Buzz-Worthy Sips: A Taste of Hive Mind’s Sparkling Mead & Honeyade

ConsumeDrinks
Written By Hana Ames

Writer’s note: Even though these products were gifted to me, all the thoughts and opinions shared here are completely my own. My reviews are based on my personal experience with the products, aiming to give you an honest and unbiased perspective.

What I Tried

I received a selection of both Hive Mind’s sparkling meads and their alcohol-free Honeyades. The meads included flavours like Pure Honey, Honey & Elderflower, Honey & Rhubarb, and Honey & Ginger - all lightly sparkling and 3.4% ABV. I also got to try the full Honeyade range: Just Honey, Lime & Mint, Strawberry & Basil, and Rhubarb & Ginger.

I was especially curious to try these because I love exploring drinks that go beyond the usual options - and with Hive Mind’s focus on natural ingredients, ethical beekeeping, and bold flavour pairings, this felt like something genuinely different. Plus, the combination of honey and botanicals really intrigued me. Would it be sweet? Subtle? Overpowering? I was excited to find out.

How to Enjoy

We’ve been in the middle of a proper heatwave lately, so these cans couldn’t have arrived at a better time. I popped them in the fridge as soon as they landed and served them ice-cold - straight from the can or poured over ice in a tall glass with a few dried strawberries (for the Strawberry & Basil honeyade) for a little flourish.

My Experience & Results

The Honeyades were a brilliant alcohol-free option during the hot afternoons - light, fizzy, and naturally sweet without being cloying. The Lime & Mint was a real standout for me - crisp and zesty, with a refreshing herbal twist that gave serious mojito vibes (minus the booze). The Strawberry & Basil had a lovely, delicate sweetness, which paired beautifully with a light lunch salad, while the Rhubarb & Ginger delivered a subtle tang with a warming kick - the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up over ice.

As for the sparkling meads, they absolutely shone during golden hour in the garden. All sit at a gentle 3.4% ABV, so they’re ideal for sipping without feeling too heavy. 

The first sip of the Pure Honey really hits you with that honey - it’s bold, almost overwhelming at first - but once your palate adjusts, it settles into something really quite smooth. There's a surprising dryness to it that I wasn’t expecting from a honey-based drink. The aftertaste even gave me slight Prosecco vibes - not because it’s fizzy and sweet, but because of that crisp, clean finish. It’s definitely not syrupy or sticky like you might assume from the word mead - it’s light, refined, and a bit of an acquired taste in the best way.

The Honey & Elderflower was elegant and floral with a soft honey base. Rhubarb & Ginger brought a bold, slightly tart edge. I loved the texture across the board - lightly sparkling and smooth, with a natural finish that didn’t leave any synthetic aftertaste. Altogether, the range felt fresh, flavourful, and just that bit more thoughtful than your usual soft drink or canned spritz.

About the Brand

Hive Mind Mead Co. is a Welsh craft drinks brand founded by Kit and Matt, whose journey began with a deep respect for bees and a shared love of beekeeping. What started as a small-scale hive project soon evolved into a bold mission: to revive the ancient art of mead-making and reimagine it for modern palates.

Based in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Hive Mind creates naturally fermented drinks using real honey, fruits, and botanicals - never artificial flavours or shortcuts. Their sparkling meads and alcohol-free Honeyades are crafted to be refreshing, flavourful, and accessible, whether you're avoiding alcohol or after something a bit different from your usual pint or prosecco.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the brand. Hive Mind proudly supports ethical beekeeping, pollinator-friendly practices, and local sourcing wherever possible. Every can is a celebration of the hive - a tribute to the tiny creatures that keep our ecosystems thriving. By choosing Hive Mind, you're not just enjoying a great drink - you're supporting biodiversity, community, and a better way to sip.

Product Highlights

  • Naturally Honey-Sweetened: Every product in the Hive Mind range is made with real honey, offering a naturally sweet, smooth taste without refined sugars.

  • British-Made Craft Drinks: Proudly produced in the UK with sustainability and bee welfare in mind - supporting local beekeepers and pollinator-friendly practices.

  • Naturally Fermented with Real Ingredients: No artificial flavours - just honey, fruit, and botanicals carefully blended for depth and balance.

  • Vegan-Friendly Options: Despite being honey-based, Hive Mind is mindful of ethics, and many of their drinks are suitable for those following a plant-conscious lifestyle.

  • Perfect for Gifting or Gathering: Available in well-priced six packs - ideal for BBQs, picnics, garden parties, or as an original present for craft drink lovers.

Price & Where to Buy

They’ll only set you back around £2.00 for Honeyade and £3.50 for Sparkling Mead. All are available via Hive Mind’s website and select independent retailers, farm shops, and markets.

The more you buy, the better value they become.

Honeyade comes in four refreshing flavours. The mixed pack comes as a 12 or 24 pack, or you can stock up on individual flavours starting at 6 in a pack.

The Sparkling Mead comes in multipacks of each flavour, starting with 6. You can also grab a 12-pack or even a 24-pack if you really love it. They have two flavours I didn’t get to try, Honey & Raspberry and Honey & Ginger. You can buy these as a single flavoured multipack or in a mixed case, which also comes as a 6, 12, or 24 pack.

The following online retailers offer a range of Hive Mind products:

Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely. If you’re someone who enjoys exploring drinks that are a little off the beaten path - whether you’re cutting down on alcohol, love botanical flavours, or simply want something that feels a bit more special than your average drink - Hive Mind is well worth a try. The Honeyades are light, flavourful, and make an excellent daytime option, while the sparkling meads strike that lovely balance between laid-back and interesting.

They’re also great conversation starters - especially when served over ice with a little garnish. And with Hive Mind’s sustainability credentials and bee-friendly mission, there’s a genuine feel-good factor to every sip.

Final Thoughts

Hive Mind delivers a refreshingly modern take on traditional mead, with natural ingredients, unique flavour pairings, and a real sense of care behind every can. A solid choice for curious sippers, sober socialisers, and eco-conscious drinkers looking for something flavourful, lightly fizzy, and full of character.

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Hana Ames is a professional content writer with hundreds of pieces of content under her belt. She is a cat and dog mama, a feminist, and a musical theatre fan, who enjoys cooking, playing board games and drinking cocktails. She has been writing professionally since 2018 and has a degree in English. Her website is www.hrawriting.com and she is always interested in discussing exciting new projects to see how she can help your business grow. Catch her on Twitter @hrawriting, Instagram @hrawriting and Facebook: www.facebook.com/hrawriting

Hana Ames

Hana is a cat mama, feminist, enjoys cooking, playing board games and drinking cocktails. She has been writing professionally for two years now and has a degree in English literature. Her website is www.hrawriting.com and she is always interested in discussing new projects.

http://www.hrawriting.com
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