Well before the seeds of Merfolk Mead had been planted, I met the farmer and apiarist Ian Hussey, professionally (and around the Island affectionately) known as, The Bearded Beekeeper. Ian's wildflower honey is a much lauded local product found across NL at markets, shops and restaurants and has been featured in community events and festivals. As an ecologically mindful farmer, Ian also does much work to educate and promote healthy and sustainable beekeeping, animal husbandry, growing and living in Newfoundland. For those who know the great work and communities Ian is a part of and supports, he really needs no introduction - it's not just about the business of bees for him. But for the purposes of this post, it's most definitely the bees who brought me to Ian.

My initial home-brewed batches of what would evolve to become Blue Ambrosia were crafted but in need of back-sweetening. When fermentation is completed and you are left with a dry, fully attenuated mead, a mazer can choose to bottle the brew as is or reintroduce a source of sweetness. Fruit meads in particular benefit from back-sweetening as replacing the fruit's inherent sweetness unlocks true flavour that rushes forward to greet your palate from first to last sip. And so began my quest to discover a Newfoundland honey source that would make my blueberry mead sing.

Newfoundland honey is some of the purest honey in the world, free from the use of chemical miticides, antibiotics, or medications, resulting in an exceptionally clean, raw product. In this way, pure local honey would not only allow me to brew a superior mead, but one folks could feel easy about consuming.
 
Supporting local has always been one of the joys of brewing for me, whether at home or commercially. Meeting and working with farmers, artisans and makers allows me to learn of their trade, share in their passion and do my part to help it all be sustainable. When I reached out to Ian, he was not only happy to sell me as much honey as I needed, but was in turn genuinely interested and supportive of my brewing activities. The lovely light amber wildflower honey from the Bearded Beekeeper and his bees brought a full rounded sweetness, subtle floral character and a certain magic to what I had crafted. His honey tastes like a Newfoundland summer; cheeky winds and bright sunshine that reach all the way into September. When I began working to launch a commercial meadery a few years later, I knew the Bearded Beekeeper's honey needed to feature in the inaugural mead - Blue Ambrosia.

And so what a treat it was to share that news with Ian, who was certainly delighted for his honey to be a part of it all but was somehow even more supportive in championing my activities than his own involvement. Kennedy said that "a rising tide lifts all boats", and I'm so very grateful to the humble and kindly apiarist who has helped to lift mine.

Beekeepers have been revered throughout history and, in connection to mead-making in particular, were viewed as sacred even mystical in their craft and talent. I see no reason to challenge such notions in contemporary times, as the caring of bees and cultivation of honey is a precious business without a doubt predicated on its Master being wholly honest, gentle and deferential to the small creatures they serve and care for. It has therefore been an honour and pleasure to work with someone who embodies all of this. The honey absolutely confirms it.

The Bearded Beekeeper's honey has been used in every bottle crafted in Merfolk Mead's first year of production, from Blue Ambrosia (and Session-style) to our limited seasonal meads, Dark Siren and Winter's Kiss. The 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships gold medal awarded to Merfolk Mead's Blue Ambrosia (Session-style) was the very first commercial mead produced. It was, understandably, thrilling and noteworthy to share such an accomplishment with the beekeeper and bees who helped to make it happen.

As we move forward into the second year of production and beyond, our meads will continue to include and feature honey from Ian Hussey. There is a little bit of this Island in every bottle of Merfolk Mead - and how wonderful for us that some of this magic comes from an apiary in Port Blandford where the bees and their bearded beekeeper spin summer days into sweet gold.

~For the love of mead & myth~





(From the beekeeper ~

Ian Hussey aka The Bearded Beekeeper, a Bell Island native who met a girl from Clarenville and ended up putting roots down in Port Blandford. 

I now operate a commercial apiary and pork/poultry farm at my property that I officially established in 2020. 

I provide the wonderful people of the area with quality 100% raw wildflower honey, heritage pork and free range chicken eggs. 

I’m in the process of turning the farm property into an educational center for schools and social groups from the area, to learn about where their food comes from and what it takes to produce food from farm to fork!)

@thebeardedbeekeeper.nl