"The thing is, we have very few Nordic winters here in Florida."

Debunking myths is mead maker Ann-Marie Willaker’s toughest challenge.

New customers perusing the menu at Abbey Bar in Deland, which serves as the taproom for Willaker’s Odd Elixir MeadWorks, often have never heard of mead. Others think they know all about it but are way off the mark.

“They had that one mead in Ireland that was too sweet, or their sister’s cousin made it in the garage and it tasted like rocket fuel,” said Willaker, who also is Abbey Bar’s general manager.

The confusion is understandable. Mead isn’t a supermarket staple or happy hour draft pick. It’s hard to find outside of medieval festivals.

Odd Elixir is the first and only meadery in Volusia County. 

Read more at the Lakeland Ledger.