On Saturday December 8th something unprecedented in the world of mead is happening. In following our mission “To reintroduce the world’s oldest fermented beverage to mankind” International Berry White Day is being hosted in 15 different cities around the world. Many of the world’s best craft beer bars and bottle shops are playing host to IBWD2018 with many different formats to the event including food pairing, flights, by-the-glass sales, bottle sales and many places are taking advantage of this opportunity to celebrate other Superstition offerings as well as those of other mead producers. The whole idea is that craft beverage fans will be getting together on the same day across 3 continents to enjoy some of the best mead ever made, and raise a glass to everyone who has rediscovered this awesome drink.

Which will be your favorite this year? The White Series Evolution…

Last year, we made four 60-gallon barrels of each White Series variant. Three of those barrels were previously filled with other Superstition meads like Aphrodisia, or even the 2016 White Series, but one of those barrels was brand new American oak. We loved the results from blending those barrels, but everyone in production agreed that the new oak barrel was the winner of each set. So, for the 2018 White Series, we decided to buy 16 brand new medium or medium plus toast American (Missouri) oak barrels. When we racked out of those barrels our entire Production crew believed that this was the best White Series we have ever made.

We would like to introduce you to some of the amazing places and people who are making this event possible…

Seoul Korea

IBWD2018 Seoul is being hosted at Sour Pongdang, owned by Seung Yong a proud member of Korea’s craft beverage industry who has won the award “Best Pub in Korea” several times and also runs a brewpub that is pushing the boundaries while embracing local ingredients. Sour Pongdang is a small intimate pub perfect for this event. 

Moscow Russia

The Dogma Bottle Shop is the Ratebeer №1 bottleshop in Russia. It is inspired by movies from the 1990s and is dedicated to the pure love of precious beverages such as beer, mead, cider, kombucha etc. Dogma’s location is hidden in Moscow’s city center district of Kitay-Gorod in a courtyard among other small business and bars with street food options. It is a good place to go get familiar with the carefully selected variety of cans and bottles from Russian breweries, as well as a rare and unique bottle collection from all around the world. Dogma is the first place in Russia to introduce Superstition to the Russian scene earlier in 2018 with the legendary Blueberry Spaceship Box cider. This is the first time when Russia will have such a selection of Superstition: The White series line-up will be supported by War Honey, Juicius Caesar, Lagrimas de Oro, Marion and Desert Monsoon. The event will run from 3 PM to 11 PM, and bundle up because it will be snowing in downtown Moscow!

Berlin Germany

Protokoll is a bar in a center of Berlin in Friedrichshain. It hosts 24 taps of beer, mead and cider, a carefully selected bottle collection, along with wine and mescal. It is a good place to explore the vibrant Friedrichshain district with its main attractions such as restaurants at Simon-Dach Str. and the well known flea market in Berlin at Boxhagener Platz. Protokoll also hosted a Superstition event during Berlin Beer Week in July 2018, with 4 meads on tap and a wide bottle collection. The White Series line-up will be supported by Vanilla Aphrodisia, Marion, Vanilla Marion, Chocolate Strawberry Sunrise, Peanut Butter Jelly Crime, War Honey, Juicius Caesar, Lagrimas de Oro and Desert Monsoon. The Easter egg of the event is the Berlin premiere of “¡Spike! a sparkling cherry-pineapple mead which is a collaboration between Superstition and Malmö Meadery. Cheers to Vadim for being a part of IBWD2018! The Protokoll event begins at 4:20 (I love that) and 10 CL pours of each White Series variant will flow until they are out.

Malmö Sweden

The great folks at Malmö Brewing Company and Taproom have launched a meadery and they are hosting IBWDMalmö2018 at their pub. The crew in the taproom will be offering a guided tasting of each of the White Series to only 20 people at 8 PM, and the event is sold out. We hosted Li and Anders in Prescott, AZ this summer to make a collaboration mead and these guys are some of the coolest people we have met. Look for the mead coming out of their shop real soon, and Cheers to Magnus for making this event, and several other IBWD events possible.

Bruges Belgium

My buddy Bart is the manager of the De Struise Beer Shop in the fairy tale city of Bruges. I was able to visit this spot last December and I can not imagine a more beautiful location for this event. If you have been to Bruges then you know what I am talking about. The White series will be served in 8 CL pours starting at 1 PM, so if you are in the area or live in Brussels, head out to Bruges to try some amazing mead, an incredible bottle selection, and take in the city in all of it’s winter glory.

