Sweet Caroline is a vibrant ruby sweet session mead with luxurious native muscadine grape and honey flavors amplified by a juicy lime base. This Mead pays homage to the flavors of the Carolina coast where muscadine is native and beloved.
Heaps of grape and honey yield a velvety mouthful backed by aromatic notes of cotton candy and ripe banana. Lime adds a layer of juiciness key to this mead’s enticingly crushable nature.
Mead Making
Spontaneously fermented local raw honey; muscadine grape and lime juice added only in secondary to maximize fruit esters.
Country Peach combines the organic acids produced by honey-indigenous wild Lactobacillus, present in spontaneous fermented mead, with juicy peach and bubbles to create a sour semisweet session mead. The resulting sour peach mead is as close to pure joy as a mead can get, reminiscent of candied sour peach rings.
Sour peach ring flavors backed up by a puckery mouthfeel.
Mead Making
Spontaneously fermented local raw honey; peach added in secondary alongside added citric and malic acid used to compliment the wild lactobacillus souring and focus the flavor into a strong sour peach.
Watermelon Sessions is at its base a wild honey and watermelon cofermentation; considered the most difficult fruit in mead making due to fermentation chemistry, difficulty in balancing rind with melon fruit flavors, and propensity for spoilage; we have been making new iterations of this wild mead in all types of formats since day one as a challenge to ourselves. This is the result, a carefully blended multi-step addition semisweet fruity session mead with a splash of lime and bubbles to deliver it through as a juicy, refreshing variant of melon mead.
Smooth and mellow melon with a juicy lime base carrying subtle green rind and funk notes.
Mead Making
Spontaneously co-fermented watermelon puree with local raw honey; with more watermelon added in secondary to give a more robust melon flavor alongside lime juice used to perk up the acidity melon is lacking.
Honey Buzzed is a refreshingly tart semisweet session mead that blends ginger spice and sour lemon into wild fermented funky honey drip. Our flagship into the world of bubbly session meads and a crowd favorite. Gold medal winner of the 2024 National Mead Crafters Competition.
Tart citrus with a ginger spice finish
Mead Making
Spontaneously fermented local raw honey; lemon and ginger added in secondary.
Stardust Cellars: A Symphony of Honey, Nature, and Tradition
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Stardust Cellars has carved a niche for itself in the world of mead-making. This exceptional meadery offers an authentic taste of the region by using local honey spontaneously fermented by indigenous microorganisms. Here’s what makes Stardust Cellars a destination for mead enthusiasts and curious explorers alike.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
session mead is the fastest growing segment of mead. We sell 1 bottle of still mead for every 15 cans of session mead because it just has so many more applications. Session mead is the daily drinker that keeps the mead industry moving and allows us to compete head first with cider and beer for retail space. Try it!!
@tercerowines the text of the first says “sweet” and the rest say “semi sweet” … so I imagine these are a far cry from what a dry wine would be… would love to see the RS numbers though.
@StardustCellars would you mind letting us know how much residual sugar is in each one? That would certainly help. And perhaps the pH or titratable acid as well?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Stardust Cellars Dry Mead Variety Packs - $10 = 9.99%
cans do not affect the flavor in any perceptible way. It stays fresh for years. Cans and bottles are both made by Stardust, it simply comes down to preferred formats. Effervescent session meads are more popular in cans due to format and drinking ritual, there is no difference or loss in quality that we have been able to tell.
@StardustCellars@TimothyB not necessarily the case with wine at all in cans. The flavors and aromas definitely change overtime. Is mead that different?
@tercerowines@TimothyB yes mead is like wine in the way that cider is like beer. You’ve got a lot of crossover in concept but the fermentation chemistry is a completely different beast. Notably, spontaneously fermented mead is a completely different beast than engineered single organism strains in their fermentation chemistry. You’ll find that there is a massive difference in how wine and mead ages. Some would argue mead improves with age but carbonated fruited/stabilized meads will not be as perceptible in their aging. Oxidation is not really a concern nor is there tannic components to unravel, etc.
