Found an interesting article on artisanal alcohol and boutique beer as great industries to start companies in 2013 (inc.com, beer liquor best industry 2013). As a home meadmaker, it makes me wonder what leaves mead or wine off the list? Numerous mead companies are sprouting up across the nation, and it is increasingly being carried in local liquor stores, as well as some larger chains. Wine might be a saturated market, but the local economy still stands. Having lived in both Virginia and Maryland, these states are actively pushing the growth of wine within their borders. Is the barrier to entry any different? Or have wines already become saturated, and is mead still its own cottage industry (despite a recent article in Popular Mechanics and being named to the Forbes 2011 food trends)?
One day I'd love to start my own meadery, and articles on craft brewing and the increase in the market is inspiring. Following startups and new meaderies on kickstarter gives me hope that the business idea could work (meaderies on kickstarter), although my plans are far more ambitious. At some point it will have to reach the popularity of craft brewing to ever take off. So that's what gets me writing here. Go out and support your local meadery, and if you can't find one, for the time being a local brewery, winery, or distillery will have to do.
