Matt Anderson from Valknut Meadery wins best smokey oak mead in 2024

The oldest alcohol on earth is making a comeback, with a former truckie turned Viking-brewer winning multiple awards for his boutique mead brewed in regional Qld. Meet the brewer who is struggling to keep up with demand.

Matt Anderson has won multiple national awards for his Crows Nest mead, as the oldest alcohol in the world finds a growing niche market in Australia. Picture: Christine Schindler

The world’s oldest alcoholic beverage is making a renaissance, with some of the best brews in Australia being produced in a Queensland township known for exceptional beverages.

A simple sip of mead, a type of honey wine dating back thousands of years, changed the course of Crows Nest truckie Matt Anderson’s life.

That was 10 years ago in Tasmania, and now the 37-year-old brewer, with Viking tattoos, shaved sides and long hair in a single central long braid is showcasing a number of his award-winning mead flavours from Valknut Meadery.

The recipes he “winged”, with inspiration from local southeast Queensland produce and ingredients brewed with a modern fruit cocktail summer meets whiskey twist.

The Darling Downs township he is building his mead empire from is no stranger to boutique beverages as the home of the iconic Crows Nest Soft Drinks and local craft distilled gins from Pechey Distilling Co. 

Matt Anderson has won multiple national awards for his Crows Nest mead, as the oldest alcohol in the world finds a growing niche market in Australia. Picture: Christine Schindler

Attributing his love of mead to his connection with his Northern European ancestors, he first started home brewing his own five-litre batches in his Crows Nest home.

The batches started getting “bigger and bigger” along with his meadery, as he brainstormed ideas while driving trucks interstate.

“I thought I was going to be in trucks forever because trucks is one of those things that once you are in it, you feel like you’re stuck in it,” he said.

“But then it all happened overnight, I realised I was selling faster than I was producing.”

Matt Anderson has won multiple national awards for his Crows Nest mead, as the oldest alcohol in the world finds a growing niche market in Australia. Picture: Christine Schindler

So he got out of trucks, picked up his pace, built a shed extension and tripled his mead production.

This month he’s been given multiple awards from the Australian National Mead Competition, recognising his wide-range of flavoured meads from Meada Colada to Raspberry Coconut, Chilli Lime to Blueberry Pancake.

But he is most proud of the Smokey Oak Mead, which was named the best in Australia.

Held for the first time, the awards show the ever-growing thirst Australians are getting for mead.

Matt Anderson has won multiple national awards for his Crows Nest mead, as the oldest alcohol in the world finds a growing niche market in Australia. Picture: Christine Schindler

Mr Anderson said he sold around 8000 bottles a year and could easily double that to keep up with demand, selling at markets, online, and supplying three local retailers.

He describes the taste of mead as somewhere between wine and port and the flavours can mix well on summer days, poured in cocktails, or served straight on ice to be enjoyed with an array of meat.

While sales are growing, he said his was reluctant to give up his handcrafted mead production, hand stirring batches with a wand and drill, and labelling and sealing each bottle for any larger means of production.

He said he was excited to be part of the growing market.

“It’s like a whole different life I have now, 10 years ago I had no idea that I’d be where I am now,” he said.