My initial reaction was to grab a case- I haven’t had much mead and always found them enticing, although I don’t generally like sweet wines. I got turned away a bit with the “notes of cotton candy” and “reminiscent of candied sour peach ring” descriptions, so I’m on the fence. Rattage would sure have been nice. Granted, Honey + muscadine = sweet, but how sweet are they all?
they are made in perfect balance to match the sweetness desired by the fruit. If you are looking for a sweet dessert wine, this is not it. If you are looking for am expertly crafted balanced mead where the sweetness is in line with that of the original fruit, you’ve come to the right place. The Sweet Caroline just won best sweet session mead in the world at this year’s International Mazer Cup. Try it!
Just received mine. Some of the cans seemed to have taken a bit of bruising at some point in their journey, but oh, well. The Sweet Caroline gives a nice level of sweetness without being sweet, exactly. Really hits the spot. The funk is very subtle. I wish I had this for a hot summer day, I need to stash it in the basement until the hot weather comes back.
@StardustCellars you may have some QC issues with the can fillings. I’ve got a watermellon sessions can that’s closed and not leaking as far as I can tell (it is banged up) that is only about half filled, weighing 251 grams in the can.
I just received mine. I had some loss. I got two boxes dripping with mead. Interestingly it was mostly the peach that took the hit. I lost 8 cans in two cases. At 3.75 a can, that’s $30 left dripping and soaked up in the cardboard.
It tastes nice, but not enough to suck the cardboard. A better job of packing could have been done.
Received mine the other day and am enjoying my third can. As was stated, the three I’ve tried have a “nice level of sweetness without being (overly) sweet”. Haven’t tried the muscadine yet, but I’m pleased with what I’ve tasted and will order again if the opportunity comes back. Very nice diversion and a pleasant afternoon drink.
Sweet Caroline Mead (muscadine lime), 16 ounce
Tasting Notes
Mead Making
Pairings
Declarative Statement
Specs
Country Peach Mead (sour peach) 16 ounce
Tasting Notes
Mead Making
Pairings
Declarative Statement
Specs
Watermelon Sessions Mead (watermelon lime) 16 ounce
Tasting Notes
Mead Making
Pairings
Declarative Statement
Specs
Honey Buzzed Mead (lemon ginger), 16 ounce
Gold Medal Winner
Tasting Notes
Mead Making
Pairings
Declarative Statement
Specs
What’s Included
12-pack:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all cans for sale on winery website, $144/case of 24 MSRP
About The Winery
Stardust Cellars: A Symphony of Honey, Nature, and Tradition
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 9 - Tuesday, Dec 10
Stardust Cellars Dry Mead Variety Packs
$49.99 - $89.99
3 or 6 Sweet Caroline Mead (muscadine lime), 16 ounce
3 or 6 Country Peach Mead (sour peach), 16 ounce
3 or 6 Watermelon Sessions Mead (watermelon lime), 16 ounce
3 or 6 Honey Buzzed Mead (lemon ginger), 16 ounce
/image bipedal-hushed-painr
@Cerridwyn That didn’t take long!
Happy to see mead. Not sure how I feel about session mead?
@connorbush
session mead is the fastest growing segment of mead. We sell 1 bottle of still mead for every 15 cans of session mead because it just has so many more applications. Session mead is the daily drinker that keeps the mead industry moving and allows us to compete head first with cider and beer for retail space. Try it!!
Do these meads have any residual sugar or are they dry?
@tercerowines thank you for asking this. I see “dry mead” offered and my first question is what is the RS. Tempted if this is actually dry.
@tercerowines the text of the first says “sweet” and the rest say “semi sweet” … so I imagine these are a far cry from what a dry wine would be… would love to see the RS numbers though.
@tercerowines
these are not dry meads. They are semi-sweet meaning it lives in harmonious balance between sweet - sour - bitter.
@StardustCellars would you mind letting us know how much residual sugar is in each one? That would certainly help. And perhaps the pH or titratable acid as well?
Giving this one a shot. Always miss out on mead offers so glad to get in on this one!
