Forest Mead
From the Forest, Not Farmed
Forest Mead is fermented from pure honeydew and nothing else. No added sugars, flavours, or chemicals - just what the forest gave us, turned into something earthy, smooth and crisp.
Highly drinkable, refreshingly different - it’s the kind of thing you’ll want to pour again. And again. Perfect for summer adventures, or whenever you get the crew together.
TASTING NOTESFermented pure honeydew and nothing else, tastes soft and sweet despite being low in sugar. Easy drinking.
Next Dispatch: 29 June
Due to exceptional demand, our current allocation of 500ml bottles has been fully reserved.
New orders will be secured for dispatch from 29 June.
700ml bottles and 2L boxed mead remain available for immediate shipping.
Sourced from the Forest, not farmed.
In the forests of Aotearoa, bees collect honeydew straight from the trunks of the beech trees. No forest clearing, no irrigation, no bulldozers. Just trees, bees and time.
The hives are placed for the season by a legendary local beekeeper who genuinely cares for his bees and the forest they roam, helping keep wasps in check, boosting pollination, and leaving the land just as it was found. Each mouthful of Forest Goon helps the bees, supports the bush, and leaves the land - and your conscience - undisturbed.
TASTING NOTESFermented pure honeydew and nothing else, tastes soft and sweet while being low in sugar. Easy drinking.
SERVING SUGGESTIONSBest serviced chilled.
Made ready-to-drink.
Available in a sustainable 2L goon (bag) for taking on adventures
500ml | 9% abv | Approx. 3.6 standard drinks.
Gluten-free. No cane sugar. Low sulphite.
Free shipping on orders of 3 or more bottles. Order a case of 9 bottles and save 10%
PURCHASE
We’re pretty confident this is the most sustainable beverage on earth. Forest Goon is fermented pure honeydew and nothing else.
No added sugars, flavours or chemicals - just what the forest gave us, turned into something earthy, smooth, and crisp.
Highly drinkable, refreshingly different - it's the kind of thing you’ll want to pour again and again. Which you can, cos it’s a goon! Perfect for summer adventures or whenever you get the crew together.
Forest Goon is made without irrigation or imported ingredients. From the collection of honeydew in forests through to fermentation and filling, the entire process takes place in a small regional area. Location matters when you consider producing a litre of wine can take over 600 litres of water, and most RTDs derive the alcohol from fermenting cane sugar. Meanwhile, our 2L bag-in-a-box packaging generates up to 87% fewer carbon emissions than glass bottles.
If you find a commercial alcohol with less environmental impact than Forest Good, well, we’ll drink it with you.
Sourced from the Forest, not farmed.
In the forests of Aotearoa, bees collect honeydew straight from the trunks of native beech trees. No forest clearing, no irrigation, no bulldozers.
Just trees, bees and time.
The hives are placed for the season by a legendary local beekeeper who genuinely cares for his bees and the forest they roam, helping keep wasps in check, boosting pollination, and leaving the land just as it was found. Each mouthful of Forest Goon helps the bees, supports the bush, and leaves the land - and your conscience - undisturbed.
Made to be shared
Forest Goon’s Sustainability Credentials
No land used for cropping
No monoculture farming
No irrigation required
Bees reduce wasp impact
Bees support forest pollination
Minimal transport – moved on family trips between Christchurch and Nelson
Lightweight bag-in-box packaging with far lower emissions than glass
Bag and box are reusable and recyclable
Packaging cuts consumer cost by ~40%
Long shelf life – honey base and vacuum seal keep it fresh, even after opening
Fermented in Christchurch without chemicals or processed inputs
Available in a sustainable 2L goon (bag) for taking on adventures, a traditional 500ml bottle, or a case of 9 bottles.
shippingFree shipping on orders of 3 or more bottles.
BOTTLE500ml
9% abv.
Approx. 3.6 standard drinks.
BOX2L
9% abv.
Approx. 14 standard drinks
Gluten-free.
No cane sugar.
Low sulphite.
CATEGORYTraditional
SweetnessLight Sweet
honey OriginNelson Region Beech Forest Honeydew
SUSTAINABILITYPossibly the most sustainable drink on earth.
Forest mead (2L) is made without irrigation or imported ingredients. From the collection of honeydew in native forests, through to fermentation and filling, the entire process happens in a small regional area.
Location matters when you consider that producing a litre of wine can take over 600 litres of water, and most RTDs derive their alcohol by fermenting cane sugar, which has a high water and emissions footprint. Meanwhile, our 2L bag-in-box packaging generates up to 87% fewer carbon emissions than lightweight glass bottles, and weighs less - meaning fewer trucks, less fuel, and less waste.
If you find a commercial alcohol with less environmental impact than Forest Goon, well, we’ll drink it with you.
SERVING SUGGESTIONSBest served chilled, neat from the bottle.
PAIRINGSLovely complimenting anything you’d have with white wine.
STORIESWILL THE BEEKEPERHoneydew hives are placed for the season by a legendary local beekeeper who genuinely cares for his bees and the forest they roam, helping keep wasps in check, boosting pollination, and leaving the land just as it was found.
Forest Mead In the ForestForest Mead is a favourite of the Canterbury University tramping club
Mead essentials
Our approach to making one of the oldest alcoholic drinks on earth. More »
The flora, flavour, and honey sources that make up our mead. More »
How we came about, where we began, why we started. More »
Is there such a thing as healthy alcohol? More»
How we think about business and the environment More »
Mead tasting club, physical spaces, sponsorships. More »