June 2026 Update – Royal Æthelmearc Guild of Brewers, Vintners, and Meadhers

Vivat!

Congratulations to THL Aodhan Mac Michael, the new Kingdom Brewing Champion. Aodhan's mead well-pleased the judges and their majesties at Scarlet Guard Inn. (Documentation for Aodhan's entry will be available on the site at a later date.)

Around Æthelmearc

Various meads line a table, ready for tasting

Short Mead Challenge

Before dancing at Myrkfaelinn War Practice, attendees had the opportunity to sample short meads that ranged from sweet to dry, spiced and herbed, with some carbonated options as well.

Share your brewing pictures and events with the guild!

Events

June

I would love to see more opportunities for the east and south of the Kingdom, so please get in touch if you know of any (or are willing to host a tasting table).

Pax Interruptus and Baronial Investiture

June 26-27, 2026
Penn Yan, NY

The Pax location is discreetly damp, and THL Coinneach Mac an Leigh will run an A&S Competition on the Saturday of the event. Wet your feet (and whistle) by bringing one of your beverages to the competition!

July

The Barony of St. Swithin's Bog Three-Day event

July 10-12, 2026
Summerhill, PA

At this discreetly wet site, there will be more A&S opportunities, as well as space in the Beer Hall for bardic the evening after feast.

August

A Tasting Faire

August 29, 2026
Wexford, PA

This delightful showcase of kingdom cooks would like pair creations with our kingdom's brewers! The Castle will have 20 Cook’s tables, each with two-bite samples of two to three dishes. Attendees stroll through the Castle, tasting samples of food and drink and discussing them with Cooks.

Pennsic

Teach!

Pennsic is a great opportunity for brewers to share knowledge with your peers (current and future). The Thing is open for you to submit your class description. (The book pull deadline has passed, but you can still get listed in the online and day-printed versions.) Be sure to tag the classes with brewing, brewing and vintning, or all grain brewing if your topic might be of interest to brewers!

Current classes

Period Brewing Roundtable at Pennsic

Get properly period about your brewing! This roundtable, hosted by Master Emrys and the Brewers Guild, will focus on the period aspect of our brewer's beverages. If you need some ideas about period brews, take a look at the current (and future) Beverage of the Month suggestions! The Guild's site also has a list of period resources for you to peruse.

The Brewers Guild A/B Challenge at Pennsic

Share your A/B Challenge results with other brewers!

Pennsic Bar

Annual Call for...

... Donations

A now-familiar sight at Æthelmearc Royal, the bar will be able to accept kegs this year, thanks to our new Chamberlain, Barron Rauþbjorn Loþbroke. We will also accept donations for the bar as we have in the past, as well as volunteers to once again make the Æthelmearc bar the envy of the known world.

As always, we request that all of your beverages be labeled with the beverage style, a list of ingredients and your name. The bartenders want to know what they're pouring (I have no idea what's in this bottle, so put it in the box), the guests want to know what they're drinking (will this make me sick?), and the guild wants to know who to thank for their generosity.

We have at least four events where the bar will be available to the populace and/or attendees. We will have space available for donating your beverages with specifics to follow closer to Pennsic.

... and Servers

We have at least four events where the bar will be available to the populace and/or attendees. We'll have a sign up sheet at Æthelmearc hospitality if you're interested in helping at one!

Do you make gluten-free beers?

If you plan to make gluten-free beers to donate to the Pennsic Bar, thank you! We have gentles who definitely appreciate having this option.

Please supply gluten-free beer in bottles not kegs so that everyone can enjoy a lovely evening.

Æthelmearc Hospitality Request

Æthelmearc hospitality wants to offer more sekanjabin to refresh the populace at Pennsic this summer. They would like to have 15 gallons of syrup for the ten days that the Royal encampment is set up.

The Debatable Lands brewers have already offered to contribute five gallons to Hospitality. If you make sekanjabin, or know of someone who does, and would like to contribute some syrup to Æ Hospitality at Pennsic this year, please contact Muirgheal Inghean Dubhghaill for more information, and to let them know you'll participate.