/giphy deadpan-critical-puffin
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Stardust Cellars Dry Mead Variety Packs - $10 = 9.99%
no info in the description about gluten. normally mead is GF, but cannot buy fermented libations w/o GF confirmation.
@kls_in_MD on the website it says it’s gluten free.
@kls_in_MD
all products made by Stardust Cellars are gluten free. Wheat is not allowed in the facility.
Being canned as opposed to bottled, I wonder how long this will remain fresh in the cans?
@TimothyB
cans do not affect the flavor in any perceptible way. It stays fresh for years. Cans and bottles are both made by Stardust, it simply comes down to preferred formats. Effervescent session meads are more popular in cans due to format and drinking ritual, there is no difference or loss in quality that we have been able to tell.
@StardustCellars @TimothyB not necessarily the case with wine at all in cans. The flavors and aromas definitely change overtime. Is mead that different?
@tercerowines @TimothyB yes mead is like wine in the way that cider is like beer. You’ve got a lot of crossover in concept but the fermentation chemistry is a completely different beast. Notably, spontaneously fermented mead is a completely different beast than engineered single organism strains in their fermentation chemistry. You’ll find that there is a massive difference in how wine and mead ages. Some would argue mead improves with age but carbonated fruited/stabilized meads will not be as perceptible in their aging. Oxidation is not really a concern nor is there tannic components to unravel, etc.
This is the perfect Christmas gift for my younger daughter!
/giphy measured-loopy-notebook
No rats because it arrived late I think. Was hoping Alice would find a local to review it. I bought some, but am curious
My initial reaction was to grab a case- I haven’t had much mead and always found them enticing, although I don’t generally like sweet wines. I got turned away a bit with the “notes of cotton candy” and “reminiscent of candied sour peach ring” descriptions, so I’m on the fence. Rattage would sure have been nice. Granted, Honey + muscadine = sweet, but how sweet are they all?
@RRichmo
they are made in perfect balance to match the sweetness desired by the fruit. If you are looking for a sweet dessert wine, this is not it. If you are looking for am expertly crafted balanced mead where the sweetness is in line with that of the original fruit, you’ve come to the right place. The Sweet Caroline just won best sweet session mead in the world at this year’s International Mazer Cup. Try it!
@RRichmo @StardustCellars please see my message below
Case ordered- thanks!
I don’t think I’m getting this and I really wanted it. It was a gift.
@marjoryk That’s a bummer!
@InFrom I sent an email to them cuz they shipped it
@marjoryk
@InFrom thanks for the wish but no luck. Got a message from casemates and morning save. They refunded it .
Just received mine. Some of the cans seemed to have taken a bit of bruising at some point in their journey, but oh, well. The Sweet Caroline gives a nice level of sweetness without being sweet, exactly. Really hits the spot. The funk is very subtle. I wish I had this for a hot summer day, I need to stash it in the basement until the hot weather comes back.
@StardustCellars you may have some QC issues with the can fillings. I’ve got a watermellon sessions can that’s closed and not leaking as far as I can tell (it is banged up) that is only about half filled, weighing 251 grams in the can.
I just received mine. I had some loss. I got two boxes dripping with mead. Interestingly it was mostly the peach that took the hit. I lost 8 cans in two cases. At 3.75 a can, that’s $30 left dripping and soaked up in the cardboard.
It tastes nice, but not enough to suck the cardboard. A better job of packing could have been done.
@enville Have you contacted CS yet?
Select account, your orders and then I need help…
@rjquillin Thanks. I never saw that button before. I have sent my information.
Received mine the other day and am enjoying my third can. As was stated, the three I’ve tried have a “nice level of sweetness without being (overly) sweet”. Haven’t tried the muscadine yet, but I’m pleased with what I’ve tasted and will order again if the opportunity comes back. Very nice diversion and a pleasant afternoon drink.
Since folk asked
Not bad
had about 2/3 of a can of the peach
carbonation is mild
they are definitely sweet
could taste the peach
can’t put a champagne cork on a can, so rest went down the drain. i just couldn’t finish it
but then again, lightweight here, lol