Stockholm Sweden

Omnipollo is hosting Berry White Day Stockholm at Omnipollos Hatt. The event will start with an exclusive Superstition tasting for special guests; after that we open the doors for everyone to join in the mead party! Omnipollos hatt is Omnipollo’s first born beer bar serving world class pizzas from a wood fired oven as well as the largest Omnipollo selection anywhere. Jen and I even spent a few days here in May, and hosted a meet the mead maker event and tap takeover. This place is so cool, and is located in a beautiful city.

Atlanta Georgia

The Porter Beer Bar is hosting Berry White Day Atlanta and is located in the heart of Little Five Points. This cozy restaurant with its hand-crafted wooden booths and exposed brick wall is the perfect place for a casual dinner of gourmet pub grub and a few glasses of one of the 50 beers on draft (including two hand pumps) or one of the 1000 bottled beers available. The beer list is only represented by independent craft breweries. The constantly changing specials page is where Chef Nick struts his stuff, with dishes such as Charcoal Grilled Duck Bahn Mi Steam Buns and Sweet Potato Samosas.  The Porter had also been named “Best New Pub” and “Best Beer Haunt” by Atlanta Magazine. Nick Rutherford has been called a “future super star chef” by the Atlanta Journal Constitution with food critic John Kessler raving, “The daily specials list features some of the most exciting, original fare in the city.” We are so psyched to see The Porter host Berry White Day Atlanta! Also, Hop City Craft Beer and Wine will be the only location in Georgia to purchase White Series bottles to go! So grab a pour at the Porter and head over to Hop City to take something home.

Tokyo Japan

Mikkeller Tokyo is the host of International Berry White Day Tokyo! It seems like I was just here yesterday enjoying the crazy contrast between the giant city feel of Shibuya and the old city feel you get while strolling past this beautiful craft beer bar in the heart of Tokyo. Hamilton and his staff are second to none and I am jealous of anyone who makes it out to enjoy food pairings from the kitchen and 100 ML pours of the White Series, and a bonus mead available to the first 30 people from 1500 on Saturday: Y3000.

Chicago Illinois

Crafted Bottle Shop and Tap Room in Chicago is one of the best places in the city for craft beverages. The selection is amazing and the crew here know their stuff. They are offering 65 tickets for $10 to get a 1 oz pour of each of the White Series.

Taipei Taiwan

Mikkeller Taipei is in an amazing city, set amongst a fascinating culture with incredible hospitality. The neighborhood is an old trading part of town right on the river bank and is filled with cool shops and temples. I was lucky enough to spend a few days here in June and hosted a meet the mead maker event on the second floor with dozens of craft beer and mead fans. I am so happy that Mikkeller Taipei is a part of this international event. Thanks so much to Yuhang, Alex and the staff for making this possible.

Las Vegas Nevada

Khoury’s Fine Wine and Spirits is the place to go in Vegas for craft beverages. With a bar on site and a huge selection of bottles, Khoury’s and owner Issa is without doubt the King of Beer in Las Vegas and has a huge following of beer geeks and consumers. Superstition was first introduced to Vegas at Khoury’s and we are psyched to see them offer the White Series on Saturday for International Berry White Day Las Vegas.

San Francisco California

From Noon to 2 AM Mikkeller Bar San Francisco will be offering Blue Berry White and Berry White with a special cheese pairing from the kitchen as well as Blueberry Spaceship Box on draft! This craft beer spot is famous and represents many of the best Mikkeller products as well as craft beers, mead and cider from around the world. Cheers to the Mikkeller Family and their incredible support of mead.

Los Angeles California

Mikkeller Downtown Los Angeles hosted an outstanding Mead, Beer and Food Pairing event with Superstition and Bottle Logic in June. The drinks and food from chef Enrique were some of the best courses I have ever had. This place is just cool personified and we are honored to see International Berry White Day Los Angeles hosted here. There will be a limit of one bottle per person to go and they will also have kegs flowing of Superstition World Harvest, Blueberry Hex and Blackberry Hex starting at 11 AM.

Singapore

Southeast Asia has had a special place in my heart for 20 years and Singapore is a magical city. International Berry White Day Singapore will be hosted at Burger Joint New York, the best spot in town for a hamburger and craft beverages. Cheers guys!

Aarhus Denmark

Mikkeller Aarhus hosted Berry White Day Europe last year, and the reception was so positive we decided to expand the event in 2018. Their manager, and my friend, Lukas is one of the greatest supporters of Superstition anywhere, and their sold out ticketed event will offer flights of the White Series and other Superstition meads with rare specials like Marshmallow Peanut Butter Jelly Crime on tap.