.
  • Taproom Features: The taproom offers a welcoming environment with ample bar space and seating for locals and visitors to enjoy their full range of products, including draft and still meads, ciders, and beers. It also includes a 2200 sq. ft. semi-private space for events.

Visitors to the Taproom & Production Facility get a direct look at the innovation process. The atmosphere is often described as immersive, reflecting the founders' commitment to pairing unconventional ingredients with a fun, slightly rebellious sub-culture aesthetic. It's a place where the ancient art of mead-making meets modern, industrial-scale craft brewing.

The Innovation Pipeline: New and Barrel-Aged Meads You Must Try

B. Nektar's reputation is built on its willingness to experiment, treating the mead-making process as an open canvas for flavor exploration. They consistently push the boundaries of what mead, cider, and even beer can be. This commitment to innovation is most evident in their recent and limited-release offerings, which often incorporate exotic ingredients and complex aging techniques.

The Barrel-Aging Program: A Deep Dive into Whiskey and Rum

One of the most exciting aspects of B. Nektar’s production is their sophisticated barrel-aging program. Unlike many meaderies that stick to neutral oak, B. Nektar utilizes a variety of spirit barrels to impart deep, complex, and often whiskey-like flavors to their honey wines. This technique adds layers of vanilla, spice, and char, transforming the mead into a sipping experience akin to a fine spirit.

Recent and notable barrel-aged releases include:

  • Tequila Barrel aged Pineapple Mead: A highly experimental release that blends the tropical sweetness of pineapple mead with the distinct earthy and citrus notes of a tequila barrel.
  • Sleeping Giant Rye Barrel-Aged Mead: Rated highly by critics, this mead takes on the spicy, peppery character of a rye whiskey barrel, creating a rich, warming profile.
  • Barrel Aged His Royal Dudeness: A Cyser (mead made with apples) that undergoes barrel aging, further concentrating the fruit and honey flavors with a boozy, oak complexity.
  • Fleur De Bees (Rum Barrel Aging): This mead, featuring honey and pineapple with a hint of cherry lime, is finished in rum barrels, adding a sweet, molasses-and-spice dimension.

Must-Try Modern Session Meads and Ciders

Beyond the high-ABV, complex barrel-aged meads, B. Nektar is a leader in the "session mead" category—lower alcohol options that are perfect for casual drinking. These releases often focus on bright, refreshing fruit and honey combinations:

  • New Wave Lemonade Session Mead: A popular, limited-release mead featuring Orange Blossom Honey, blueberries, and lemon, creating a tart, refreshing, and highly drinkable beverage.
  • Blackberry Black Currant Mead: A rich, fruit-forward mead that highlights the dark, jammy notes of the berries.
  • Zombie Killer Hard Cider: Arguably their most famous product, this hard cider is a blend of apple cider, tart cherry juice, and honey, providing a perfect balance of crispness, sweetness, and tart cherry notes.
  • Punk Lemonade: Another iconic cider/mead hybrid known for its bold, citrusy flavor profile.

The breadth of their portfolio—from traditional meads to ciders and even beers—demonstrates B. Nektar's mastery of fermentation and their relentless pursuit of the next great flavor combination. They source ingredients like honey from Michigan farms and exotic Orange Blossom honey to ensure a unique and high-quality product.

FAQ: Visiting the B. Nektar Meadery Taproom

What kind of events does the Taproom host?

The B. Nektar Taproom is known for hosting unique, community-focused events. They frequently collaborate with local organizations, such as the Detroit honey pairing event with "Bees in the D," and offer a vibrant schedule of new releases and tap takeovers. The best way to find the latest calendar is to check their social media or the Untappd menu for real-time updates.

Do they offer food or vegetarian options?

While primarily a production facility and tasting room, B. Nektar offers a selection of beverages and often has food options available, sometimes featuring vegetarian choices. The focus is on the craft beverage experience, but they strive to accommodate guests with a welcoming menu.

What is a Cyser, and does B. Nektar make it?

Yes, B. Nektar is a major producer of Cysers. A Cyser is a type of mead where the primary ingredient is a blend of honey and apple cider, rather than just honey and water. Their "Barrel Aged His Royal Dudeness" is a notable example of a Cyser.

Is B. Nektar a women-owned business?

Yes, B. Nektar was co-founded by Kerri Dahlhofer and is often highlighted as a women-owned brewery/meadery, adding to its unique profile in the craft beverage industry.

The 5 Most Unexpected Secrets of B. Nektar Meadery's Ferndale Taproom & Production Facility
b nektar meadery taproom & production facility
b nektar meadery taproom & production facility

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