'It's all about tradition': Bushwakker marking 30 years of blackberry mead
The ancient art of meadmaking has become a holiday tradition for Regina’s Bushwakker Brewpub, marking 30 years of its signature blackberry mead on Saturday.
“It's all about tradition, it's all about Christmas,” said Grant Frew, the bar and marketing manager at Bushwakker.
It’s possibly the oldest method of making alcohol in history, known by the ancient Greeks as “The nectar of the gods.”
But despite that, it’s less complicated to make than many of the Bushwakker’s usual offerings.
“It's a lot easier to brew mead than it is to brew beer," said Michael Gaetz, the head brewer at the brewpub.
Almost everything at Bushwakker since its founding in 1991 is steeped in tradition – including the names of every beer and beverage on the green chalkboards showcasing what’s currently on tap, speckled throughout the historic building in Regina’s warehouse district.
That includes the brew the morning of Nov. 29 – a winter dark beer named Pickard’s Oatmeal Stout.
“When we make something like a stout in the morning, I'm like, ‘oh, that's the stuff’,” said Assistant Brewer Bradley Reiss-Dalrymple, a few hours after starting his 6:30 a.m. shift. “That doesn't wake you up. I don't know what will.”
The name comes from the maiden name of Elaine Robertson – the wife of Bushwakker’s founder, Bev Robertson.
Bushwakker Bar Manager Grant Frew admires the 30th annual edition of Blackberry Mead. (Gareth Dillistone/CTV News)
The Robertsons are also Gaetz’s grandparents, meaning many of the brews he oversees have direct family ties. That includes the original mead created by Bev’s son Scott in Bushwakker’s early days.
“I think he brought mead to Bushwakker because he was bored,” Frew chuckled.
The story goes it needed a name, and Gaetz’s grandmother suggested they name it after their cross-eyed Siamese cat, Mork, and thus, Mork’s Mead was born.
“When I was younger, I used to spend so much time with him when I would visit my grandparents,” Gaetz recalled.
Mork’s Mead is mead in its purest form: essentially just honey and water, fermented to create a smooth taste. The mead that started it all is back for 2024, to celebrate the anniversary.
It’s the first time Gaetz has tried his hand at the recipe.
“It's a really good opportunity to go back to the foundation of the mead here at Bushwakker and really showcase what the mead can be without adding fruit to it,” Gaetz said.
Michael Gaetz in the midst of the brewing process at Bushwakker Brewpub. (Gareth Dillistone/CTV News)
The oatmeal stout brewing behind the foggy windows of the Bushwakker on a cold morning in late November won’t be ready to go on tap until mid-March, right around St. Patrick’s Day.
But while the process for making mead is simpler the day of, any of the mead has to age for close to a year to be ready for the launch day.
No matter what’s brewing on any given day – the countdown to mead day is quite literally hanging over the heads of the brewers every morning – as the red numbers on a custom-made countdown clock tick further and further down.
“When I started, mead mania was still like at its height, and it was just psychotic how many people would line up in like minus 40 weather with the tents and everything,” Reiss-Dalrymple said. “It's like they'd be sipping on like little mickeys of whiskey to keep warm, stuff like that, just to get a hold of some blackberry mead.”
The launch for this year’s mead is set for Dec. 7, along with Mork’s Mead and a special three-year-aged version that’s been in reserve for the anniversary since 2021.
Fortunately for anyone planning to line up – temperatures are forecast to be above seasonal on launch day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING New clues emerge in hunt for gunman who killed health insurance CEO
As the hunt for a masked gunman who stalked and killed the head of the largest U.S. health insurer moved into its third day Friday, surveillance footage provided more clues about the suspect's travels and the places he visited before the shooting.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
NDP's Singh forces debate calling on PM Trudeau to send $250 cheques to more Canadians
With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP have forced a debate today on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility.
Canadian unemployment rate jumps near 8-year high
Canada had 1.5 million unemployed people in November, propelling its jobless rate to a near-eight-year high outside of the pandemic era and boosting chances of a large interest rate cut on Dec. 11.
Canada's list of banned guns is expanding. Here's what you need to know
Canada is expanding its federal ban on firearms, adding 324 makes and models of guns to the prohibited weapons list, effective immediately.
What is still being delivered? What to know about the Canada Post strike
With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail. Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions.
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
80-year-old driver with expired licence accused of going nearly double the speed limit in eastern Ontario
Ontario Provincial Police say a man caught stunt driving on Highway 37 near Tweed, Ont. Thursday was 80 years old, and his licence was expired.
Jasper family reunites with cat missing 100 days in the wilderness
Nicole Klopfenstein's four-year-old black and white tabby survived in the wilderness for more than 100 days after a ferocious wildfire forced the evacuation of the Rocky Mountain town of Jasper, Alta., this summer.